Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080201179 | OPTIMIZATION OF POLICY ENFORCEMENT - Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for improving the efficiency of policy enforcement. According to one embodiment, a method for improving efficiency during enforcement of a policy can comprise determining a topology for the policy. A plurality of equivalent topologies for the policy can then be determined. A cost function can be applied to each of the plurality of equivalent topologies and one of the plurality of equivalent topologies can be selected based on the cost function. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201180 | Facilitating environmental resource and/or energy management on farms - A method of facilitating environmental resource and/or energy management on farms. From each of a plurality of farms, data is collected relating to environmental resource and/or energy management on the farm. For each farm, at least some of the data is monitored to provide a verification of one or more conditions related to a goal of the environmental resource and/or energy management. For one of the farms, the verification is communicated to a party unaffiliated with the one of the farms. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201181 | System and method for determining equivalency factors for use in comparative performance analysis of industrial facilities - The present invention provides a system and method for determining equivalency factors for use in comparative performance analysis of industrial facilities by determining a target variable and a plurality of characteristics of the target variable. Each of the plurality of characterstics is ranked according to value. Based on ranking value, the characteristics are divided into categories. Based on the sorted and ranked characteristics, a data collection classification system is developed. Data is collected according to the data collection classification system. The data is validated, and based on the data, an analysis model is developed. The analysis model then calculates the equivalency factors. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201182 | Method for determining an aggregated forecast deviation - In the method for determining an aggregated forecast deviation, deviations are aggregated in a predefined environment at all reference points in time and are incorporated into an error determination. Using this method, the aggregated forecast deviation for a product is determinable so that this product may be made available in a sufficient quantity. The method is thus suitable, e.g., for disposition planning, warehouse management, or warehousing products of all types. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201183 | MULTI OBJECTIVE NATIONAL AIRSPACE FLIGHT PATH OPTIMIZATION - Systems and methods for optimizing a plurality of competing portfolios of logistical alternatives are disclosed. In one embodiment, where the competing portfolios of logistical alternatives are competing portfolios of flight paths, a method ( | 08-21-2008 |
20080201184 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS RELATING TO A LEAD DISTRIBUTION ENGINE THAT ACCOMMODATES INTERNAL AND IMPORTED DESTINATION EXCLUSION RULES - Lead distribution systems and methods distribute consumer business leads received from lead sources for routing to one or more destinations that will use the lead and/or will forward the lead to another destination. The system identifies a set of most profitable destinations for each lead, while complying with business rules associated with the lead source and the destinations. For each lead, the system identifies a set of candidate destinations. The candidate destinations may include destinations for which the system has established exclusions, destinations for which the lead source has established exclusions, or both. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201185 | METHOD FOR COMBINING MAIL PIECES THAT WERE GOING TO BE MAILED ON DIFFERENT DATES TO INCREASE POSTAL DISCOUNTS - A method for obtaining mail discounts by determining a date a mail piece should be mailed and adjusting the date the mail piece is mailed to fill one or more mailing trays with mail pieces that were originally planned to be mailed on different dates to obtain postal discounts | 08-21-2008 |
20080201186 | IDENTIFYING ADVERTISING SPECIALIST - The present disclosure includes a system and method for identifying advertising specialist. In some implementations, a method includes receiving information associated with a plurality of advertising specialist. One or more profiles associated with each advertising specialist is generated. The specialist profiles are filtered based, at least in part, on criteria received from a user. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201187 | METHOD FOR MANAGING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - A search algorithm is provided in an intellectual property (IP) management system for determining an optimal IP portfolio. The search algorithm generates and evaluates a plurality of IP portfolios using objective functions to find an IP portfolio that most nearly optimizes at least one goal. The goals to be optimized includes, for example, minimizing the costs of procuring the IP assets or maximizing the growth potential of the IP portfolio. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201188 | Niche-oriented advertising networks platform and methods of operating same - System and methods of constructing and operating a network of advertising networks in support of the real-time selection and distribution of creatives to network connected client computer systems for composited presentation on Web pages served to client computer systems. The network of networks is constructed by associating a plurality of publisher sites with a plurality of advertising networks, with each publisher site associated with one or more advertising networks, and associating a plurality of advertising campaigns with the plurality of advertising networks, with each advertising campaign associated with one or more of the advertising networks and further defined by respective campaign criteria. A campaign prioritization list is produced for each publisher site, generated based on a competitive analysis of respective campaign criteria, including a normalized campaign buy basis, employing a past-performance-based projection of a competitive completion of the advertising campaigns. Advertising creatives are served, in real-time, in response to service requests received from client computer systems, where the advertising creative selection is determined from the campaign prioritization list dependent on the respective publisher site and real-time evaluation of the respective campaign criteria. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201189 | COLLECTED DATA PROVIDING APPARATUS AND PORTABLE TERMINAL FOR DATA COLLECTION - A collected data providing apparatus and a portable data collecting terminal capable of collecting valuable effective data from object of data collection. When a server receives a data-collection request from a data collection requester's terminal, the server examines whether or not there is a data collector with a terminal in the vicinity of a place of data collection included in the request. If there is, the server sends a data collection request to the portable terminal, which receives the request, collects data on the place at the request, and then sends the server the collected data. The server then delivers this collected data to the data collection requester's terminal (FIG. | 08-21-2008 |
20080208644 | Apparatus and Method for Measuring Service Performance - A method for measuring satisfaction within a service environment including the steps of modeling contractual customer service relationships using a hierarchical composition model with discrete abstract elements, creating and distributing customer perception surveys having questions, wherein the questions are dynamically generated from a computer database based on events within the service environment and element weightings within a hierarchical composition model, collecting and analyzing the customer perception surveys, calculating aggregate measures of customer perception that have statistical reliability, correlating the measures of customer perception to create at least one statistical causality between customer perception and business performance and adjusting the element weights using calculated customer perception measures and statistical correlation measures to refine reliability of future analysis and calculation results. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208645 | Method for Logic Tree Traversal - Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for traversing a business object tree and an associated policy object tree. The traversal determines determine all ancestral business objects to any one business object of interest. The traversal also determines all policy objects associated with the ancestral objects or the business object of interest. The traversal algorithm may traverse the policy object tree to determine all policy controls linked to the associated policy objects. By traversing the business object tree and the policy object tree, the traversal algorithm provides a group of one or more policy controls associated with any one business item of interest. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208646 | METHOD FOR INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY AND SAFETY IN THE MINING AND HEAVY CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES - A method for increasing productivity and safety in the mining and heavy construction industries comprising: evaluating equipment operator skills; correlating the evaluated operator skills to skill levels; calculating an average site skill level; correlating the average site skill level to an incident rate; establishing equipment costs based on the incident rate; projecting equipment costs for different average site skill levels; comparing actual to projected equipment costs; using the average site skill level to generate a productivity factor for each class of equipment; calculating production costs for a class of equipment based on the productivity factors; calculating production costs for different productivity factors; comparing actual to projected production costs to generate cost-benefit information for a manager deciding whether to implement a training program; and generating a report with recommended training based on the skill evaluations and desired equipment cost and/or productivity factor goals. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208647 | Information Technologies Operations Performance Benchmarking - A proactive IT infrastructure support system is set forth which provides operations performance benchmarking. The operations performance benchmarking makes use of data that is available from a direct supply model. The operations performance benchmarking collects, analyzes, and formats the data into a single, easy-to-use interface that provides customers an ability quickly evaluate absolute performance of key IT performance metrics and to evaluate relative performance by comparing the results to the customer's choice of a variety of external benchmarks (such as industry peers) and internal benchmarks (site vs. site, and performance to Service Level Agreement). | 08-28-2008 |
20080208648 | Constraints-based analysis and strategy planning methods and tools - Disclosed herein are methods and related tools for assisting users in analyzing and identifying various constraints that limit the impact of business growth strategies, and for helping those users identify, research, and/or implement strategies in light of identified constraints. More particularly, disclosed are information management methods and electronic computing tools for enabling managers to utilize accumulated information to identify and address constraints that otherwise limit innovation and growth of their business ventures. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208649 | Secure information sharing architecture, processes and tools for post merger integration - Disclosed herein are architectures and related processes and tools for enabling secure information sharing during the regulatory review period of mergers and acquisitions. A secure information sharing architecture and related processes and tools is provided that facilitates data gathering and information organizing to accelerate the post merger integration process for companies involved in a merger transaction while ensuring that information integrity is maintained in compliance with regulatory restrictions. Embodiments of the invention permit a mirrored approach to integration research and planning. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208650 | Tracking Telecommunication Expenses - The present disclosure is directed to tracking telecommunication expenses. In some implementations, a method includes aggregating data associated with telecommunication services used by an employee. One or more policies of an enterprise are automatically identified for evaluating the used services. The enterprise policies are associated with the employee. A violation of one or more enterprise policies is determined based, at least in part, on comparing the aggregated data to the enterprise policies. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208651 | LEAD DISBURSEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method includes associating a lead with a subset of participants from a plurality of participants. The associating is performed based on a criteria list. A priority is determined for each participant from the subset of participants. A capacity coefficient is determined for each participant from the subset of participants. The lead is exclusively assigned to a participant from the subset of participants based on the priority for the participant and the capacity coefficient for the participant. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208652 | METHOD AND SYSTEM UTILIZING ONLINE ANALYTICAL PROCESSING (OLAP) FOR MAKING PREDICTIONS ABOUT BUSINESS LOCATIONS - A method and system that utilizes OLAP and supporting data structures for making predictions about business locations. The method includes providing a spatial map and analyzing heterogeneous data having a spatial component to find utilizable data. Relationships are automatically extracted from the utilizable data by employing machine learning. The step of automatically extracting relationships includes generating a composite indicator, which correlates spatial data with unstructured data. The extracted relationships are presented on a spatial map to make a prediction about at least one business location. Preferably, the predictions are presented as a rank-ordered list on the spatial map and a heat map overlays the spatial map to indicate predictions about particular regions. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208653 | COMPUTER NETWORKS - According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of analysing a computer infrastructure providing a service, an intended quality level of the service being defined by at least one service level objective defining a service level quality objective and a related compliance level, the computer infrastructure comprising a plurality of components, the method comprising: obtaining first service level objective compliance data for a selected service level objective, the compliance data being calculated using data collected from the computer infrastructure; calculating second service level objective compliance data for the selected service level objective using in part the collected data and for a selected service level quality objective a value that meets that objective; calculating a difference between the first and second data; and identifying, based on the calculated difference, one or more components suitable for modification. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208654 | Method And Apparatus For Site And Building Selection - A site/building decision facilitating apparatus including a database that correlates building characteristics with business driver factors, a processor linked to the database and running a program to perform the following acts: receiving business driver factor information for a first building project via an input device and identifying a subset of default building characteristics for the first building project using the database and the received business driver factor information | 08-28-2008 |
20080208655 | Method and system for generating documentation and approvals for entities and transactions and generating current and historical reporting related thereto - The enterprise database system provides methods, data, and user interfaces for generating approvals and documentation related to forming or acquiring an entity or to initiating a transaction involving an entity. The system also provides the ability to store entity or transaction information in a historical database for retrieval. The system further provides analysis and report generating features, including generating current and historical reports related an entity or transaction, such as general corporate, regulatory and financial reporting documentation. The system also provides methods for modifying entity or transaction information in the historical database. The system further includes various interactive displays and notification tools to implement or facilitate the foregoing methods and systems. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208656 | Vehicle managing method, vehicle managing apparatus and vehicle managing program - A method is disclosed for performing comprehensive management for vehicles owned by clients, including an appropriate number of vehicles to be operated and appropriate operation methods, instead of simple maintenance and management of the vehicles, and according to this method, a vehicle managing apparatus, a client terminal, a workshop terminal and a store terminal are connected via a communication network, and the vehicle managing apparatus includes information acceptance means, maintenance period calculation means, business efficiency analyzation means and information providing means. First, the information acceptance means receives maintenance history information for a vehicle, automotive accessories purchase history information, vehicle operating record information and business performance information for a client, all of which are entered by the workshop terminal or the store terminal. Sequentially, the maintenance period calculation means calculates a maintenance period for the vehicle based on the maintenance history information, the purchase history information and the operating record information, and the business efficiency analyzation means analyzes business efficiency based on the maintenance history information, the purchase history information, the operating record information and the business performance information. Then, the information providing means transmits, to the client terminal, the maintenance period calculation results and the business efficiency analysis results. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208657 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND SOFTWARE FOR MANAGING THE GENERATION OF PROCESS EVENTS BY A SOFTWARE PROCESS - A method, apparatus and software is disclosed for managing the generation of process events generated by a software process for supply to a process monitoring system, in which the generation of process events can be enabled or disabled on a group basis. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208658 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ESTIMATING SUPPLY IMPACT ON A FIRM UNDER A GLOBAL CRISIS - The availability of relevant business resources, or supply, during a global crisis or disruption are estimated by using a forecast of a baseline supply of human resources and various forms of infrastructure and raw materials for a firm as input. That forecast is corrected to account for the impact of a crisis or other disruption, and a corrected forecast as output is provided. The corrected forecast reflects changes in the availability of business resources due to the crisis or disruption, dependencies between resources, as well as any mitigating effects resulting from the implementation of mitigation policies. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208659 | Method and Apparatus Combining control Theory and Business Performance Management - A control methodology and component in Business Performance Management (BPM) Systems. This enables firms to exploit control theoretic techniques for Business Performance Management. Information from BPM systems is used to calibrate models of the business process. This model is then used to assess and optimize control actions to manage business performance, on the basis of which a control action is selected for business process execution. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208660 | System and Method for Analyzing and Managing Business Performance - A system and method for analyzing and managing business performance by designing and evaluating the performance of a business process model comprising a flow of business tasks and artifact sources that generate business artifacts. Business processes may be parsed to identify transformation opportunities meeting transformation conditions specified in a transformation knowledge. One or more identified transformation opportunities may be adopted, and parts of the process may be transformed according to transformation rules specified in a transformation knowledge. Analytics and computer simulation may be employed to evaluate business performance metrics of each of said transformed business processes. Iterative changes may be made to said business processes to manage business performance, reiterating transformation and evaluation steps until a satisfactory business process model is obtained. The resulting output is finally produced as a business process model in machine-readable format and can be deployed to a business environment. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208661 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF USING ANRTIFACTS TO IDENTIFY ELEMENTS OF A COMPONENT BUSINESS MODEL - A method and system are described for using business artifacts to identify elements of a component business model. Artifacts operated upon by the business are first identified, and then used to analyze the business into business operations. This is done by identifying every business activity that acts on an artifact, creating directed graphs for the business activities, and decomposing the directed graphs into sub-graphs, each sub-graph representing a business operation and being annotated by a verb expression, the annotated sub-graph representing a business service. The business services are then clustered into non-overlapping components, using common affinities reflected in the verb expressions, and organized by partitioning into internal and external operations, exposing a business service for each external operation. The components are then clustered into non-overlapping business competencies, and arranged by accountability level. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208662 | Goods information display system, method, and computer readable storage medium storing program thereof - Setting input unit | 08-28-2008 |
20080208663 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A BENEFIT DURING A TRANSACTION FOR USE DURING A LATER TRANSACTION - A method and apparatus for allowing a customer to purchase or otherwise receive a benefit during a first transaction that will be redeemed by the customer or provided to the customer at a later time or during a future transaction for the purchase, rental, lease, etc. of one or more products and/or services. The price to the customer for the benefit may be a monetary amount, a non-monetary amount, a commitment by the customer to complete or perform some obligation or qualifying action. The value of the benefit to the customer may be based on one or more aspects or characteristics of the first transaction. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208664 | OPTIMIZATION OF CLASS SCHEDULING UNDER DEMAND UNCERTAINTY - A stochastic integer programming based constrained optimization technique enables optimal allocation of classrooms and instructors to requested classes associated with cancellation probabilities. An analytical tool allows optimization of overall operational revenue/profit under different planning scenarios involving chaining of various classes, prerequisite relationships, and inter-class spacing requirements. This system allows the description and input of a list of classes, their cancellation probabilities and the input of available classrooms and instructors for determining the most revenue-generating/profitable class schedule. The revenue/profit optimization model corresponds to a two-stage mixed integer program. | 08-28-2008 |
20080215386 | Method of and system for analyzing, modeling and valuing elements of a business enterprise - An automated system ( | 09-04-2008 |
20080215387 | Automation of Validation Life Cycle and Providing 100% Paperless Electronic Validation Process - The present invention relates to a software process that provides: an increase in the productivity in the validation process; tracking of the validation inventory, paperless execution of validation protocols; automation of revalidation schedule with alert features; increased validation efficiency; and ensures compliance to FDA regulations. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215388 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND PROGRAM FOR CREDIT RISK MANAGEMENT UTILIZING CREDIT LIMITS - Software aggregates and integrates credit exposure and credit data across accounting, trading and operational systems within an organization and generates views of available credit in light of the exposure and credit limits. A comprehensive model of exposure to all counterparties, across all of their divisions and subsidiaries, is assembled, enabling the creation of a hierarchical view of each counterparty that models its real-world parent-child relationships. Credit limits are set across the enterprise, supporting the organization's unique methodology and business process, and on a granular basis, incorporating factors such as external credit ratings, internal credit scores, commodity, geographic region, deal duration, and security instruments. Credit, transactions, and risk are then determined at any level in the hierarchy. After aggregating exposure and credit limit information, the system presents a comprehensive, detailed, real-time, enterprise-wide view of current exposure, collateral requirements and available credit for both a company and its counterparties, making it easy for users to identify trouble spots by counterparty, geography, industry, and credit rating and to manage the company's liquidity. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215389 | Model oriented business process monitoring - A computer implemented method and system for monitoring a business process of an executing business application. Runtime information of a business process element of the executing business application is received. The runtime information is then associated with design time information of the executing business application by a processor. Next, a representation of the business process associated with the business process element is generated to determine a problem in the business process of the executing business application. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215390 | PATH DETERMINATION SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORT SYSTEM - Aspects of the present invention relate to path determination for transport system infrastructure paths. In embodiments, methods and systems are provided for identifying alternative paths and determining optimized transport system paths for projects. The methods and systems may involve providing a client-based application having a GUI that presents a plurality of constraints that relate to a project, a server-based application for calculating the costs of a plurality of potential paths for presenting a subset of paths with associated cost data, and determining optimized paths for at least one of a pipeline, a conveyor, a canal, a multipurpose utility pipe, and a telecommunication line. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215391 | UNIVERSAL LIGHTING NETWORK METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Methods and apparatus relating to the collection of data regarding a plurality of customers in a retail or entertainment environment. Data may be collected via at least one sensor coupled to at least one lighting fixture in the retail or entertainment environment. In one exemplary implementation, data may be collected by one or more lighting fixtures, and data may be communicated via light generated by any one or more fixtures without perceivably affecting a quality of light generated by the one or more fixtures. A map may be generated based on the collected data to display traffic patterns and/or dwell times of the plurality of customers in the retail or entertainment environment, and such a map may be displayed, for example, via a graphical user interface. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215392 | METHOD TO INCREASE COLLECTION OF DEBTS OWED TO GOVERNMENT - A method of increasing the collection of debts owed a government agency by collecting additional names associated with a debtor, verifying that an additional name represents the same person as the debtor, and providing those additional names to the government agency that is owed by the debtor. After the additional names are added, future payments to the debtor can be offset by the amount owed. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215393 | Method and an apparatus for identifying an instance of a variability meta-model and for processing change requests - A method and an apparatus are disclosed for processing a variability model of a product line, wherein a decision is derived on the basis of a predetermined negotiation model. In one embodiment, an instance of a variability meta-model which models a variability in domain requirements is identified on the basis of a QOC-rationale model. In a further embodiment, a decision for a question on an instantiation for a variation point of a variability meta-model instance is generated on the basis of a predetermined negotiation model. In a further embodiment, change requests to change a variability model of a product line are processed to derive a decision whether to accept one or more change requests on the basis of a predetermined negotiation model which is formed by a questions, options and criteria EasyWinWin model. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215394 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR QUALIFICATION AND APPROVAL OF PRODUCT PLACEMENT MARKETING CONTENT - A system and method that provides for the objective qualification and approval of product placement marketing content, based on defined impression parameters, so that advertisers and brand managers can maintain their brands while expanding their suppliers and their reach into online video content and distribution. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215395 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GOTV EFFORTS - A method for controlling campaign management includes receiving a login request from a user at a central location and receiving a campaign management request from the user responsive to the login request. The method further includes selecting at least a first campaign from a plurality of campaigns based on the campaign management request, associating the selected first campaign with the user based on the selection, recording the association within at least a first database, and compiling a plurality of analytic data based on the recorded association. Additionally, the method includes providing at least a second campaign to the user based on the compiled analytic data. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215396 | FACILITATING ERROR CHECKING OF SERVICE ELEMENTS - A service element is defined and represented by a data structure. It includes one or more components and/or one or more other service elements. A service element providing a complete function is a service offering. Management of service elements and/or service offerings is facilitated by a Service Development Tool. In different aspects, the management includes various tasks associated with creating, modifying and deleting service elements, establishing relationships, error checking and optimization. In a further aspect, service elements are packaged and distributed to enable customers to deliver the service elements. Additionally, the hosting of software packages is facilitated. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215397 | SYSTEM AND MECHANISM TO CREATE AUTONOMIC BUSINESS SOLUTIONS - Automomic business processes management solutions have capabilities to adapt themselves to changes in the business environment. These autonomic business solutions are built by wiring together autonomic solution components called BPbots (Business Process robots). BPbots are granular solution components representing an aspect of a business process. In general, BPbots consist of two parts, an execution module and a managerial module. The execution module represents the standard, non-autonomic solution component, such as a standard process flow model describing the long-running flow or business adapter describing the communication of the solution with service providers (such as applications). The managerial module is responsible for the autonomic behavior of the BPbot. The managerial component has the ability to monitor the execution module, analyze the performance, plan new, more appropriate execution patterns and change the behavior of the execution module according to the new plan. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215398 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING A COMPONENT BUSINESS MODEL TO MANAGE AN ENTERPRISE - A method and system are described for using the structure and relationships between components in a component business model of an enterprise to assign components providing monitoring data to a management component. In response to the monitoring data, the management component executes a business rule invoking a service that alters a behavior of the enterprise. The management component contains data rules limiting the information provided by the assigned components, analysis rules defining the interaction between components, and report rules for consolidating recommendations for altering behavior of the enterprise, including decisions to invest in certain aspects of the business, to reengineer certain processes of the business, and to alter operation of certain aspects of the business. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215399 | Method for Business Process Mapping, Design, Analysis and Performance Monitoring - A method of creating a systems requirement document by using a numerical modeling tool, such as a spreadsheet, to prototype an operational process in terms of a numerical picture of the goals, metrics, performance targets and constraints used by managers of the operational process. A process design blueprint is defined for the operational process, including data sources and data sinks. A representative model of the process design blueprint is created. If the model is not detailed enough for implementation by IT professionals, model objects and data flows are added to the blueprint and the representative model is modified to be consistent with the blueprint. Surrogate calculations may be made for computational task objects or, alternatively, separate process design blueprints may be generated for such computational task objects. This cycle is repeated until the model is detailed enough for implementation. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215400 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USING A COMPONENT BUSINESS MODEL TO TRANSFORM WARRANTY CLAIMS PROCESSING IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY - A method, system and service for using a component business model to transform a business process. The invention uses a component business model of a business to prioritize business changes affecting key performance indicators for the business process, defines an information technology architecture to support the business changes, and specifies a roadmap for implementing the supporting information technology architecture. In a particular application of the invention to the automobile manufacturing business, the business process is the warranty claims process, and a length of time to process a warranty claim is a key performance indicator. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215401 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATIONAL RISK ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION - Risk in business management is analyzed based on a probabilistic network approach which quantifies the impact of operational risk on financial metrics such as Value-at-Risk (VAR) and/or Potential Losses (PL). This approach provides further capability to determine the optimal placement of one or more countermeasures within a system to minimize the impact of operational risks. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215402 | Methods and Systems for Evaluating Interaction of Medical Products and Dependence on Demographic Variables - A computer implemented method of evaluating interaction two or more medical products or conditions, in the context of a reference condition, based on a dataset of patient records includes developing a reference contingency lattice of lattice subsets from a subset of the patient records containing the reference condition, wherein the lattice subsets correspond to the number of patient records that contain each of the two or more medical products or conditions and combinations thereof. A plurality of comparison contingency lattices are developed, each of the comparison contingency lattices developed from a respective random subset of patient records not containing the reference condition, where each of the comparison contingency lattices include lattice subsets that correspond to the number of patient records that contain each of the two or more medical products or conditions and combinations thereof. The lattice subsets of the reference contingency lattice are compared to the corresponding lattice subsets of the comparison contingency lattices to determine whether a lattice subset is indicative of an interaction between the medical products or conditions with respect to the reference condition. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215403 | INNOVATION SIGNATURE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An innovation signature useful in placing an individual within an organization to optimally support creativity and innovation by that individual is developed from information regarding innovative behavior of an individual, a record of motivational rewards and information regarding the current and historical interests, preferably derived from a survey and reward history of an individual. The innovation signature is refined by comparing the innovation signature with a definition of desired innovation activity, alteration of motivational drivers and feedback of the altered motivational drivers to the record of motivational rewards. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215404 | Method for Service Offering Comparative IT Management Activity Complexity Benchmarking - The invention broadly and generally provides a database comprising at least one record, the aforesaid at least one record comprising: (a) solution metadata relating to an information technology solution; and (b) evaluation metadata relating to a complexity evaluation of the aforesaid information technology solution. | 09-04-2008 |
20080221938 | Equipment Planning Support System for Triple-Deck Elevator - The invention relates to a triple-deck elevator equipment planning support system, arranged such that the average number of times of being stopped per going-round is calculated on the basis of a given building specification and cage specification data in a triple-deck elevator system; a total value of getting-on/off time periods of passengers, a total value of door-opening/closing time periods, and the total value of running time periods are calculated based on the average number; and a going-round time period of an elevator is calculated from these calculation results, and a practical transportation capacity per on triple-deck elevator is calculated. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221939 | METHODS FOR REWRITING AGGREGATE EXPRESSIONS USING MULTIPLE HIERARCHIES - Key performance indicator (KPI) expressions are rewritten using metric hierarchies. A node label is associated with each node in the metric hierarchies, the metric hierarchies arranged in arbitrary trees. Node labels associated with each term in a KPI expression are retrieved, and the terms in the KPI expression are sorted according to the node labels. The terms are grouped according to the node labels, and a collection of groups that covers all the terms in the KPI expression is found. Overlaps in the covering groups may be minimized. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221940 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING THE COMPONENT BUSINESS MODEL TO ANALYZE BUSINESS VALUE DRIVERS - The method and system uses the component business model as a framework for locating business activities. Business value drivers are identified, related in an influence model, and structured into a prioritized driver tree. The driver tree is used to determine the relative contributions of leaf drivers to the overall value of the business. Business activities contributing to the leaf drivers are then identified, and the relative contributions of the leaf drivers are allocated to the business activities and then rolled up to the components for display as a heat map overlay on a component map. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221941 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CAPACITY PLANNING FOR COMPUTING SYSTEMS - A method comprises receiving, by a workload profiler, a representative workload of a computing system under analysis. The workload profiler determines a workload profile of the computing system that reflects a transaction mix that varies over times. A capacity analyzer receives the workload profile, and determines a maximum capacity of the computing system under analysis for serving the workload profile while satisfying a defined quality of service (QoS) target. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221942 | Automatic Generation of Trailers Containing Product Placements - This invention relates to a method and computer system for automatic generation of trailers. More specifically it relates to a method for generating revenues from providers of content data. The method generally comprises the steps of finding product placement data in a super set of data. When these product placements have been found they are preferably matched with a user profile and segments, of the superset comprising these product placements with a positive match, are selected and merged into a subset of data. A counter may keep track of which product placement that has been chosen and how many times a product placement has been chosen and viewed. Based on the value of the counter an invoice is created. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221943 | Retail behavioral tracking using microsystems - An arrangement includes a plurality of containers and a processing circuit. Each of the plurality of containers has a microsystem disposed thereon. Each microsystem is configured to sense at least one environmental condition and to sense movement of the corresponding container. The microsystem is configured to communicate information regarding the at least one environmental condition and the movement wirelessly. The processing circuit is operably coupled to receive the information regarding the at least one environmental condition and the movement from each of the microsystems. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221944 | System and Method for Risk Assessment and Presentment - The method and system enable risk assessment and presentment. The assessment includes estimation of a loss probability distribution of possible losses arising from the failure of business processes. The loss probability distributions of processes can be aggregated according to respective attribute hierarchies. The risk implications of changes within an organization can be assessed due to the linking of process change and operational risk. Control effectiveness, process value at risk, and a comparison of self-assessment against independent assessment can also be measured. The presentment includes an integrated, hierarchical process view of business operations and associated operational and compliance risks and controls, including the relationship between summary level process maps and the underlying detailed level process maps. The hierarchy contains risk and control attributes associated with any particular process. Process attributes in the hierarchy link bottom level processes to the individual business line, department, product, customer segment, or any other aspects of a business operation. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221945 | ECOSYSTEM ALLOWING COMPLIANCE WITH PRESCRIBED REQUIREMENTS OR OBJECTIVES - Systems and methods are provided for creating and maintaining an ecosystem, such as for trading securities. For example, in one system, at least one eligibility prerequisite is identified—governing whether an entity is eligible to participate in the ecosystem—and whether the entity meets the eligibility prerequisite(s) is determined. In addition, at least one ecosystem rule is identified, governing whether an entity is qualified to participate in the ecosystem. An eligible entity may execute a contract in which the entity agrees to adhere to the ecosystem rule(s), thus allowing the entity to participate in the ecosystem. The entity may then enter into at least one designated ecosystem transaction, such as buying a security. Participants in the ecosystem may include issuers of securities, investors, brokers, dealers, and research analysts. In this example, the ecosystem seeks to maximize liquidity and transparency while minimizing regulatory obligations. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221946 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING AND SUMMARIZING WEEKLY PROJECT PROGRESS - The present invention provides a method and system for evaluating and summarizing weekly project progress. The method provides a process for determining and summarizing project progress based on the weekly status of project tasks. The system provides a process operating on a computer system, which includes a computer, a common spreadsheet application, and a software program, operable in combination to graphically represent summarized project progress information based on the weekly status of project tasks. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221947 | Using commercial share of wallet to make lending decisions - Commercial size of spending wallet (“CSoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“CSoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. A modeling approach utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. Banks and lenders can use CSoW/CSoSW to determine who to lend to and who to deny credit to, as well as for pricing loans and other products in a dynamic way. Banks and lenders can also determine which customers should be retained, as well as identify loans which are likely to default. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221948 | Dynamic pricing of items based on number of items sold during a time period - A method comprises sending a first price of an item for sale from a processor to one or more clients over a network, receiving one or more orders for the item at the first price from one or more of the clients, delivering the item to the one or more clients that ordered the item at the first price, establishing a time period for monitoring the quantity of items sold at the first price, monitoring the quantity of items sold at the first price during the established time period, establishing an upper limit for the quantity of items sold at the first price, pricing the item at a second price with the processor based at least on the one or more orders at the first price, and sending the second price over the network to one or more clients. The pricing includes setting the second price above the first price if the quantity of items sold during the established time period is above the established upper limit | 09-11-2008 |
20080221949 | System and Method for Updating Forecast Model - A method for updating a forecast model is disclosed. The forecast model includes parameters that receives collected data representing historical dependent and causal data. The collected data are in different units of measure from one another. Based on the collected data, the forecast model is applied to determine a total error value from a calculation performed on the parameters in the forecast model. To update the forecast model, additional parameters are added, existing parameters are modified, or parameters are removed from the forecast model to determine a modified total error value. The modified total error value is then compared to the original total error value. The parameters are also converted to normalized values to be in a common unit of measure to facilitate the application of the forecast model to determine a total error value. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221950 | STORAGE MEDIUM HAVING REQUIREMENT CONFIRMATION SUPPORT PROGRAM STORED THEREIN, REQUIREMENT CONFIRMATION SUPPORT METHOD, AND REQUIREMENT CONFIRMATION SUPPORT APPARATUS - A requirement confirmation support program a requirement confirmation support method, and a requirement confirmation support apparatus for supporting necessary and sufficient consensus formation between proper representatives. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221951 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POLICING SPECTRUM USAGE - Transferring spectrum use rights may include ascertaining information regarding available spectrum for use in wireless communications. A request for spectrum use from a spectrum user system may be matched with available spectrum. A spectrum certificate may be issued to the spectrum user system, where the spectrum certificate contains at least one spectrum-related variable under which the spectrum user system is to engage in wireless communications. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221952 | WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT SERVER, PROGRESS MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A workflow management server for managing task information of tasks constituting a workflow is disclosed. The disclosed workflow management server includes a circulation route information storing unit configured to store circulation route information defining a circulation route of a progress report on progress of the tasks; a task information retrieving unit configured to retrieve the task information of the tasks to be included in the progress report from a database according to a user request; a progress report generating unit configured to generate the progress report based on the task information retrieved by the task information retrieving unit and the circulation route information read from the circulation route information storing unit; and a progress report sending unit configured to send the progress report generated by the progress report generating unit to terminals according to the circulation route defined by the circulation route information. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221953 | Sentient Optimization for Continuous Supply Chain Management - A system and method is disclosed for incrementally adjusting a supply chain plan. The system includes a database operable to store data associated with one or more supply chain entities and a server system coupled with the database. The server system receives one or more perturbations in supply chain plan inputs from one or more of the supply chain entities, wherein the perturbations are received during a period of time separating a supply chain planning session from a subsequent supply chain planning session and accesses the data stored in the database associated with the one or more supply chain entities. The server system also incrementally and optimally adjusts the supply chain plan based on the one or more received perturbations and the data stored in the database and communicates the incrementally adjusted supply chain plan to the one or more supply chain entities. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221954 | RANKING-BASED METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING CUSTOMER PREDICATION MODELS - A method and system perform ranking-based evaluations for regression models that are often appropriate for marketing tasks and are more robust to outliers than traditional residual-based performance measures. The output provided by the method and system provides visualization that can offer insights about local model performance and outliers. Several models can be compared to each other to identify the “best” model and, therefore, the “best” model data for the particular marketing task. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221955 | BUSINESS METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE BEST KNOWN VALUE AND BEST KNOWN VALUE AVAILABLE FOR SECURITY AND CUSTOMER INFORMATION AS APPLIED TO REFERENCE DATA - A business method allows a reference data facility to provide high quality reference data to multiple customers. The reference data service is predicated on establishing independent contractual arrangements or subscriptions between multiple customers and multiple data vendors. The reference data facility receives value streams from the multiple data vendors and delivers reference data based on those value streams to the multiple customers, depending on the independent contractual arrangements or subscriptions that entitle the customers to receive values from some subset of the data vendors. The reference data facility insures that no customer receives data or benefits from the knowledge of data content from a vendor with whom they do not have a contractual arrangement or to whose data they are otherwise not entitled. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221956 | PROVIDING AUDIO-GUIDED DEPLOYMENT OF DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS - A method for providing audio-guided deployment of a data processing system is disclosed. An unpack instruction related to a data processing system in a first container for audio presentation is designated, and one or more position sensors in the first container are queried to determine whether the position sensors are spatially configured for audible presentation of the unpack instruction. In response to determining that the position sensors are not spatially configured for the audible presentation of the unpack instruction, a position sensor error message is audibly presented. One or more radio frequency sensors associated with the first container are queried to determine whether the first container contents are ready for audible presentation of the instruction, and in response to determining that the first container contents are not ready for audible presentation of the unpack instruction, a radio-frequency sensor error message is audibly presented. In response to determining that the first container contents are ready for audible presentation of the unpack instruction, audio-guided deployment of the data processing system is provided by audibly presenting the unpack instruction. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221957 | System for Issuing Short Life Coupons or Other Promotional Devices - An improved short life coupon system which allows a television viewer to select discount or promotional coupons while viewing a television commercial. Coupon information relating to the commercial is sent to a central station which also contains up-to-date point-of sale information. This information is analyzed by the central station so that the coupon can be specifically designed to satisfy the viewer and maximize sales. | 09-11-2008 |
20080228535 | Information Handling System Deployment Assessment - A client deployment assessment tool which provides a structured approach to evaluating a customer's information handling system deployment processes and tools. The client deployment assessment tool accurately estimates costs and shows how an information handling system provider could reduce those costs. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228536 | System and method for deriving business processes - Embodiments of the present invention improve derivation of business processes. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method of deriving business processes, the method comprising accessing a plurality of event logs, accessing predefined domain rules, associating the event logs with one or more business processes using a first plurality of the domain rules, and deriving a specification for one or more business processes based on a second plurality of the domain rules. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228537 | Systems and methods for targeting advertisements to users of social-networking and other web 2.0 websites and applications - The present inventions manage and deliver electronic advertisements to targeted users of an electronic communication network. The present inventions target advertisements based on the user's interactions with or behaviors exhibited on sites within the communication network. The present inventions also define audiences of target users based on the users' interaction with or behaviors on the sites and/or their responses to advertisements. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228538 | Using commercial share of wallet to analyze vendors in online marketplaces - Commercial size of spending wallet (“CSoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“CSoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. A modeling approach utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. Online marketplaces that allow small businesses to advertise their services can use this CSoW/CSoSW modeling approach to provide a rating that gives an indication of the business prospects of the vendors listed on their sites. Further, such marketplaces can combine this information with their own internal analytics to provide a single holistic rating. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228539 | Using commercial share of wallet to manage vendors - Commercial size of spending wallet (“CSoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“CSoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. A modeling approach utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. Government agencies, procurement departments, and others that patronize small businesses can use CSoW/CSoSW to determine businesses that should be awarded contracts and businesses that should be denied. CSoW/CSoSW may also be used to manage approved vendor lists. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228540 | Using commercial share of wallet to compile marketing company lists - Commercial size of spending wallet (“CSoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“CSoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. A modeling approach utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. Marketing companies that sell lists compile those lists by searching one or more databases for names and/or businesses that match certain criteria. Those marketing companies can use the CSoW/CSoSW modeling approach to show predicted spend and/or revenues for each company on a list. This makes the list more valuable to list buyers. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228541 | Using commercial share of wallet in private equity investments - Commercial size of spending wallet (“CSoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“CSoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. A modeling approach utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. Private equity firms and other investors of small businesses can use the CSoW/CSoSW modeling approach to more accurately evaluate small and privately held companies, both during investment and for evaluating prospective investments. Over-the-counter securities trading systems can also use this modeling approach to provide more accurate information and/or rankings of listed companies to their customers. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228542 | Method and apparatus for cultured sea algae - A method and apparatus for utilizing, processing, distributing and an accompanying business model for sea algae, particularly forced cultured kombu, to prevent the expansion of global warming, by encouraging a re-purchase of the cultured sea algae, by paying the purchaser back, in a constant rate, a part of the profit from the sales of a CO2 omission right, which right depends upon the CO2 absorption and fixation ability. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228543 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO COMPUTE REACH AND FREQUENCY VALUES FOR FLIGHTED SCHEDULES - Methods and apparatus to compute reach and frequency values for flighted schedules are disclosed. An example method includes selecting two media components from a plurality of media components, and calculating a first flighted schedule campaign reach based on the two media components. The example method also includes repeating the selecting and calculating using the first flighted schedule campaign reach and a third media component from the plurality of media components to calculate a second flighted schedule campaign reach associated with the first, second, and third media components. | 09-18-2008 |
20080235066 | TASK MANAGEMENT DEVICE, TASK MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND TASK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM - In a task management device which manages a plurality of tasks arranged in a hierarchical structure and stored in a storage unit, task definition data which describes contents of a task is input. Task information of the task is generated from the input task definition data. The generated task information is stored into the storage unit. A request for generating a set of lower-level tasks from the task information is received. When the request is received, task information of each of the set of lower-level tasks is generated based on a result of analysis of the task definition data for the task information which analysis is performed in accordance with predetermined rules used to define contents of each lower-level task. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235067 | Predictive Cost Reduction Based On A Thermodynamic Model - Predictive cost reduction based on a thermodynamic model, in which parameters associated with a process are accessed. The parameters include a quantity of units of work-in-process at first and second times, and first and second constants respectively indicative of growth between the first and second times, and of a translated reduction of the work-in-process to a reduction of cost. A thermodynamic model is applied to the accessed parameters, and a predictive cost reduction associated with an improvement of the process based on applying the thermodynamic model is output. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235068 | METHOD, COMPUTER SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR DETERMINING A RISK/REWARD MODEL - Determining a risk/reward model for a service provided by a service provider to a serviced entity where a service provider value function for the service is dependent on at least one service provider value parameter. It further comprises provision of a serviced entity value function for the service being dependent on at least one serviced entity value parameter. It further comprises provision of weighting values for the serviced entity value function and the service provider value function. It further comprises provision of a serviced entity base case being characteristic for at least one serviced entity value parameter without provision of a service by the service provider and provision of a set of projects and their interdependencies being eligible for providing the service, each project having a given impact on a subset of one or both of the at least one serviced entity value parameter and at least one service provider value parameter. The risk/reward model is determined by way of performing a selection of the sets of projects resulting in a selection set. The selection takes into consideration the serviced entity value function, the weighting value for the serviced entity value function, the service provider value function, the weighting value for the service provider value function and the serviced entity base case. The risk/reward model provides a risk/reward line for the service to be provided relative to at least one serviced entity value parameter. The risk/reward line is characteristic for whether a reward or a penalty is accredited to the service provider depending on achieved results relative to the risk/reward line. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235069 | Software Application Portfolio Management for a Client - An information technology services providing company manages a portfolio of software applications for a client company. A plurality of the applications are preselected along with a recommendation for each. The recommendations have value drivers with parameters. Values for the parameters are received from the client as responses to questions or through collaboration with the client. A business value is then determined for the value drivers using the parameter values. Total cash flow, return on investment, net present value, internal rate of return, or other financial measures may be calculated. The client decides to proceed with the recommendations and the services providing company delivers services and software according to the recommendations. | 09-25-2008 |
20080243565 | Method and Computer Software for Integrating Systems Engineering and Project Management Tools | 10-02-2008 |
20080243566 | System, Method And Apparatus For Identifying And Correcting Data Integrity Problems Associated With Remotely Located Equipment - A method, system and apparatus for identifying and correcting data integrity problems associated with remotely located equipment, e.g. vending machines, are provided. A handheld device collects a first set of data and a second set of data associated with the remotely located equipment. The handheld device compares the first set of data with the second set of data, and based at least on the comparison, identifies one or more data integrity problems associated with the remotely located equipment. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243567 | SYSTEM AND METHODOLOGY FOR SEQUENTIAL NAVIGATION AND MONITORING IN A BUSINESS PROCESS OR COMPLEX TASK - A method and system to monitor steps in a business process or complex tasks are described. The method may include displaying a graphical step monitor in a graphical user interface of an application, using a plurality of graphical elements indicating statuses of a plurality of steps in a sequence of steps in a process. The method may include receiving update information related to one or more steps of the plurality of steps. The method may also include updating the statuses of the steps for which the update information was received and as indicated by the plurality of graphical elements. Furthermore, the method may include displaying a description region including a further plurality of graphical elements and texts, the texts describing the steps, the statuses of which are indicated by the graphical elements. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243568 | INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEM - The present invention describes mining UCC filings from the various states. The data from the UCC filings is arranged into searchable databases from which competitive marketing and financial information may be gleaned and used to advantage. Details of dates, costs, buyers, sellers, financial terms and financial backers, banks, and others may be gleaned and used for competitive purposes. Special leases and purchasing terms may be formulated at advantageous times that specifically target an area with specificity that enhances the prospects for success. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243569 | AUTOMATED LOAN SYSTEM AND METHOD - The invention provides an automated system and method for providing a loan to a consumer. A loan request is received from a borrower. In response to receiving the loan request, non loan revenue associated with the borrower is determined. At least one loan term for a loan for the borrower is determined, based, at least in part, upon the non loan revenue. The method is carried out by analyzing information related to consumer purchases associated with the borrower. An amount of non loan revenue to be associated with the borrower is based, at least in part, on the information about consumer purchases. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243570 | Time-Based Decomposition for Optimization of Master Planning Problems - A system and method is disclosed for optimization of master planning problems. The system provides for accessing supply chain data describing the flow of one or more items through the supply chain network and accessing constraints and a planning problem associated with one or more entities associated with the supply chain network. The system further provides for modeling a planning problem for a planning horizon based on at least a portion of the accessed supply chain data and the constraints. The system still further provides for decomposing the planning horizon into multiple sub-horizons and optimizing the planning problem for each of the multiple sub-horizons. The system yet further provides for generating an optimal supply chain plan for the planning problem, based on the optimization of the multiple sub-horizons. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243571 | AUDITING ADVERTISEMENT PRESENTATIONS ON A CLIENT DEVICE - An advertisement auditing system determines whether advertisements are being presented to or displayed on client devices in an intended fashion. By comparing expected advertising results with actual advertising results on a client device, it is possible to evaluate the accuracy of advertising campaigns and advertisement content delivery. In various embodiments, the client device(s) may be virtualized to improve flexibility and scalability of auditing functions. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243572 | Market Data-Driven Simulation of Order Book Mechanics - A system and a method are disclosed for simulating data driven market order exchange mechanics. An event processing engine receives a feed of market data and forwards it to an exchange simulator. The feed of market data may be recorded market data, live relayed market data, or simulated market data. A series of order requests is also received. The order requests are market order or limit orders, and can include new orders, amend orders, or cancel orders. The feed of market data is analyzed and an inference algorithm is applied by making probabilistic inferences to determine what actions may have occurred to produce the received feed of market data. A second series of order requests are produced. The received order requests and the second series of order requests are combined with normal exchange rules to produce a stream of simulated market data and a series of updated order requests. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243573 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING THE ACCURACY AND REACH OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS - Methods and apparatus for crediting media exposure are disclosed. An example method includes deriving a plurality of travel paths traversed by respective ones of a plurality of respondents, determining, via a first technique, exposures of the respective ones of the plurality of respondents to a plurality of media sites based on the derived plurality of travel paths, and modifying the determined exposures to the plurality of media sites to improve a statistical accuracy of the modified determined exposures by constraining the determined exposures based on exposure information for the plurality of media sites obtained via a second technique different than the first technique. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243574 | System and method for composite business interactions in electronic commerce - A method, system, computer program product, and data structure for processing requests for services in a networked data processing system is provided. In one embodiment a request is received by a service provider. The request includes defined allowable actions and request definition compositions. The request also includes a plurality of actions wherein the relationships between the plurality of actions are defined. The service provider processes the plurality of actions according to the defined relationships and generates a response. | 10-02-2008 |
20080249815 | Adaptive analytics system and method of using same - An adaptive analytics system comprises a set of analytic type templates representing analytic types, each analytic type template including predetermined report items for generating a report for a respective analysis type; and an analytic framework for defining relations among the analytic types. The relations provides analytic paths for navigating reports. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249816 | System and Method for Monitoring Workflow in a Project Management System - A system comprises a memory operable to store one or more workpapers. The system further comprises a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and operable to determine a completion percentage associated with a particular workstream. The particular workstream may be associated with a plurality of workpapers. A first portion of the plurality of workpapers may be in a first stage of completion, and a second portion of the plurality of workpapers may be in a second stage of completion. Determining the completion percentage may comprise determining a first percentage based at least in part on the first portion and a first weight, determining a second percentage based at least in part on the second portion and a second weight, and adding the first percentage and the second percentage. The processor is further operable to store the determined completion percentage in a memory. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249817 | Monitoring Computer-Controlled Processes - The performance of a computer-controlled system ( | 10-09-2008 |
20080249818 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING ON-LINE DONATIONS - A computer-implemented method and apparatus for processing on-line donations is disclosed. An example embodiment includes elements to generate a donation badge for display on a web page; link the donation badge with an account on a payment site; receive a donation from a donor via the donation badge; and credit the donation to the account linked to the donation badge. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249819 | SUPPORT METHOD AND DESIGN SUPPORT SYSTEM - To provide a method of an a system for supporting creation of improvement structure to reduce member costs, assembly costs, and losses associated with defective assemblies of a product. Parts constituting a product are analyzed into functions, attributes, assembly operations, and assembly attributes; on the basis of the difference between the member and assembly costs due to presence or absence of these elements, elements requiring improvement are extracted; and improvement guidelines are created using similar improvement examples in the past. It is possible to present improvement guidelines in structure to reduce the member costs and the assembly costs. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249820 | CONSISTENCY MODELING OF HEALTHCARE CLAIMS TO DETECT FRAUD AND ABUSE - Transaction-based behavioral profiling, whereby the entity to be profiled is represented by a stream of transactions, is required in a variety of data mining and predictive modeling applications. An approach is described for assessing inconsistency in the activity of an entity, as a way of detecting fraud and abuse, using service-code information available on each transaction. Inconsistency is based on the concept that certain service-codes naturally co-occur more than do others. An assessment is made of activity consistency looking at the overall activity of an individual entity, as well as looking at the interaction of entities. Several approaches for measuring consistency are provided, including one inspired by latent semantic analysis as used in text analysis. While the description is in the context of fraud detection in healthcare, the techniques are relevant to application in other industries and for purposes other than fraud detection. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249821 | SYSTEM FOR COMMODITY SALES - The wishes of purchasers and sellers of particular commodity items are matched using a computer database. Hopeful purchasers submit requests during a predetermined sale time frame. The requests include a desired purchase price and a desired purchase quantity for the particular commodity item. After the predetermined period, purchaser information is used to produce a purchase wish list in a predetermined order. An optimum combination of intending purchasers, selling quantities, selling prices, commodity suppliers, supply quantities, and supply prices is created by comparing the purchase wish list with a supply list. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249822 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESS DISCOVERY - A method for discovering activities or processes within an organization, to be used in a process management and control system, the method comprising the steps of importing one or more actions associated with one or more planned or active projects within the organization, identifying one or more activities from the actions, and updating a pattern library based on the activity. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249823 | Automated sales support method & device - A system and method for notifying salespersons of customer communications including a target item is provided. Individual customers are mapped to one or more salespersons. Target items of interest to a salesperson are defined and a salesperson is associated with a customer. For each salesperson, on-line communication channels are monitored for the occurrence of a communications involving a customer associated with the salesperson and including a target item defined by the salesperson. When such an occurrence happens, a notification is directed to the salesperson. Salesperson access to the system and customer access to the on-line communication channels requires authorization. | 10-09-2008 |
20080255891 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING A BUSINESS PROCESS - A method and system for monitoring and fine tuning a business process are disclosed. A system for monitoring and fine tuning a business process, according to an embodiment of the invention, includes a process cost definition engine to generate and define a cost definition, or function, for each sub-process that is part of a business process. The system may also include a process cost calculator for calculating the cost for each sub-process that is part of a business process, based on the cost function associated with the sub-process. The system may also include a display engine to display various views and communicate data generated by the system to various users of the system. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255892 | System and Method for Oil Production Forecasting and Optimization in a Model-Based Framework - Systems and methods are directed to forecasting oilfield production in an integrated asset management framework and specifying conditions associated with the plurality of models. A graphical interface for generates a plurality of models that represent asset components in the oilfield, and a database stores the plurality of models. An application toolkit for analyzes at least one of the plurality of stored models based on a scenario to forecast a performance of an asset component associated with the at least one analyzed model. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255894 | Electronic product information display system - The invention discloses a printed label and a display shelf for a business establishment, including a display shelf having a length and at least one area on which at least one product is to be placed. The area has a length and a depth. The label includes product information printed thereon for identifying the at least one product for display on the shelf, and first and second space indicators for indicating a position, corresponding to a portion of the length of the shelf, at which the at least one product is to be placed. The label is constructed and arranged to have a predetermined length that is coextensive with the portion of the length of the area of the shelf on which the at least one product is to be placed. The first and second space indicators define the predetermined length. The first space indicator indicates where the portion of the length of the area of the shelf begins and the second space indicator indicates where the portion of the length of the area of the shelf ends. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255895 | System And Method For Generating Data Migration Plan - A system and method for generating a migration plan for migrating data from a first electronic medium to a second electronic medium is provided. The system comprises a migration readiness assessment module for determining a migration recommendation; an effort estimation module for determining a total effort required for migrating data from a first electronic medium to a second electronic medium; and a migration plan generator module for generating a migration plan based on the determined migration recommendation and the total estimated effort. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255896 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AIDING A BUYER TO CREATE A SUPPLIER SCORECARD - A method for aiding a buyer to create a scorecard of a supplier is disclosed. The method comprising the steps of allowing the buyer to select a scoring category for the supplier; allowing the buyer to select a criterion of the scoring category for the supplier; instructing the buyer to input the supplier's performed data related to the selected criterion; calculating a point of the supplier under the selected criterion; obtaining a rating of the supplier under the selected criterion; storing in the database the calculated point and the obtained rating; determining whether the supplier has been rated for all scoring categories if the supplier has been rated for all the criteria of the scoring category; and creating the scorecard of the supplier based on points and ratings of all the criteria of all the scoring categories. A related system is also disclosed. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255897 | Using commercial share of wallet in financial databases - Commercial size of spending wallet (“CSoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“CSoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. A modeling approach utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. Companies which provide databases of financial information about other companies can use scores provided by this CSoW/CSoSW modeling approach to give an indication of how much the company is likely to spend in the future. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255898 | RISK MONITORING APPARATUS, RISK MONITORING SYSTEM, AND RISK MONITORING METHOD - A risk monitoring system is formed of a client terminal, a risk management apparatus, and a security device. A risk calculation portion in the risk management apparatus calculates the vulnerability of each room inside the workplace quantitatively in terms of three viewpoints: individuals, assets, and space, and calculates a risk value of an internal crime in each room in real time by multiplying the vulnerability by the internal crime probability and the asset value. A risk analysis portion analyzes a risk state on the basis of the risk value thus calculated and the analysis result is displayed on a display portion of the client terminal. It is thus possible to understand a risk situation of an internal crime against assets to protect in real time for enabling an action to be taken appropriately according to the situation. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255899 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRACKING AND MANAGING VARIOUS OPERATING PARAMETERS OF ENTERPRISE ASSETS - Various embodiments of methods and systems described herein relate to tracking and/or managing any combination of energy consumption, GHG emissions, carbon credits, and/or costs associated with one or more pieces of equipment, one or more sites, or an entire enterprise. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255900 | PROCESS FOR IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS FOR BUSINESS OUTSOURCING - A process for determining which of a large number of candidate companies are most likely to outsource some aspect of their business operations, based on a mathematical model capable of analyzing a large number of inputs, including financial metrics, executive changes, and other significant corporate events like mergers and acquisitions. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255901 | Kiosk systems and methods - A kiosk includes a front panel defining an opening in a body and an interactive screen positioned within the opening. A moisture resistant support structure is disposed between the front panel and the interactive screen. A central processing unit is disposed within the body and the central processing unit is operatively connected to the interactive screen. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255902 | System asset management - Systems, methods, and computer-storage media of the present invention facilitate the management of assets of an engineered system. These management activities enable a user to understand various conditions surrounding identified system assets and provide tools for guiding decision making in terms of how prioritize projects for such assets. A user interface is also provided to display geospatially associated information relating to a selected portion of a system asset. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255903 | BUSINESS PROCESS EXECUTION METHOD, BUSINESS PROCESS ENGINE AND METHOD FOR DEPLOYING A BUSINESS PROCESS ENGINE - The present invention provides a business process execution method, a business process engine, a method for deploying a business process engine and a computer program product. According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a business process execution method, wherein, the business process is predefined by using Business Process Specification Language, said method comprising: performing said business process and monitoring events generated during the execution of said business process; and jumping from one step of said business process to another step based on a preset jumping rule, thereby changing predefined process of said business process. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255904 | Estimating Off-Line Advertising Impressions - A computer-implemented method for monitoring the effectiveness of advertisements broadcast is described. The method includes detecting that an advertisement has been aired by a broadcast station, monitoring a network for a duration subsequent to the airing of the advertisement for activity attributable to the airing of the advertisement, and developing a quantitative relationship between the activity and a number of listeners of the advertisement. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255905 | Business Systems Management Solution for End-to-End Event Management Using Business System Operational Constraints - The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer program product for implementing a business systems management solution for end-to-end event management. The present invention realizes a number of business systems management functionalities, including defining event databases and means for event monitoring and correlating a customer's business functions by using an enterprise view focused on a system of applications, operating systems, connections, and physical components. Together these components make up a business system as defined by the customer. As such, a business system can cross technology platforms, physical space, and comprise multiple applications, or a business system could be limited to a single platform, location, and application. Components that comprise the business system and enterprise-level event management structure are defined, created, and modified to align the Information Technology with the business system's processes and to aid in the management of the information technology with respect to the business system. | 10-16-2008 |
20080262881 | LOGICALLY CENTRALIZED SCRAP MANAGEMENT USING PLANNING OPERATIONS - The present disclosure relates to methods, systems, and software for processing or otherwise managing scrap information in a business application. For example, the software can instantiate a planning business object using production model data for production activities. The business object data and scrap information may be used to calculate requirements for a production planning model. The calculations may include adding an activity yield to activity scrap and fixed resource scrap to generate a component quantity. The component quantity can be multiplied by a component scrap ratio to generate additional component requirements. The component quantity may be added to the additional component requirements to determine a total quantity. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262882 | Providing and correlating clinical and business performance measures and benchmarks relating to medical treatment - Methods and systems for providing and correlating clinical and business performance measures and benchmarks for medical practitioners are provided. Clinical and business data is collected from a plurality of medical practitioners. The clinical data may pertain to one or more clinical metrics that relate to treatment offered to patients by medical practitioners. The business data may pertain to one or more business metrics that relate to commercial performance of the medical practitioners. Several benchmarking reports are prepared based on this data and provided to different medical practitioners showing them where they stand in comparison to other practitioners within their practice, specific or general discipline or industry. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262883 | Systems and methods for compliance and announcement display and notification - Systems and methods are provided for compliance and announcement display and notification. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262884 | METHODS FOR DETERMINING VALUE AT RISK - A preferred embodiment comprises a method for determining value-at-risk based on tick-by-tick financial data. Major steps of the method comprise the following: (1) financial market transaction data is electronically received by a computer; (2) the received financial market transaction data is electronically; (3) a time series z is constructed that models the received financial market transaction data; (4) an exponential moving average operator is constructed; (5) an operator is constructed that is based on the exponential moving average operator; (6) a causal operator Ω[z] is constructed that is based on the iterated exponential moving average operator; (7) values of predictive factors are calculated; (8) the values calculated by the computer are stored in a computer readable medium, and (9) value-at-risk is calculated from the values stored in step (8). | 10-23-2008 |
20080262885 | FLOW METERING OF VEHICLES USING RTLS TRACKING - A system and method optimizes throughput of tracked assets as work-in-progress (WIP) within a monitored environment such as a manufacturing establishment with off-line processing areas. A plurality of assets such as vehicles have a tag transmitter associated therewith and operative for transmitting a wireless RF signal that includes data relating to the identification of the asset to which the tag transmitter is associated. A real-time location system (RTLS) infrastructure tracks the location of the plurality of assets to various containment, staging, and processing task areas within the monitored environment as WIP. A processor is operative with the RTLS infrastructure for determining an asset input rate into WIP at an origin to the WIP for optimizing asset flow rate as WIP through different containment, staging, and processing areas within the monitored environment. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262886 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING TECHNOLOGY MATURITY - A method for measuring technical maturity index (TMI) for oilfield operations of an oilfield, the oilfield having a subterranean formation with geological structures and reservoirs therein. The method includes sending an assessment including a listing of a number of capabilities to at least one user associated with a first oilfield operation, where each of the number of capabilities is associated with a technology for the oilfield operations, and receiving a first number of responses in response to the assessment for the first oilfield operation, where each of the first number of responses specifies one of the number of capabilities and a level of adoption corresponding to the one of the number of capabilities. The method further includes obtaining a TMI for the first oilfield operation using the first number of responses and presenting the TMI for the first oilfield operation. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262887 | Automated Methods and Apparatus for Analyzing Business Processes - A method of identifying losses in a transactional environment is described. The method includes collecting transactional information related to a business process that has an intended outcome. The transactional information includes transactions involving the use of a computing resource. These transactional information can be resolved into individual components. Losses are identified from the transactional information. Those losses are categorized into a plurality of loss categories. Thereafter, an efficiency metric defining performance of the business process is determined, where the business process is based on the at least one goal and the losses. The efficiency metric is included in a transactional command length map that describes efficiency of the business process. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262888 | Method and system for analytical recruitment - Analytical recruitment by tracking stage, disposition, and time. A recruitment module tracks a stage and disposition of a candidate for a recruitment project as the candidate proceeds through the hiring process. Stages are sequential parts of the recruitment process and dispositions indicate the status of the candidate within the stages. The recruitment module also tracks time spent by recruiters in the recruitment process, by recruitment project and by the type of activity performed. Tracking of this level of detail of time, stage, and disposition provides accuracy in status reporting and recruitment project management. Reports can be generated to reflect various metrics important to the recruitment process, including the hours per candidate presented to the client, and a current status of a project compared to the goal. Finally, data can be stored and tracked for use in invoicing, payroll, forecasting, and other analysis. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262889 | BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION MANAGEMENT - A solution for managing a business transformation is provided. The invention obtains an impact of a business solution for the business transformation on a business concern for an enterprise and relationship information for the business concern with one or more other business concerns and/or value (business) metrics. The impact of the business solution is propagated to a set of business concerns and/or value metrics based on the relationship information. The impact can include a time delay factor, which can be used during evaluation to perform numerous financial related metrics (e.g., return on investment). The relationship information and/or impact can be derived from empirical data using regression analysis or the like. In order to facilitate evaluation of the business transformation, various improved graphical interfaces can be generated that highlight the changes caused by the business transformation for use by a user. | 10-23-2008 |
20080270196 | Transforming A Usecase Scenario To Its Process Model - A method and system are provided for generating a process model from a usecase description model. A model class diagram is defined for formalizing and expressing the usecase description model. From the formalized and expressed usecase description model, an algorithm is defined and invoked to convert the usecase description model to a process model. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270197 | PROJECT STATUS CALCULATION ALGORITHM - Disclosed are a method and system for assessing the status of a project that remove subjectivity from the status reporting by implementing an algorithm to calculate red, yellow, green status of each of a multitude of keys and the overall project. The assessment uses a series of questions based on risk management, project management, system engineering, architecture, and testing disciplines to probe projects and solicit objective responses with scores and a conversion of the score into a red, yellow, green status. The advantage to this solution is that a consistent standard is provided, eliminating the accidental or purposeful exclusion of key details in status reporting that frequently result in a more optimistic status than what reality should reflect. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270198 | Systems and Methods for Providing Remediation Recommendations - In one embodiment, a system and method pertain to receiving audit exceptions indicative of instances of noncompliance of an information system under evaluation relative to a policy or standard, identifying remediation recommendations that are relevant to the audit exceptions and that indicate how to correct conditions that caused the noncompliance, and providing the remediation recommendations to an entity responsible for correcting the conditions so as to provide information as to how the information system can be brought into compliance with the policy or standard. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270199 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGEMENT OF HETEROGENEOUS WORKLOADS - Systems and methods for managing a system of heterogeneous workloads are provided. Work that enters the system is separated into a plurality of heterogeneous workloads. A plurality of high-level quality of service goals is gathered. At least one of the plurality of high-level quality of service goals corresponds to each of the plurality of heterogeneous workloads. A plurality of control functions are determined that are provided by virtualizations on one or more containers in which one or more of the plurality of heterogeneous workloads run. An expected utility of a plurality of settings of at least one of the plurality of control functions is determined in response to the plurality of high-level quality of service goals. At least one of the plurality of control functions is exercised in response to the expected utility to effect changes in the behavior of the system. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270200 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR PANDEMIC PLANNING - A method for pandemic planning includes conducting a preparation stage comprising identifying and inventorying core requirements of an entity's operation; conducting a planning stage including developing action plans to implement the identified core requirements; conducting a practice stage including simulating the action plans; and conducting a performance stage including executing the plans. Each stage considers four focus areas: a people focus area, a policy focus area, a process focus area, and a politics focus area. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270201 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MODELING SERVICES IN A SERVICE-ORIENTED BUSINESS - A method of modeling a service-oriented business including identifying a business service to provide, creating its business specification which specifies business requirements for the provided service, the business specification of a service, and service management terms, storing the business specification for the provided service in a service catalog, creating and reviewing its business process model, the business process model providing a sequence of business tasks in the business process, analyzing each of the business tasks to determine which of the business tasks should be accomplished via required service, process modeling each of the business tasks that are not service tasks, storing a process model for each of the business tasks that are not service tasks in a operation model repository, creating a business specification for each required service and storing the business specification for each of the required services in a repository of business specifications of required services. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270202 | METHODS OF LIFE CYCLE OPTIMIZATION FOR SOLUTIONS INCLUDING TOOLING - This invention relates generally to a method and system for calculating product lifecycle costs, and more particularly, to automatically predicting the timing and costs of future service, maintenance and replacement events of products or a system in an optimized manner. The system and method obtain information about products in the network, store the information on a database, and calculate predicted costs for maintaining an upgrading the system over a determined lifecycle. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270203 | Assessment of Risk to Domain Names, Brand Names and the Like - Assessment of risk to a specified name that represents at least one of a brand name, a domain name, a trademark, a service mark or a business entity name, includes acquiring data relating to the specified name, and quantifying risks to the specified name in the event a third-party has obtained, or were to obtain, a registration to the same name or a variant of the name. Risk scores are associated with the potential and actual registrations. An interactive display showing the risk scores is provided. Monitoring domain names and parsing domain names also are disclosed. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270204 | Method and Arrangement for Arranging Practical Aspects of a Demand Responsive Transport System - Records are produced describing how a passenger uses a transport system in relation to other passengers. A transport server ( | 10-30-2008 |
20080270205 | PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHOD THEREOF - A framework for managing a lifecycle of a program in an organization is provided. The framework includes a process module, a guiding module, a program lifecycle mapping module, and a matrix module. The process module provides a plurality of process guidelines for the one or more stages of the project management lifecycle. Further, the process module includes a strategic planning module, a financial management module, a risk management module, an organization change management module, a stake holder management module, a knowledge management module, a contractual compliance module, a governance module and a program setup module. The guiding module integrates a plurality of organizational attributes with the process guidelines of the process module. The program lifecycle mapping module maps the plurality of process guidelines with the one or more stages of the life cycle. The matrix module provides assignment of program management roles to one or more participants. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270206 | Method for detecting suspicious transactions - A method is described for detecting suspicious financial transactions, especially those as identified by the federal Bank Security Act. An automated means of processing financial data to identify suspicious transactions is described as well as a means to assign and manage a manual review of transactions to employees through an automated method, and to enable distribution of review information through and automated technique. The present invention also provides a method to monitor and enforce employee compliance with federal anti-money laundering laws and organization policy. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method to automatically monitor financial transactions with a collection of specified criteria and send immediate real-time feedback and disabling (lockout) information to terminals where such transactions originate. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270207 | Compliance Monitoring - A system and method for determining compliance for one or more information technology services may generate on the spot compliance reports based on real-time data. Compliance data may be retrieved or received from a variety of sources including incident diagnostic utilities, manual data entry and third-party software or applications. A compliance system and method may monitor the data being generated from each of the various sources in a real-time fashion, generating compliance information based thereon. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270208 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF MULTIPLE AGENCY RESOURCES - A system and method for managing data pertaining to a plurality of organizations and a plurality of facilities, the method comprising obtaining facility identifying information from the plurality of facilities and creating a facility identity record, obtaining population information from the plurality of facilities and creating a population record, obtaining event identifying information from the plurality of facilities and creating an event record, and associating the facility identity record, the population record, and the event record with one or more of the plurality of organizations. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270209 | MERCHANT SCORING SYSTEM AND TRANSACTIONAL DATABASE - A merchant scoring system predicts and reports the likelihood that a merchant is reliable (e.g., trustworthy, honest, and reputable), which is expected to translate into a positive consumer experience. The system collects data from a variety of data sources, including combinations of the merchant, third-parties, and/or customers who have transacted with the merchant. A scoring model is executed on this collected data to determine an independent and objective merchant reliability metric that predicts the expected reliability of a merchant within a range. The system may also track transactions of individual merchants, populating a transaction history database with information about each merchant for use in this collection and scoring process. The transaction history data and other data may also be accessible to a prospective customer to build his or her confidence in and understanding of the merchant reliability metric and his or her trust of the merchant. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270210 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING A REQUIREMENTS PROCESS AND PROJECT RISK-REQUIREMENTS MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGY - A system, method and computer program product for requirements management. Particularly, a requirements management scheme performs at least the following functions: 1) it guides a team through the requirements process and provides a structure for collecting “requests”. By using the scheme, team members are prompted to think about and record relevant information that will help clarify and complete requests; and, 2) the scheme allows users to use the attributes throughout the development process to identify risk and make improvements to their process. Many of these attributes can be refined during the development phase or even later. Besides helping team members achieve continuous improvement in their requirements process by providing a set of data and metrics for collection and assessment, the scheme enables an organization to effectively manage their requirements as well as manage changes to those requirements. | 10-30-2008 |
20080275742 | NESTED HIERARCHICAL ROLLUPS BY LEVEL USING A NORMALIZED TABLE - Nested hierarchies can be efficiently analyzed by normalizing a portion of the hierarchy as defined by a limiting factor for the hierarchy. In a project hierarchy wherein each project contains a task hierarchy, each task hierarchy can be normalized. Further, the projects can be assigned to levels such that data for each level can be indexed, partitioned, or otherwise differentiated. The data then can be efficiently rolled up by level using the partially normalized hierarchy. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275743 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PLANNING - A computer-implemented method of identifying a preferred plan includes modeling one or more plans, each plan having a respective plurality of states and a respective plurality of transitions between the states, generating a respective state transition probability matrix associated with each one of the one or more plans, and generating a respective observation probability matrix associated with each one of the one or more plans. A respective plurality of state histories is identified and a respective quality value for is computed for each state history. A respective expected value is computed for each plan. A preferred plan is identified in accordance with the expected values. A preferred state history is identified in accordance with the quality values. A computer-readable storage medium and a system having a computer-readable storage medium are also provided, each of which is encoded with instructions for performing the method. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275744 | System, method and computer program product for processing and visualization of information - Systems and methods for processing and reporting information and data, such as business information, and more particularly, to systems, software, hardware, products, and processes for use by businesses, individuals and other organizations to collect, process, distribute, analyze and visualize information, including, but not limited to, business intelligence, data visualization, data warehousing, and data mining. Real-time monitoring of web site interactions allows users to modify and fine-tune their websites to maximize value realized. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275745 | METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT AND SYSTEM FOR DEFINING, MEASURING AND MAXIMIZING RELATIONSHIP ALIGNMENT AND MATURITY - A method, computer program product and system for systematically defining, measuring, and maximizing relationship capabilities and the maturity levels thereof and providing the most efficient alignment improvement pathway for individual relationships contained therein, is provided. The present invention is adaptable for use with any relationship, including inter-personal relationships. A particular adaptation includes use of the invention to maximize the success of a customer-based relationship comprising eight key customer-focused business functions that are measured and systematically prioritized for efficient improvement and alignment with needs and expectations. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275746 | CROSS-ENVIRONMENTALLY RELEVANT ITEM COMPLEXITY MANAGER - The present invention provides methods and systems for facilitating exchange of rights associated with environmentally relevant items. The methods and systems may include identifying a first type of environmentally relevant item recognized by a jurisdiction associated with a first type of environmentally relevant action, identifying a second type of environmentally relevant item recognized by a jurisdiction associated with a different type of environmentally relevant action and providing a software-based module by which a user can manage actions relevant to both types of environmentally relevant item. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275747 | INCIDENT/ACCIDENT REPORT ANALYSIS APPARATUS AND METHOD - An incident/accident report analysis apparatus is disclosed. An input unit inputs an incident/accident report containing a crisis rate and an severity of an incident/accident. A probability value corresponding to the crisis rate and a loss amount corresponding to the severity is recorded in a data table. A parameter storage unit stores an N value indicating the number of times a failure occurs and an α value indicating a risk tolerance parameter. A risk calculation unit calculates a incident risk including the loss amount occurring with the probability of α% upon repetition of the same failure N times, using the probability value corresponding to the crisis rate and the loss amount corresponding to the severity. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275748 | Systems and methods for facilitating electronic transactions and deterring fraud - Systems and methods are described for providing fraud deterrents during e-commerce, e-transactions, and digital rights management and access. One or more fraud deterrents may be automatically selected by a client, seller, bank, or other 3 | 11-06-2008 |
20080275749 | ADAPTIVE ESTIMATION OF GAIN AND REVENUE - Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a method, system, and storage medium for facilitating adaptive estimation of gains and revenues. The method includes receiving initial the data for at least one subject to be measured into an adaptive estimator system. The initial the data includes an estimated cost of the subject, a number of clock cycles for the subject, an initial gain function based upon a desired profit, and a measurement period. The method also includes capturing a number of used units during a current clock cycle. Based upon the initial the data and the captured used units, the method includes computing an actual gain. | 11-06-2008 |
20080281645 | Computerized Protection System and Method for Automatically Identifying and/or Characterizing Risk Parameters - The invention concerns a computerized protection system and method for automatically identifying and/or characterizing risk parameters. The invention is characterized in that it comprises a look up table ( | 11-13-2008 |
20080281646 | System and method for automated release tracking - A real estate transaction and release tracking system ensures deeds of trust, liens and other encumbrances are released in a timely manner after a specified (or statutory) period of time following settlement of a real estate transaction. Based on information provided by an agent, such as an escrow agent or a settlement agent, the system creates a unique electronic record for each real estate transaction entered by the agent. The system tracks lien status information, either automatically from other computers or via manual input from searchers, and uses this status information to track each real estate transaction. The system monitors the records and indicates when a lien holder has failed to release their lien after a statutory time period that begins after the passing of the settlement date. When the statutory time period has passed, the system can generate a number of forms, including a demand letter as controlled optionally by the system or the user. The demand letter can be sent to the lien holder demanding them to release the lien. If the lien is not thereafter released, further legal documents can be generated and sent to a law firm or enforcement agent for legal action to be taken against the delinquent lien holder. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281647 | System and method for automated release tracking - A real estate transaction and release tracking system ensures deeds of trust, liens and other encumbrances are released in a timely manner after a specified (or statutory) period of time following settlement of a real estate transaction. Based on information provided by an agent, such as an escrow agent or a settlement agent, the system creates a unique electronic record for each real estate transaction entered by the agent. The system tracks lien status information, either automatically from other computers or via manual input from searchers, and uses this status information to track each real estate transaction. The system monitors the records and indicates when a lien holder has failed to release their lien after a statutory time period that begins after the passing of the settlement date. When the statutory time period has passed, the system can generate a number of forms, including a demand letter as controlled optionally by the system or the user. The demand letter can be sent to the lien holder demanding them to release the lien. If the lien is not thereafter released, further legal documents can be generated and sent to a law firm or enforcement agent for legal action to be taken against the delinquent lien holder. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281648 | System and method for automated release tracking - A real estate transaction and release tracking system ensures deeds of trust, liens and other encumbrances are released in a timely manner after a specified (or statutory) period of time following settlement of a real estate transaction. Based on information provided by an agent, such as an escrow agent or a settlement agent, the system creates a unique electronic record for each real estate transaction entered by the agent. The system tracks lien status information, either automatically from other computers or via manual input from searchers, and uses this status information to track each real estate transaction. The system monitors the records and indicates when a lien holder has failed to release their lien after a statutory time period that begins after the passing of the settlement date. When the statutory time period has passed, the system can generate a number of forms, including a demand letter as controlled optionally by the system or the user. The demand letter can be sent to the lien holder demanding them to release the lien. If the lien is not thereafter released, further legal documents can be generated and sent to a law firm or enforcement agent for legal action to be taken against the delinquent lien holder. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281649 | System and method for automated release tracking - A real estate transaction and release tracking system ensures deeds of trust, liens and other encumbrances are released in a timely manner after a specified (or statutory) period of time following settlement of a real estate transaction. Based on information provided by an agent, such as an escrow agent or a settlement agent, the system creates a unique electronic record for each real estate transaction entered by the agent. The system tracks lien status information, either automatically from other computers or via manual input from searchers, and uses this status information to track each real estate transaction. The system monitors the records and indicates when a lien holder has failed to release their lien after a statutory time period that begins after the passing of the settlement date. When the statutory time period has passed, the system can generate a number of forms, including a demand letter as controlled optionally by the system or the user. The demand letter can be sent to the lien holder demanding them to release the lien. If the lien is not thereafter released, further legal documents can be generated and sent to a law firm or enforcement agent for legal action to be taken against the delinquent lien holder. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281650 | METHOD FOR COMPUTING THE RESILIENCY SCORE OF AN ORGANIZATION OR ANY PART THEREOF - A method computes a resiliency score of an entity by representing the entity as a set of components. The method determines interactions and relationships and can, in one embodiment, determine two types of relationships between the components to produce resiliency scores for the components. These two types of relationships comprise a dependency relationship (whether a first component depends on one or more additional components to function) and a substitution relationship (whether two or more components share some functionality, and whether the first component can be at least partially substituted for one or more additional components). The method computes and outputs an overall score representing a resiliency of the entity based on the scores of the components of the entity and relationships between the components. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281651 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING A STRATEGIC PLAN VIA DEFINING AND ALIGNING STRATEGIC PLAN ELEMENTS - A method and system for managing a strategic plan via developing and aligning strategy elements that include required business outcomes (RBOs), strategic business objectives (SBOs), and desired business outcomes (DBOs). RBOs are developed and assigned to key result areas (KRAs). RBOs are operational goals required by a higher-level organization, and deliverable via an execution of operational activities of a subordinate organization. KRAs are performance measurement categories included on the subordinate organization's scorecard and the higher-level organization's scorecard. SBOs are developed and assigned to KRAs, resulting in a first alignment of RBOs with SBOs. SBOs are strategic objectives of the subordinate organization. DBOs are developed and assigned to KRAs, resulting in a second alignment of DBOs with SBOs. DBOs are desired results of the subordinate organization. Strategic goals of the higher-level organization are monitored using RBO and DBO statuses and the first and second alignments. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281652 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR DETERMINING AN OPTIMAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY REFRESH SOLUTION AND ASSOCIATED COSTS - A method, system and program product for determining an optimal information technology refresh solution and associated costs for implementing the information technology refresh solution in a business. The method includes deploying on a computer system an information technology refresh solution tool that is configured to determine an optimal information technology refresh solution based on business-technical data and/or business rules stored in a data repository. The method further includes updating the stored business-technical data and/or business rules based on one or more business-technical requirements, including any existing business constraints and any prospective business constraints and prioritizing the business-technical data updated to determine the optimal information technology refresh solution, such that, the optimal information technology refresh solution determined can be implemented in the business. Further, the method includes calculating, using the information technology refresh solution tool, an estimation of operational costs for implementing the optimal information technology refresh solution determined. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281653 | System and method for implementation of procedure tracking - A method for enabling managers/users to track the implementation of a procedure made up of many activities, within a large number of categories and over a prolonged period of time. The method includes entering data on the procedure and displaying activities that require attention within a specific category. The method also includes activating one of the categories requiring the manager's/user's attention and clicking a completed activity to open a window that displays any existing data for the activity, such that tracking of the implementation of the procedure is enabled. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281654 | Data center life cycle management - Managing a data center life cycle of an enterprise begins with a policy defining stages of the life cycle and criteria indicating a successful evaluation of each stage. Evaluators, according to a predetermined identity, attest to whether the policy is satisfied for a single stage of the life cycle until all stages are evaluated, but advancement from one stage to the next only occurs upon the policy being satisfactorily met. If the policy is not met, corrective action is taken, including an optional step of notifying personnel of a stage failure. Documenting the attestation is another consideration as is auditing the documenting. In this manner, troubleshooting is enhanced or an historical record is achieved. In the event of multiple evaluators, each may attest to the satisfaction of a portion of the policy. Further definitions include computing configurations per a single machine and/or an entirety of the data center. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281655 | Systems And Methods For Helping Advertisers Take Advantage Of Co-Op Advertising Opportunities - Software is used to automate selection of suitable co-op advertising programs from among choices with which an advertiser has had no prior substantial business relationship, to facilitate production, distribution and tracking of advertisements that comply with the specific requirements of the selected co-op advertising program(s). Of particular interest are Internet Yellow Pages and search engine business indices, although ad-serving networks, and other partner advertising platforms/sites are also contemplated. Preferred systems and methods can be utilized by advertising agencies on behalf of their clients, which among other things allow the agencies to cost-effectively provide services to even very small clients. Different interface skins can be used for displaying summary customer tracking information to advertisers, advertising agencies, co-op program managers, national brand managers, media providers, and so forth. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281656 | METHOD FOR COMPUTING THE RESILIENCY SCORE OF AN ORGANIZATION OR ANY PART THEREOF - A method computes a resiliency score of an entity by representing the entity as a set of components. The method determines interactions and relationships and can, in one embodiment, determine two types of relationships between the components to produce resiliency scores for the components. These two types of relationships comprise a dependency relationship (whether a first component depends on one or more additional components to function) and a substitution relationship (whether two or more components share some functionality, and whether the first component can be at least partially substituted for one or more additional components). The method computes and outputs an overall score representing a resiliency of the entity based on the scores of the components of the entity and relationships between the components. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281657 | System and method for assessing a procurement and accounts payable system - A system for deploying to a client accounting installation a general procurement and accounts payable application specifically configured for the client by an enterprise includes a database server for (1) maintaining on a storage device a database of templates describing procedures for assessing, preparing, developing, deploying and supporting the application, and for (2) serving these templates to team members operating web-enabled terminals for coordinating, recording and tracking team activities with respect to the application while generating a description for adapting a front end server and an accounting system server to the requirements of the client. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281658 | Systems and methods for creating and reviewing vehicle damage repair estimates, and notifying entities of issues relating to manufacturer's warranty or repair content - Methods and systems for generating a damage repair estimate, generating information relating to warranty and short sheet issues for a particular damage repair estimate, identifying included/non-included operations in a target damage repair estimate, and notifying entities of the existence of warranty and short sheet issues. The analysis portion accesses a central database of records for particular vehicles and determines whether a warranty, short sheet, or deviation from pre-determined repair procedures exists and creates a displayable file. Depending on the analysis requested, the system and method displays an appropriate damage estimate analysis. The notification portion accesses a central database of records for particular entities to contact for particular vehicles and electronically notifies entities of the existence of a damage estimate analysis. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281659 | Method and Apparatus for Optimization in Workflow Management Systems - Activities within a workflow are either data management activities (DMAs) or non-DMAs. A workflow is typically carried out by a system by executing one activity after the other. This can, however, be very time consuming. A method and system are provided for optimizing a group of activities (GOA) comprising a DMA, whereby the GOA is comprised in the workflow to improve the overall performance. The method determines the DMAs, and for each DMA, a data level statement (DLS). The GOA is determined and a process graph model (PGM) is determined from the GOA so that the DLS is comprised in the PGM and the semantics of the PGM are identical to those of the GOA. The PGM is optimized for which an optimized GOA is determined. The semantics of the optimized GOA are identical to those of the GOA. In the workflow, the GOA is replaced by the optimized GOA. | 11-13-2008 |
20080288303 | Method for Detecting and Preventing Fraudulent Internet Advertising Activity - A method for preventing fraud in Internet-based advertising. The first step of this method is providing behavior-tracking software on a user computer. That software tracks and analyzes the user's activity across multiple content providers. Next, the system displays content, including advertising, based on preferences inferred from previous activity. Finally, the system identifies behavior patterns consistent with fraudulent activity. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288304 | System and Method for Enabling Decision Activities in a Process Management and Design Environment - A set of decision activities can be provided to a business process management and design software tool. The tool can be used to define various processes that contain one or more activities linked by transitions. During process design time, a business analyst can identify process-relevant data of the process to be presented to the end users. The relevant data can be rendered to the end users at runtime, along with a set of possible options for the activities in a process instance. Upon receiving a decision of the user, the process instance can follow the selected transition to a different activity. Over time, the system can capture the decisions taken by users and enter the data associated with these decisions into a data classifier. In doing so, the software tool can generate suggestions, provide probabilities, automate and distribute workloads, flag abnormalities and deviations and generally improve process design and management. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288305 | Enterprise Decision Management System and Method - A management system and method providing a flexible, iterative approach for conducting strategic consulting and planning engagements as well as application-based and custom system development projects. The system and method are intended to provide a unifying framework to both communicate planning and delivery approaches to clients and to enable collaboration among various personnel called upon to deliver a client solution. In one embodiment, said method includes creating a decision inventory and business process flow, identifying and designing models to inform decision yield and business architecture requirements; capturing baseline decision yield information; and quantifying potential improvements to the decision yield to determine a decision yield value proposition with said quantifying being based at least in part on said captured baseline decision yield information. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288306 | System, method and computer program product for processing and visualization of information - Systems and methods for processing and reporting information and data, such as business information, and more particularly, to systems, software, hardware, products, and processes for use by businesses, individuals and other organizations to collect, process, distribute, analyze and visualize information, including, but not limited to, business intelligence, data visualization, data warehousing, and data mining. Real-time monitoring of web site interactions allows users to modify and fine-tune their websites to maximize value realized. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288307 | PROJECT MANAGEMENT SUPPORT DEVICE AND METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed is a project management support device which compares, when a project is planned, standard work information stored in a standard work information database | 11-20-2008 |
20080288308 | Method and Apparatus for Outsourcing Liquidity Transactions - Method and apparatus for managing financial transactions for multiple counterparties that allows traders, market makers, dealers, and prime brokers to negotiate with multiple liquidity providers simultaneously, and to receive and respond to transaction processing directives and settlement instructions in real time. The invention, which may be accessed over an interconnected data communications network, such as the Internet, using a standard Web browser, as well as via a proprietary user interface, automatically provides customers, traders, executing banks, funding banks, prime brokers and liquidity providers with up-to-date settlement and allocation details for previously-executed financial transactions as they are received. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288309 | FUTURE TECHNOLOGY PROJECTION SUPPORTING APPARATUS, METHOD, PROGRAM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A FUTURE TECHNOLOGY PROJECTION SUPPORTING SERVICE - A technology projection supporting apparatus includes a describing section extracting unit and steps for extracting a problem describing section and an effect describing section from each technical document, a technical phrase extraction unit and steps to extract a technical phrase, which indicates a matter to be achieved by a technology, from each of the problem describing section and the effect describing section, an impact determination unit and steps for determining a business impact to be made by the matter indicated by the extracted technical phrase, a naming unit and steps for naming the extracted technical phrase; and a technology map generation unit for generating a technology map. The generated technology map has axes indicating time length to be required to implement technology and business impact. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288310 | METHODOLOGIES AND SYSTEMS FOR MOBILE MARKETING AND ADVERTISING - Methods and systems analyze the efficacy of mobile marketing and advertising taking into account more than those attributes which were originally selected for the selected target profile(s) associated with a mobile marketing or marketing or advertising campaign. More specifically, the analysis includes consideration of profile attributes that need not be subsets of the specified profile attributes. The analysis results may then be used to manage future mobile marketing or marketing or advertising campaigns or campaign phases more effectively. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288311 | Job Referral Network System - A system and software for networking of job seekers and company insiders associated with companies having available job openings, and which provides incentives for the job seekers and the company insiders to work together to secure employment of the job seekers in the available job openings. One category of incentive is a referral bonus offered and paid by job candidates to company insiders. Another category of incentive is a signing bonus offered and paid by company insiders to accepted job candidates. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288312 | GENERATING SUFFICIENTLY SIZED, RELATIVELY HOMOGENEOUS SEGMENTS OF REAL PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS BY CLUSTERING BASE GEOGRAPHICAL UNITS - Systems and methods for generating segments of real property transactions by clustering base geographic units are provided. According to one embodiment, information regarding real property transactions is received, each transactions corresponds to a base geographic unit based on a physical location of a real property associated with the transaction at issue. For each value of a clustering function represented within the real property transactions, relatively homogeneous segments of transactions are built by aggregating transactions of the base geographic units into clusters based on a predetermined similarity function evaluating corresponding numerically valued attributes associated with the base geographic units until each segment has a sufficient number of transactions to provide desired accuracy, reliability or usefulness in the context of desired numerical modeling or analysis and all real property transactions have been assigned to a segment. Then, the desired numerical modeling or analysis can be performed based on the resulting segments. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288313 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EVALUATING ENTERPRISE ISSUES, STRUCTURING SOLUTIONS, AND MONITORING PROGRESS - The present disclosure provides systems and methods for evaluating business issues, structuring solutions, and monitoring progress that enable organizations to capitalize on organizational intelligence and intrinsic knowledge. In an embodiment, the method comprising: defining a framework that includes an executive level task related to work for operating an organization, directing level task related to the executive level task, and a managing level task related to the directing level task; defining a point-of-view of interest; generating a criteria related to the managing level task and the point-of view; generating a question related to the criteria; gathering input relating to the question; determining a score based on the input; and generating a profile based on the score. The score may be based on an achievement value, criteria weights and question weights. The inputs may come from individual interviews, facilitated group sessions, electronic surveys, internal reviews, and/or document reviews. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288314 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND OPTIONS FOR PUBLICATION ADVERTISEMENT INFORMATION MANAGEMENT - The preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for the improved management and distribution of advertising specifications for publications. The management system preferably includes a plurality of publishers, a central repository, and a plurality of users. The publisher develops a set of advertisement specifications for use with their publication and posts the specifications as a template on their server. The set of advertisement specifications is then retrieved and stored at the central repository by an intelligent software agent. Templates stored at the central repository may then later be requested by any of a plurality of users, such as advertising agencies, for use in creating advertisements. The central repository preferably stores sets of advertisement specifications representing a large number of publications so that the user may use the central repository as one-stop-shopping for all the user's specification needs for a variety of publications. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288315 | Location Based Services Revenue Sharing and Cost Offsetting - An opportunity server tracks in vehicle information system wireless web transactions using session identifiers, aggregates transaction records into session data, and uses session data assign cost of network and system usage to a winning bidding party in an online offering system so as to offset costs to the user for usage of the system. Credits are posted to share revenue and offset costs of OEM equipment and network access metered fees, thereby reducing the cost of said transactions by a user and promoting unfettered use of in vehicle information systems for a variety of services, purposes, and transactions. | 11-20-2008 |
20080294471 | Event-based analysis of business objectives - Aspects of the invention relate to displaying on a graph data describing events and data describing key performance indicators (KPIs). The event data describes an occurrence that may influence the performance objectives of a business, such as the appearance of an advertisement for the business in a magazine. The KPI data describes a quantifiable measure of the business's performance, such as the number of sales of a product. The event data and KPI data are received and displayed on a graph so that the business owner can understand the relationship between the events and the KPIs. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294472 | Server For a Distributed Power Generation Management System and Power Generation Management System Using the Same - This invention is a server for calculating a value of a power generated by distributed power generation with a small environmental load. The server has a function of receiving power information on a distributed power-generation facility transmitted through a network from an information terminal possessed by at least one of a holder of the distributed generation facility, a power manager of the distributed generation facility, and a trader brokering power related payment of the holder of the distributed generation facility, a function of accumulating the received power information, directly inputted power information, and value information used for determining a value of the power, and an arithmetic function of calculating the value of the power from the power information and value information. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294473 | System and Method for Automatic Testing of Planning Results - A system and a method are disclosed for automatically testing planning results, the tests being made possible by a data processing device in which planning results that are to be verified are stored in an electronic format, and with the aid of software used for performing automatic and systematic tests. The software can contain test criteria that are stored in the form of rules as well as test programs which have access to the planning results and the rules. Additionally, display and/or output media are provided to output test results. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294474 | MANIFEST DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD - There is provided a method and system of determining efficient routing of a mail piece in a delivery system for delivering mail pieces. The system determines whether or not the mail piece requires urgent delivery. The system determines a weight of the mail piece. Also, the system determines, based on the urgency determination and the weight determination, a most cost-effective place in which to introduce the mail piece into the delivery system. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294475 | SYSTEMS AND APPARATUS TO DETERMINE SHOPPER TRAFFIC IN RETAIL ENVIRONMENTS - Methods and apparatus to determine shopper traffic in retail environments are disclosed herein. In a disclosed example method of generating shopper traffic data, in-person-based count data and sensor-based count data are obtained. The in-person-based count data is indicative of a first quantity of shoppers within a first zone of a monitored establishment is obtained. The sensor-based count data is indicative of a second quantity of shoppers within the first zone of the monitored establishment. The example method also involves determining a relationship value indicative of a relationship between the in-person-based count data, the sensor-based count data, and first sales data associated with the first zone of the monitored establishment. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294476 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MONITOR IN-STORE MEDIA AND CONSUMER TRAFFIC RELATED TO RETAIL ENVIRONMENTS - Methods and apparatus to monitor in-store media and consumer traffic related to retail environments are disclosed herein. In a disclosed example method to monitor a monitored establishment, a survey is presented to an auditor and a user-provided survey response is received indicative of a condition in a monitored establishment that affects an accuracy of shopper count information provided by the auditor. Instructions are displayed to the auditor to sequentially move to a plurality of predetermined locations in the monitored establishment and collect a shopper count corresponding to each of the predetermined locations. The example method also involves receiving and storing each of the plurality of shopper counts. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294477 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCORPORATING PACKAGIN AND SHIPPING RAMIFICATIONS OF NET PROFIT/LOSS WHEN UP-SELLING - An up-sell and down-sell method and system that considers a ranking of the individual marginal profit/loss of adding every product SKU of a merchant to an order (or a certain subset of SKU's based on other criteria), considering not only certain traditional fixed metrics the merchant may define such as product gross margins, credit card fees and labor costs (the cost of the pick)—but most importantly, variable packaging and shipping costs as well. In particular, the invention focuses on the packaging and shipping ramifications of up-selling every potential merchant SKU (or a certain subset of SKU's based on other criteria) to customer's order and down-selling each item already in customer's order. Once an adjusted net profit/loss ranking by SKU is available that considers variable shipping and packaging ramifications of up-selling such SKU to an existing order, a merchant can then determine to factor such ranking in how it up-sells or down-sells—including but not limited to up-selling certain SKU's and not others, structuring different discounts on different SKU's and potentially incentivizing customers to delete certain items in their order. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294478 | DOCUMENT SECURITY WITHIN A BUSINESS ENTERPRISE - A computer-based method for defining an enterprise organisation providing electronic document security. Enterprise elements of management groups are defined to correspond with an area of accountability, each group having one of several types, including “line of business”, “key results area”, and “senior management”. Each group has several subgroups, including “group head”, “administrative assistant” and “direct report”. Employees are assigned to one or more management group and subgroup, and management groups are related to each other to represent the organisation hierarchy. Groups may be related as “reports to”, “services”, or other defined relationships. Documents are defined having document content and properties. The properties include owning and related management groups. Access to the document is declared so that employees have a level of access based on membership of one or more groups. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294479 | Data processing system and method - A data processing system including a database, a file server coupled to the database, a template engine coupled to the file server. The template engine being configured to create a plurality of insurance brokerage industry templates. The system further including an application service provider interface logic coupled to the file server and the template engine. The application service provider interface logic being configured to receive commands via a communication network from a client device to access an open platform template library in the database and retrieve one of the plurality of insurance brokerage industry templates. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294480 | Creating a privacy policy from a process model and verifying the compliance - The present invention provides methods and apparatus for creating a privacy policy from a process model, and methods and apparatus for checking the compliance of a privacy policy. An example of a method for creating a privacy policy from a process model according to the invention comprises the following steps. First, a task from the process model is chosen. Then one or more of the elements role, data, purpose, action, obligation, and condition are gathered from the task and a rule is build up by means of these elements. Finally the rule is added to the privacy policy. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294481 | Data Management and Processing System for Large Enterprise Model and Method Therefor - A computer system performs data processing using a data organizer which parses a primary set of data into predefined sets of data components according to one or more enterprise models. The sets of data components from the data organizer are respectively stored in multiple data sources. The data components may be stored as a binary file or hierarchical file. A plurality of data processing systems execute the enterprise models. A task manager controls which enterprise model executes on each data processing system. The data processing systems access the data components from the data sources which correspond the executing enterprise model. The data components are sent over dedicated communication channels to the data processing systems. Each data processing system may have a data interface, which is configured to receive data from different sources and convert the data into a standard format. | 11-27-2008 |
20080300928 | Publishing and deploying business processes - Publishing a business process includes accessing a business process that includes activities, where each activity is associated with an abstract role. Organizational roles are accessed. Each abstract role is matched with an organizational role. The business process is published to a data repository by creating a plurality of object classes representing the business process having the matched organizational roles. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300929 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVOLUTIONARY LEARNING OF BEST-OF-BREED BUSINESS PROCESSES - A method of evaluating business processes comprises inputting a set of initial processes, inputting a distance function, and determining whether new processes are allowed. If such new processes are not allowed, the method determines which of the initial processes is the best process by applying the initial processes to the distance function to determine which of the initial processes has the lowest measure score produced by the distance function. Therefore, the method identifies the initial process having the lowest measure score as the best-of-breed process. If such new processes are allowed, the method determines which of the initial processes and the new processes is the best using the following process. The process of finding the best process translates the initial processes to counterparts for use with an evolutionary algorithm and selects a fitness function for the evolutionary algorithm. This process continues by applying the evolutionary algorithm to the counterparts using the fitness function to generate an output state (score) and determining which of the processes is closest to the output state to identify the best process. Then the best-of-breed process can be translated and output to the user. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300930 | DEVELOPING AND STRUCTURING BUSINESS ECOSYSTEMS - This present invention structures and implements a process for alliance development using an ecosystem of partners around a defined solution framework. Under the present invention, the solution framework is first defined, and then an ecosystem is developed to strengthen and implement the solution (and the portfolio of offerings available within the solution area). As such, a solution provider will define a framework for a particular opportunity, and then identify a set (at least one) of solution partner to help fulfill the framework. Collectively, the solution provider and solution partner(s) function collectively within the ecosystem to capitalize on the opportunity. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300931 | OPTIMIZATION PROCESS AND SYSTEM FOR MULTIPLEXED GATEWAY ARCHITECTURE - Process and system for optimizing one of uploading and downloading of at least one file through at least one lender in multiplexed gateway architecture. The process includes identifying available lenders coupled to a multiplexed gateway within a vicinity of a borrower, selecting an optimization criterion, and selecting a number of the identified available lenders based upon the selected optimization criterion. The method also includes dividing at least one file to be one of uploaded and downloaded into parts corresponding to the number of selected lenders, and assigning a part of the at least one file to each selected lender. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300932 | OPTIMIZATION PROCESS AND SYSTEM FOR NON-MULTIPLEXED PEER-TO-PEER ARCHITECTURE - Process and system for optimizing one of uploading and downloading of at least one file through at least one lender in a peer-to-peer architecture. The process includes identifying available lenders within a vicinity of a borrower, selecting a number of lenders based upon at least one requester optimization criterion, dividing the at least one file to be one of uploaded or downloaded into parts corresponding to the number of selected lenders, assigning a part of the at least one file to each selected lender, and performing one of an upload or a download of the parts through the selected lenders. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300933 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING STRATEGIC SOURCING AND VENDOR MANAGEMENT - A system and method for facilitating consistent management of a repeatable procurement process within an organization is disclosed. The system enables various members of the organization to follow a set of defined core processes to engage stakeholders by understanding the stakeholder's business and building a trusted advisor relationship. Further, the core processes define an analysis stage that includes an opportunity assessment, development of a strategic plan, development of a commodity profile, and finalizing a sourcing plan. Sourcing includes obtaining sponsorship, assembling a sourcing team, selecting suppliers for an RFP, and selecting a supplier based on a proposal. The core process for performing negotiations and contracting includes developing a negotiation strategy, performing the negotiation, selecting suppliers, and obtaining funding. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300934 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVOLUTIONARY LEARNING OF BEST-OF-BREED BUSINESS PROCESSES - A method of evaluating business processes comprises inputting a set of initial processes, inputting a distance function, and determining whether new processes are allowed. If such new processes are not allowed, the method determines which of the initial processes is the best process by applying the initial processes to the distance function to determine which of the initial processes has the lowest measure score produced by the distance function. Therefore, the method identifies the initial process having the lowest measure score as the best-of-breed process. If such new processes are allowed, the method determines which of the initial processes and the new processes is the best using the following process. The process of finding the best process translates the initial processes to counterparts for use with an evolutionary algorithm and selects a fitness function for the evolutionary algorithm. This process continues by applying the evolutionary algorithm to the counterparts using the fitness function to generate an output state (score) and determining which of the processes is closest to the output state to identify the best process. Then the best-of-breed process can be translated and output to the user. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300935 | EXCHANGE RATES FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY RELEVANT ITEMS - The present invention provides methods and systems for facilitating exchange of rights associated with environmentally relevant items. The methods and systems may include identifying a first environmentally relevant item associated with an environmentally relevant action, identifying a second environmentally relevant item associated with an environmentally relevant action and identifying at least one common attribute of the environmentally relevant items, thereby facilitating establishing a comparison of the environmentally relevant items. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300936 | MARKET OVERSIGHT FACILITY FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY RELEVANT ITEMS - Methods and systems for facilitating exchange of rights associated with environmentally relevant items are provided. The methods and systems may include identifying a first environmentally relevant item, identifying a second environmentally relevant item and providing a software-based module for a market oversight facility by which at least one user may oversee at least one activity relevant to the first and second environmentally relevant items. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300937 | Event-linked social networking - Embodiments of the invention provide increased user-to-user interaction and increase the sphere of influence event attendees have on one another by sharing what event functions and other features are being attended by persons having similar interests. Embodiments of the present invention may provide a new and enhanced end-user interface to social networking users, especially individual and business attendees of large events. Embodiments of the invention expand social networking principles to allow event attendees to influence and rely on one another in selecting courses and sessions. This may be accomplished by allowing a particular attendee to view the chosen schedules of other attendees while the particular attendee is selecting an attendance schedule before and throughout a conference or other similar event by searching for and matching user characteristics in social-networking fashion and displaying event functions selected by matching users. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300938 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROL AND ADAPTATION OF CARRIER INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROCESS USING FORMAL CARRIER PRODUCT DEFINITION - An automated process that allows the posts to obtain a computer description of mailer's requirements for new carrier products and a description of available carrier operational constraints and capabilities in computer processable format; translating the mailer's requirements for the new carrier products into a sequence of computer actionable instructions that may be exercisable by carrier operations; and comparing by the computer the sequence of computer actionable instructions and the carrier operational constraints and capabilities to determine feasibility of the mailers requirements. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300939 | Computer-Implemented Method for Evaluating an Investment - A computer-implemented method for evaluating an investment employs primary entries and associated impact groups to represent financial outflows and inflows over the investment period. During a calculation phase, the primary entries are processed to generate data the represents such financial inflows and outflows in a form suitable for discounting into a net present value. Distribution factors can be used to allocate the value of the primary entry over corresponding user-defined budgeting periods. Annual entries can be defined and allocated during the calculation phase into corresponding primary entries. Calculations pertaining to conditional inflows and outflows can also be carried out in the calculation phase. In addition, rules-based logic can be used to adjust dates pertaining to the inflows and outflows (such as shifting days ahead in manner that accommodates for non working days). The user can apply variation factors to numeric values used in the calculation phase. Such variation factors permit the methodology to quickly and conveniently model scenarios that affect a primary entry or item or other calculation. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300940 | Capturing Consumer Requirements - Disclosed herein is a computer implemented method and system for capturing desires and needs of a consumer. A toolbar application is provided to the consumer. The toolbar application accepts inputs from the consumer. The inputs are desires and needs of the consumer. The inputs of the consumer are transmitted to a central intelligence server. The central intelligence server analyzes the inputs and categorizes the inputs of the consumer into product and service categories. The categorized inputs of the consumer are then sold to the vendors of the related products and services. The toolbar application thereby enables the vendors to capture the desires and needs of the consumer. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300941 | AIR CARGO YIELD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR UTILIZING BOOKING PROFILES AND UNCONSTRAINED DEMAND - A yield management method and system, particularly for maximising a revenue that can be obtained from a given capacity that is offered by a cargo flight; the capacity is defined by two different variables consisting of the weight and the volume of the freights that may be transported by the flight. A set of historical profiles of the capacity (weight and volume) reserved by each category is stored for different previous instances of the flight. Corresponding potential profiles are estimated independently for the weight and the volume. The estimation is carried out taking into consideration the corresponding capacity currently reserved by the category for a future instance of the flight; moreover, this result is emphasised according to a corresponding unconstrained demand for the category. A series of historical scenarios of the demand at the departure of each previous instance of the flight are then obtained from the potential profiles. A stochastic model is applied to the historical scenarios according to the corresponding probabilities for calculating the optimised weight and volume authorisations for each category. | 12-04-2008 |
20080306781 | Method and apparatus for identifying and contacting customers who are due for a visit but have not scheduled an appointment - A method and apparatus for identifying and contacting customers who have not responded to reminders to schedule a return appointment, or who are due for a visit according to accepted standards of care or office policies, but have not scheduled an appointment. A management database is queried to determine which customers have failed to respond to recall notices. The resulting list of customers may be sorted or filtered so that some customers are preferentially contacted first, based on expected value or office preferences. The list may also be sorted or filtered to fill specific providers' schedules first. Customer names and contact information are then presented to schedulers so that customers may be contacted. The time and date of each contact is automatically recorded along with the outcome of the contact. A customer name is presented to a scheduler only if the same name is not being simultaneously presented to other schedulers and that customer was not too recently contacted, so that redundant or too frequent contacts are avoided. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306782 | Method of Driving Traffic From a Mobile Wireless Device to an E-Commerce Site and Tracking that Traffic - An entity registers as an affiliate of an e-commerce site and then publishes information that promotes that WWW e-commerce site; an end-user with a mobile wireless device, sees that information and as a consequence sends a request to a remote server that can interact with the e-commerce site under control inputs from an application running on the device. The request includes data that uniquely defines the affiliate. This approach makes is easy to become an affiliate able to drive traffic from a mobile wireless device to a WWW e-commerce site; this is based on the re-use of existing affiliate management systems (previously not thought relevant to the m-commerce environment). Further, the mechanism for creating traffic for a WWW e-commerce site is easy; it just involves an affiliate publishing certain information. Still further, it is easy to track interactions between a mobile wireless device and a WWW e-commerce site and link them to appropriate affiliates; this is again based on the re-use of existing affiliate management systems (previously not thought relevant to the m-commerce environment). Finally, it is easy to pay affiliates, as well as the infrastructure operator that runs the remote server, since both can be paid using the existing affiliate management systems (again, previously not thought relevant to the m-commerce environment). | 12-11-2008 |
20080306783 | Modeling a supply chain - A method, system, and computer program product for modeling a supply chain. The method includes modeling a storage element in the supply chain as a place node and modeling an activity in the supply chain as a transition node. The transition node includes at least one of an immediate transition node, a timed transition node, and a substitution transition node. An item moved through the supply chain is modeled as a token, where the token includes multiple attributes associated with the item. The place node is linked to the transition node with a directed arc, with the directed arc indicating the direction of token movement between the place node and the transition node. The linked place and transition nodes are organized as a supply chain model that represents the flow of items through the supply chain. In addition, performance metrics for the supply chain model are defined. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306784 | Computer-implemented methods and systems for analyzing clauses of contracts and other business documents - A computer-implemented method for analyzing clauses of business documents of an enterprise may include steps of providing a database and storing a plurality of business documents used by the enterprise in the database. Each of the plurality of business document stored in the database may include a plurality of clauses, and each of the plurality of clauses may be associated with a plurality of clause attributes and a clause attribute value for each of the plurality of clause attributes. The method may include steps of prompting for a value of at least one of the clause attributes; obtaining at least one value for the prompted clause attributes and querying the database to identify all occurrences of clauses used in at least one of the stored business documents whose clause attribute values match each obtained value for the prompted clause attributes. A business document clause analysis report may then be generated that includes each identified matching clause occurrence. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306785 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR OPTIMIZING SUPPLY CHAIN CONFIGURATIONS - A machine-implemented method for optimizing a supply chain configuration may include retrieving a supply chain configuration and financial requirements for a product, receiving user input to optimize the supply chain configuration, and outputting at least one most profitable scenario over a desired time period. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306786 | License management tool to monitor and analyze license usage to determine need for additional licenses - License management techniques for managing and analyzing license usage among license consumers. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306787 | Method and System for Automatically Measuring Retail Store Display Compliance - Methods and systems for measuring retail store display compliance are provided. One or more images of one or more retail store conditions are captured and associated with related information. The one or more captured images and the related information are transmitted to a processing location for storage and processing. The one or more captured images and the related information are received at the processing location, stored in a repository and processed. The one or more retail store conditions in the one or more captured images are compared with a library to identify them and obtain identification information. The one or more identified captured images and identification information for the one or more retail store conditions are stored in the repository. The one or more retail store conditions in the one or more captured images and identification information are analyzed and one or more summary reports or one or more alerts are generated based upon the analysis. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306788 | Spen Data Clustering Engine With Outlier Detection - Disclosed herein is a computer implemented method and system for grouping spend items in a list of said spend items, and for detecting outliers. The spend items entered into the spend database are phonetically sorted and grouped into second level clusters by the spend data clustering engine. In the first level of clustering, first level clusters are created by matching the spend items using generated word tokens and sorted sound codes. The unique spend items, in the list generated after first level clustering, are further matched to create second level clusters. The first level clusters are updated based on the second level of clustering. In order to determine discrepancies in clustering and spend, statistically deviating outliers are detected in each second level cluster. This engine provides clustering at configurable levels of accuracy. The engine's specific combination of word token and sound code matching provides accurate results for spend items. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306789 | System and Method for Generating Revenues in a Retail Commodity Network - Embodiments disclosed herein provide viable revenue models for a service provider that offers price protection on a retail commodity to businesses as well as individual consumers in a retail commodity network. Specifically, embodiments disclosed offer a plurality of revenue flows in which the cost incurred by a service provider to offer hedge positions associated with a retail commodity can be offset in a variety of ways to cover the operating expenses and generate realistic profits. In some embodiments, a revenue model for a service provider in a retail commodity network may be built depending upon whether hedging cost information is generated internally or obtained externally. Such cost may be passed on to a customer entirely, none at all, or somewhere in between. Embodiments disclosed herein further provide a plurality of revenue sources and ways to generate revenues therefrom. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306790 | Method and apparatus for generating and transmitting an order initiation offer to a wireless communications device - A system for generating and transmitting an order initiation offer to a wireless communications device (WCD), including: an identification element, in a processor of at least one specially programmed general-purpose computer, arranged to identify, using an interface element in the computer, a WCD; an eligibility element, in the processor, arranged to determine if the WCD is eligible to receive an order initiation offer; an executable element, in the processor, arrange to generate, using a set of rules or an artificial intelligence program, at least one executable, the rules and program stored in a memory for the computer; an offer element, in the processor, arranged to generate, for an eligible WCD and using the executable, an appropriate order initiation offer; and a transmission element, in the processor, arranged to transmit, using the interface element, the appropriate order initiation offer to a wireless communications network for transmission to the WCD. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306791 | Method and system for utilizing drive-time calculation - Described is a method and system for tracking leads and setting appointments. In the method and system an inquiry is received from a prospect. The zip code of a location for the prospect is entered into a database on a computer system. This database contains the estimated drive time between every pair of zip codes in a preselected territory. All prior recorded appointments in the database that are scheduled for future dates and times are identified and the estimated drive time from each of said appointments to the zip code location of the prospect is determined. A table of the estimated drive times from the prospect to the prior recorded appointments is created so that an appointment time and date can be selected with the shortest drive time. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306792 | Brokerage service method and system using human networking - Provided is a brokerage service method and system using human networking that can quickly provide a user with information or service that the user desires and also can improve reliability of the provided information or service. The present invention is constructed to repeat operations of receiving, from a user, a request for information or service that the user desires, and contact information of a possible information/service provider that the user is aware of, transferring the request to the possible information/service provider, obtain a positive response for the request or contact information of another possible information/service provider, and transferring the request to the other possible information/service provider, and thereby to transfer the request of the user based on human networking and to connect a corresponding possible information/service provider with the user when a positive answer is received. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306793 | Apparatus and Method for Automatically Improving a Set of Initial Return on Investment Calculator Templates - A method for updating the return on investment (ROI) templates used by business consultants. The present invention comprises a Template Evaluation Program (TEP) and a Template Analysis Program (TAP). The TEP compares the default template to the templates modified by the consultants for the customer's ROI analysis and assigns an effectiveness factor to the modified templates. The TAP develops a data list from the default templates and the effectiveness factors and plots the data on a histogram. The TAP performs a statistical analysis for each parameter and updates the default template parameter values if the data fits a normal distribution curve. If the data forms more than one peak on the histogram, then the TAP uses one peak to update the default template and uses the second peak to create a new template. The new template's parameter value is derived from the data in the second peak. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306794 | Measurement of content placement effectiveness over web pages and like media - A system estimates the part of a current content page that is currently visible on a user screen. A movement detection unit detects movement of the content page within the user's browser, and an estimator infers whether a particular content item of interest is within the currently visible area. The movement detection unit in one version detects operating system directives to find out whether the user is scrolling etc through the page. Alternatively an identifiable point is placed on the content item and continual measurement is made between identifiable point in the content and a point in the currently visible area. The system is useful for providing statistical data about the effectiveness of advertisement placement within web pages. | 12-11-2008 |
20080312978 | System and Mechanism for Proactive Supplier Hub Management - A system and method for allowing an organization access to supplier data, allows an organization which has outsourced one or more supply functions to one or more suppliers, permits feeding in real-time data from suppliers and processing and analyzing the data to determine performance metrics. Monitoring of these performance metrics against thresholds, which are established periodically based on customer data and forecast data, allows for the generation of alerts when the thresholds have been exceeded. This may occur, for example, when a supplier contract may have been violated or when new controls may need to be enforced within the contracts. Corrective actions may be taken in response to alerts, and these actions may modify previously established performance metrics and provide for recalculating the performance metrics with the new data. | 12-18-2008 |
20080312979 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ESTIMATING FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF PACKAGED APPLICATION SERVICE PROJECTS - A system for calculating financial benefit estimations and generating reports for multi-dimensional project plans for implementing packaged software applications, the system includes: a view layer configured to act as a user interface for user inputs and system outputs; a model and control layer configured to implement rules based on a series of estimation and implementation models, and to perform calculations to determine financial benefits of implementing multi-dimensional project plans; an estimation knowledge base layer configured to hold and derive the series of estimation and implementation models; and wherein the system for generating financial benefit estimations and reports for the implementation of packaged software applications is carried out over networks comprising: the Internet, intranets, local area networks (LAN), and wireless local area networks (WLAN). | 12-18-2008 |
20080312980 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR STAFFING AND COST ESTIMATION MODELS ALIGNED WITH MULTI-DIMENSIONAL PROJECT PLANS FOR PACKAGED SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS - A system for generating staffing and cost estimations and reports for multi-dimensional project plans for implementing packaged software applications, the system includes: a view layer configured to act as a user interface for user inputs and system outputs; a model and control layer configured to implement rules based on a series of estimation and implementation models, and to perform calculations to determine costs and staffing requirements for multi-dimensional project plans; an estimation knowledge base layer configured to hold and derive the series of estimation and implementation models; and wherein the system for scoring and ranking multi-dimensional project plans for implementing packaged software applications is carried out over networks comprising: the Internet, intranets, local area networks (LAN), and wireless local area networks (WLAN). | 12-18-2008 |
20080312981 | Automated Identification of Competitors - A computer system may be configured with software that performs an automated process for identifying likely competitors of a specified entity. The process may include receiving information indicative of the identity of the specified entity. The process may include searching patent ownership data for patents and/or patent applications that are owned by the specified entity. The patent ownership data may be indicative of the identity of owners of patents and/or patent applications. The process may include searching patent citation data for patents and/or patent applications that are cited by and/or that cite to the patents and/or patent applications that are owned by the specified entity. The patent citation data may be indicative of the identity of patents and/or patent applications that cite to or are cited by other patents and/or patent applications. The process may include searching the patent ownership data for the owners of the cited and/or citing patents and/or patent applications and generating a report identifying the owners of the cited and/or citing patents and/or patent applications. | 12-18-2008 |
20080312982 | Dynamic Creation of a Service Model - A service model of resources is dynamically created from a selected service model template. A user-input or incoming event selects one of multiple pre-defined service model templates for construction of a selected service model. The selected service model represents real-time characteristics of resources for an enterprise. External data sources, which are used to describe the real-time characteristics of the depicted resources, are then identified, and the service model is constructed using the identified external data sources. | 12-18-2008 |
20080312983 | DYNAMIC RISK MANAGEMENT - Methods and systems of managing project risk in a business environment are provided. In the methods, the presence of mitigation solutions is taken into consideration prior to the occurrence of project-associated risks, thus minimizing negative impact when the risks occur. Project risk levels can be dynamically updated, thus allowing a user to capture and review accurate risk levels for multiple interdependent projects at any point in time. | 12-18-2008 |
20080312984 | Method for Assessing Risk in a Business - Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for determining risk associated with a business. The risk determination calculates risk with one or more policy controls associated with one or more business objects in a business object tree. Risk calculated for the policy controls is rolled-up to a business object using an algorithm that does not dilute the risk associated with the policy controls. Likewise, the risk for a business object is rolled-up to the parents of the business object. Risk is finally rolled-up to a highest order business object, which represents the risk associated with the business. | 12-18-2008 |
20080312985 | COMPUTERIZED EVALUATION OF USER IMPRESSIONS OF PRODUCT ARTIFACTS - Computerized systems and methods for use in evaluating user impressions of a product are provided. One method disclosed includes receiving from a developer of a product, a canonical textual description of an intended product audience and an intended use of a product. The product is displayed to potential users, and from each of a plurality of potential users, a user textual description of the product is received. The user textual description indicates a user impression of the intended product audience and the intended use of the product. A computing device may be used to perform semantic analysis to determine correspondence between the canonical and user textual descriptions, and to display the result in a graph or textual form, for example. | 12-18-2008 |
20080312986 | Implementing Key Performance Indicators in a Service Model - A service model of resources is created and the resources are mapped to a plurality of templates. The service model represents real-time characteristics of resources for an enterprise. Rule-based Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are then configured on the templates and thereby applied to the depicted resources, and the overall health of the system that utilizes the depicted resources depicted is determined. These KPI's can be chained in a way that allows the user a large amount of flexibility to report the metrics most relevant to the health of the business. | 12-18-2008 |
20080312987 | SUPPLY CHAIN VISUALIZATION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH DYNAMIC ZOOMING - Supply chain visualization and management are achieved using supply entity icons and inventory parameters overlaid on a zoomable map image. A user zooms in and zooms out to display multiple geographical areas and variably receives greater or less detail regarding supply parameters. A user may initiate a transfer of products between supply entities by manipulating icons on an output device to result in the generation and sending of business documents to relevant entities. A hypothetical mode allows a user to estimate the effects of potential product transfers on entities within the supply chain. | 12-18-2008 |
20080312988 | Performance rating of a business - Method for performance rating of a business entity using a server computer and one or more remote client computers linked to the server computer by a communication network, the method including defining performance metrics related to performance of the business entity; defining desired weighting for each metric; obtaining performance data for the business entity for each metric; defining a rating scale for each metric, wherein the rating scale for at least one performance metric is determined based on statistical data derived from a plurality of comparative business entities; comparing the performance data for the business entity to the rating scale for each metric; and deducing a performance rating for the business entity on the basis of the comparison between the performance data and the rating scale, and the desired weighting, for each metric. | 12-18-2008 |
20080312989 | EVALUATION SYSTEM, EVALUATION EQUIPMENT, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - An evaluation system, an evaluation method, and a computer program that specify an effect inhibition factor are provided. The evaluation system specifies the effect inhibition factor when an introduction effect of a predetermined system such as a support system cannot be acquired. Further, the evaluation system notifies a user of a countermeasure according to the specified effect inhibition factor. Specifically, the evaluation system ascertains operation status of the support system and a user comprehension degree with respect to an operation method of the support system, thereby specifying a factor inhibiting the introduction effect (effect inhibition factor) and a countermeasure according to the effect inhibition factor. | 12-18-2008 |
20080312990 | Knowledge Management System For Asset Managers - A knowledge management system is provided to assist asset owners, managers and operators in the management of assets. The knowledge management system includes a database for storing a plurality of manuals, each manual including world's best practice guidelines with regard to an aspect of an asset life cycle; a performance analysis tool for benchmarking an organisation's performance with regard to each aspect of the asset life cycle to identify areas for improvement; and, a benefit assessment component to assist the organisation in determining which improvements have potential to deliver the greatest benefits. The knowledge management system enables the best practice guidelines to be tailored to suit particular organisations and/or asset types. | 12-18-2008 |
20080312991 | BUYER-SIDE CONSOLIDATION OF COMPATIBLE PURCHASE ORDERS - Systems and methods of buyer-side consolidation of compatible purchase orders are described herein. Purchase orders can be identified for consolidation using spatial and temporal proximity parameters. Purchase orders can be modified by changing a ship date or a delivery date and the changing can be based on a buyer input. Shipments can be consolidated based on the purchase order modifications and less than truckload shipments can be reduced. Consolidated shipments can be associated with different requested delivery dates, different suppliers, and/or different buyers. Buyer-side consolidation of compatible purchase orders can occur before purchase orders are processed by a transportation management system. | 12-18-2008 |
20080312992 | Automatic business process creation method using past business process resources and existing business process - A business process creation method comprising the steps of: receiving the input of the business flow to store the input business flow in the storage unit; extracting a business name of a business corresponding to the input business flow and business information containing business tasks constituting the business from the input business flow; retrieving at least one similar business process from the accumulated business processes based on the extracted business information; extracting a flow shape indicating a shape of the business flow from the input business flow; calculating similarities between the input business flow and the retrieved at least one similar business process; receiving selection of a business process from the retrieved at least one similar business process; and creating a business process corresponding to the input business flow to output the created business process in an executable format based on the selected business process. | 12-18-2008 |
20080312993 | INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - An information processing system includes: an action storage unit that stores an item of an action in business and a record of the action in business; a selection unit that selects the item of the action stored in the action storage unit; a voucher item storage unit that stores the item of the action selected by the selection unit as an item concerning a voucher; and an item output unit that outputs an item for voucher collection based on the item concerning the voucher stored in the voucher item storage unit. | 12-18-2008 |
20080312994 | GUIDELINE MANAGER SYSTEMS AND METHODS - In embodiments of the present invention, a method and system of a guideline manager is provided for receiving a pricing plan of record, identifying at least one product within the pricing plan of record, determining at least one guideline for carrying out the pricing plan with respect to the at least one product, making available the at least one guideline, receiving data related to carrying out the pricing plan with respect to the at least one product, and altering the at least one guideline in response to the data. | 12-18-2008 |
20080312995 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING SYSTEM EVENTS - The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for managing system events. Using the methods and apparatus herein, users can create events that are based on changes in a business process or a business system due to a business process activity. Users can create and manage events that evaluate and execute policies outside of the context of the business process workflow and policy management systems. | 12-18-2008 |
20080312996 | Method and system for managing delivery of communications - Method and system for managing delivery of communications such as advertisements to mobile telephone subscribers where delivery to roaming subscribers is prevented or blocked when the subscriber is determined to be using a roaming network and revenue derived from delivery of the advertisements to a roaming subscriber is less than the cost for delivering the advertisements to the roaming subscribers. | 12-18-2008 |
20080312997 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR EXPOSING WORKFLOW PROCESS DEFINITIONS AS BUSINESS OBJECTS - The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for exposing a workflow processes definition as a business object. Using the methods and apparatus herein, users can access a business object representing a workflow process definition from any system using standard database constructs. The data for the business object may be combined from a variety of existing sources and/or new data. Using the methods and apparatus a user may generate reports from the business object. | 12-18-2008 |
20080312998 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING RIKS ASSOCIATED WITH ACCEPTING A FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT - A system and method for verifying a financial instrument or a user's authorization to use a financial instrument. The system initiates one or more verifying transactions involving the instrument, with details that may vary from one transaction to another, such as the type of transaction (e.g., deposit, credit, debit), amount of the transaction, number of transactions, the merchant or vendor name or account for the transaction, and so on. Selected details, particularly variable ones are saved in the system. The user accesses information regarding the transaction, by accessing it on-line, via telephone, in a monthly statement, etc. The user then submits the requested details to the system, which compares them to the stored details. If they correspond, then the user may be allowed to use the instrument (e.g., for a purchase, a fund transfer). | 12-18-2008 |
20080319809 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MAINTAINING CONTRACTS IN BUSINESS PROCESS MANAGEMENT - A system and method for establishing and maintaining a contract between a business process model and a monitoring module corresponding to a portion of the business process model is disclosed. In the modeling task, a contract is established and associated with an event in the business process flow. The contract specifies a relationship between the event within the business process model and a monitoring module that is configured to monitor the event. Therefore, if changes are made to the event or process, a user will be warned that the changes may affect an existing monitoring module that exists to monitor this process. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319810 | METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING, STORING AND DISTRIBUTING INFORMATION RELATING TO GOODS AND/OR SERVICES - Presented are methods and systems for collecting, storing and distributing information relating to goods and/or services, and in particular, information relating to the environmental impact of goods and/or services at respective points in a lifecycle of the good and/or service. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319811 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MODELING AN ASSET-BASED BUSINESS - A system for modeling a plurality of assets in a business, the system comprising a database having one or more asset data structures each for storing data representing an asset of the business, the asset having an ascertainable productive output with forecastable market value; and the data structure having one or more attribute values corresponding to the financial and non-financial productive outputs, inputs, and associated impacts of the asset over a time period which relates to the useful productive life of the asset. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319812 | SUSTAINABLE DESIGN DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM - A software application providing system and methods for using Web Services to connect an Analysis calculator, a Recommendations engine, Social Networking, and Knowledge Management technologies in a platform for operationalizing sustainability into Product Life Cycle Management (e.g., conception, design, manufacture, service, end-of-life disposition) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) (including enterprise-wide activities of manufacturing, supply change management, financials, human resources, customer relationship management, and external stakeholder engagement). A Web Service Framework integrates Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) software technology with product design, manufacturing, and distribution process design tools. A logic layer can perform sustainability estimates within a Knowledge Management System. A Web Service Framework is utilized for constructing or entering LCA models, methodologies and source data. A social software-based participation environment is integrated with sustainable product design and LCA tools and processes. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319813 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COLLABORATIVE PROCESS MODELING - The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for collaborative process modeling. Using the methods and apparatus herein, users can utilize a plurality of modeling canvases with a plurality of functionality levels during business process design. Additionally, a plurality of users can work collaboratively on a single business process design. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319814 | Quality Control Inspection and Maintenance Result Reporting System - A quality control (QC) inspection and maintenance result reporting system includes a web server, and an inspection database. The web server has various selection and analysis webpages built therein, and the inspection database has quantity analysis reports, production analysis reports, inspection result reports, QC personnel data, unqualified data and photographs for each type of product, and analysis reports for the rates of unqualified and qualified products stored therein. The registrar can be connected with the web server through the Internet. The web server can determine the registrar's privilege, according to the registering account and password, can display webpages for the registrar to select conditional options, according to the registrar's privilege, and can retrieve the requested reports from the inspection database for the registrar to view, according the selection made by the registrar, so that the registrar can know of QC inspection and maintenance results and the relevant QC personnel data in real time. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319815 | COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED METHOD, SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR CONDUCTING A TRADE-OFF STUDY - A method, system, and program product for conducting a trade-off study are described. Under aspects of the present invention, a mapping of logical model to a physical model for a product that is a subject of the trade-off study is provided. Based on the mapping, component(s) for a configuration of the product will be selected from a semantic component library, which is a resource that identifies available components and possible connections there between. For each component selected, an instance will be generated and then graphically connected to other instances. Parameters can then be designated for the connected instances. Once the configuration has been built in this manner, it can be evaluated and revised as needed. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319816 | ENTERPRISE SERVICE DELIVERY TECHNICAL ARCHITECTURE - An Enterprise Service Delivery Technical Architecture includes a Technical Model, and a Technical Delivery Framework, and is designed to facilitate the development of complete enterprise service management solutions. The use of the Enterprise Service Delivery Technical Architecture as the framework for an enterprise systems management technical solution results in solution designs created to be independent of the technology platform being managed with a view that meets the overall business requirements that span the technology platforms within a business environment. An information technology infrastructure already in place for a customer is analyzed and broken down to its very lowest level building blocks. Then the building blocks within the model of the technical architecture are mapped with the building blocks of the customer's information technology infrastructure to determine which of the building blocks of the model are to be used for the customer's information technology operation. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319817 | Method and System for Monitoring a Vehicle - A method for monitoring a vehicle includes detecting movement or activation of the vehicle, transmitting a signal indicating movement or activation of the vehicle, to a control center, transmitting any received operator identification information to the control center, and determining whether an operator identification was received within a time interval of the detected movement or activation of the vehicle. | 12-25-2008 |
20090006146 | System and Method for Modeling Slow Changing Dimension and Auto Management Using Model Driven Business Performance Management - A system for generating a model for tracking a changing dimension feature of data in a business model includes a memory for storing the business model and a computer readable code for modeling the changes in the changing dimension feature and a processor for executing the computer readable code to perform method steps including capturing the changing dimension feature of the business model, transforming the changing dimension feature into a data warehouse model corresponding the business model, identifying changing dimensions and attributes in the changing dimension feature according to the data warehouse model, and generating a run-time deployable component for tracking the changing dimension feature based on the identified changing dimensions and attributes. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006147 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DEFINING AND MANAGING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS BASED ON CONCEPTUAL MODELS - A method and system for defining and managing an information technology project based on a conceptual model. Business requirements of an information technology (IT) solution that indicate a need for an update of a pre-defined conceptual model are defined. Sub-projects of an IT project are defined, which includes aligning the sub-projects with the pre-defined conceptual model's conceptual components that require design or implementation modifications and/or with subcomponents of the conceptual components. The pre-defined conceptual model is updated, a sub-project-based execution phase of the IT project is performed and the IT project is managed. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006148 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MATERIALIZING RELATED BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE DATA ENTITIES - A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to retrieve a set of result values associated with a query to a data source. The set of result values are processed into an intermediate data entity, where the executable instructions to retrieve and process materialize the intermediate data entity. Metadata is included in the intermediate data entity to facilitate the use of the intermediate data entity in a future materialization, where the metadata is exposed through an interface to a materialization engine. The intermediate data entity is stored in a secondary data source. The secondary data source is made available to one or more consumers so that the intermediate data entity is used to define another intermediate data entity. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006149 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR IMPLEMENTING DATA ASSET MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES - Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing data asset management activities are provided. A method includes defining authorization and authentication permissions for accessing network entities of an organization, defining rules for conducting audits and audit response activities with respect to the network entities, and executing an audit of the network entities by applying the rules to events occurring at the network entities during the audit. The method also includes generating a summary of results of the audit. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006150 | COHERENT MULTI-DIMENSIONAL BUSINESS PROCESS MODEL - This disclosure relates to methods, systems, and software for processing a coherent multi-dimensional business process model. The software includes computer-readable instructions embodied on media and operable, when executed, to identify a first model and a second model for a business process. The computer-readable instructions are further operable, when executed, to transform at least a portion of the first model and at least a portion of the second model into a coherent multi-dimensional business process model. The computer-readable instructions are further operable, when executed, to present at least a subset of the coherent multi-dimensional business process model to a client. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006151 | COLLECTION OF RECEIPT DATA FROM POINT-OF-SALE DEVICES - A customer receipt data collection robotic (RBOT) device is connected to a point-of-sale (POS) device, such as a cash register, through an available connection link, such as an available auxiliary printer port or in-line connection. The RBOT device operates autonomously to collect receipt data for transmission to a Data Center for storing and processing the collected receipt data and making the results thereof accessible online to vendors and customers. The customer receipt data are tagged with the customer's ID number by scanning a customer barcode ID or a magstripe customer ID store card. At the Data Center, useful data mining functions are performed on the collected receipt data, and the results are made available online to vendors for inventory control and/or product sales purposes, and to customers for accessing their purchase histories and/or for customer loyalty, discount and/or reward programs. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006152 | System and method for estimating a new content level in service agreements - A method for estimating a new content level in service agreements comprises defining a plurality of service requirement options associated with supply chain management processes and establishing a weight factor for each service requirement option. The service requirement options are provided to an interactive interface that allows a user to select one or more service requirement options to include in a desired supply chain management process. A plurality of user-selected service requirement options associated with the desired supply chain management process is received from the interactive interface. A new content level associated with the desired supply chain management process is determined and provided to one or more service requirement subscribers. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006153 | Evaluation tool for adjusting resale of machine components - A computer system for a prognostic evaluation system is provided. The computer system has a platform, at least one input device, and a central processing unit in communication with the platform and the at least one input device. The central processing unit is configured to receive use history information for a piece of equipment. The central processing unit is also configured to perform prognostic analysis based on the received use history information and to determine an estimated remaining life for the piece of equipment based on the prognostic analysis. The central processing unit is further configured to generate a report for the piece of equipment based on the prognostic analysis and to provide the generated report to a user. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006154 | Declarative workflow designer - A workflow designer enables a user to author a workflow by arranging building blocks in a particular order using a combination of a graphical designer and a rules based editor. The building blocks are encapsulated and displayed graphically to the user. The building blocks may correspond to events, conditions or actions that may include complex logic, sub steps, looping and parallel branching. Each building block is associated with source code that defines an action to be taken when the building block is processed. The workflow designer may be used to implement logic to provide flexibility and customization for the workflow schedule. Validation may also be performed to determine that all the required parameters have been properly set for the building blocks as well as to determine whether the building blocks are properly arranged. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006155 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING INFORMATION ASSOCIATION MATRIX - A method for generating an information association matrix for assisting service design includes the steps of extracting a DFD number corresponding to an indication number displayed on the matrix from a DFD set master and storing the DFD number in a sub-task master; extracting an action number corresponding to the indication number from an action set master and storing the action number in a setting table; extracting a sub-task name corresponding to the indication number from a DFD set master and storing the sub-task name to a position on a diagonal of the matrix; and reading an action number stored in the setting table, acquiring an information transmitting service DFD number, an information transmitted service DFD number and an information name each corresponding to the action number from an action master and storing the information name to the matrix. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006156 | ASSOCIATING A GRANTING MATRIX WITH AN ANALYTIC PLATFORM - Systems and methods presented may involve specifying an availability condition associated with a component of an analytic platform. It may involve storing the availability condition in a matrix. It may involve using the matrix to determine access to the component of the analytic platform. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006157 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING THE LEVEL OF BEHAVIORAL CONCERN WITHIN A CORPORATE DISCLOSURE AND DISPLAYING THE DETERMINATION IN A BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT MATRIX - A system and method for determining the level of behavioral concern and displaying the determination in a behavioral assessment matrix is disclosed. Determining the level of behavioral concern is based on the presence or absence of predetermined deceptive behaviors. The deceptive behaviors are identified within a transcript segment, categorized and indicators, representing the level of behavioral concern, are displayed in a behavioral assessment matrix. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006158 | VISUALIZATION SYSTEM FOR ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION - To provide a visualization method for analyzing the condition of an organization, the condition of a sub-organization, and the condition of an individual, with the face-to-face contact communication between members belonging to an organization being used as a cross section. A sensor-net system comprises a plurality of terminals and a processing unit that processes data sent from the plurality of terminals, wherein the each terminal comprises: a sensor for detecting a physical quantity; and a data sender unit that sends data indicative of the physical quantity detected by the sensor, and wherein based on the data sent from a first terminal, the processing unit plots this data on a coordinate plane consisting of two axes, in which an intensity of a relation, which a first person equipped with the first terminal has with other person, is assigned to one axis and a diversity of the relation is assigned to the other axis. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006159 | Systems and methods for managing communications with internet sales leads - Exemplary methods for tracking a lead are presented. Such methods include receiving a first contact information, associating the first contact information with a second contact information, sending the second contact information, receiving a first communication, the first communication addressed to the second contact information, in response to receiving the first communication, mapping the second contact information to the first contact information, sending a second communication addressed to the first contact information, receiving a third contact information, associating the third contact information with a fourth contact information, receiving a third communication, the third communication addressed to fourth contact information, and, in response to receiving the third communication comprising the fourth contact information, mapping the fourth contact information to the third contact information, and sending a fourth communication addressed to the third contact information. | 01-01-2009 |
20090012825 | Method for determining and/or managing corrosion and/or contamination - The present invention generally relates to methods for determining and/or managing corrosion and/or contamination. More specifically, the present invention relates to various methods to identify, determine and/or quantify the nature, amount and/or extent of corrosion and/or contamination situations, issues and/or concerns in various commercial, production and/or industrial supply chains. In another embodiment, the present invention permits one to identify, determine and/or quantify the nature, amount and/or extent of corrosion and/or contamination situations, issues and/or concerns in various commercial and/or industrial supply chains and recommends various methods by which to mitigate, reduce and/or eliminate such corrosion and/or contamination. In still another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for matching and/or developing specific products, systems, and/or services to solve, address and/or identify corrosion and/or contamination situations, issues and/or concerns. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012826 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADAPTIVE INTERACTION ANALYTICS - A method and apparatus for revealing business or organizational aspects of an organization from interactions, broadcasts or other sources. The method and apparatus classify the interactions into predefined categories. Then additional processing is performed on interactions in one or more categories, and analysis is executed for revealing insights, trends, problems, causes for problems, and other characteristics within the one or more categories. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012827 | Methods and Systems for Analyzing Patent Applications to Identify Undervalued Stocks - The present invention relates to predicting the value of a published patent application prior to its issuance as a patent. Once a patent application publishes, as most U.S. applications do eighteen months after filing, one can identify the patents cited against the patent application during its prosecution. Such patents may be cited by the applicant in an Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) and/or by the Examiner assigned by the Government to examine the patentability of the application. In some embodiments, the cited patents are evaluated by comparing how frequently they are cited relative to other patents that issued in the same year and in the same technology class. If the cited patents are frequently cited relative to their peers, then the subject patent application likely covers significant technology and has value. The present invention may have several implementations. For example, the present invention may simply be embodied as a service that provides metrics for or reports on the value of various patent applications. In other embodiments, the method for evaluating the value of a single patent application is extended to each of the patent applications in a patent portfolio so as to render judgment on the value of the entire application portfolio. In turn, one can use the value of all or part of the patent-application portfolio to help identify stocks of undervalued companies. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012828 | COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WORKFLOW AUTOMATION - Computer systems and methods are disclosed for improving professional services delivery, such as services in a data management environment. In certain examples, computer systems comprise portals for transmitting and receiving information from parties involved in the performance and receipt of professional services. For instance, a first portal can receive data (e.g., from sales personnel) descriptive of a customer's product environment. A manager module populates a record with the data, and a second portal provides the customer with access to the record for review, correction and/or validation prior to the generation of a Statement of Work or other like project description. The second portal can also request additional information from the customer regarding the product environment. The manager module compares the data received through the first portal with the customer-entered information to identify and/or address discrepancies between the sets of data and customize the generation of the Statement of Work. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012829 | DYNAMICALLY ASSEMBLING BUSINESS PROCESS MODELS - Apparatus and methods for dynamically assembling a business process model. An apparatus is configured in a company terminal connected with a network, and has a model building unit for building a business process model for the company, characterized in that the apparatus further includes: a retrieving unit for retrieving to obtain the business process model of other company from the network, and an assembling unit for assembling the business process model of the company with that of the other company to obtain an integrated business process model. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012830 | APPARATUS, METHOD, AND PROGRAM FOR EXTRACTING WORK ITEM - A work item extraction apparatus includes: a checklist DB; a checklist input unit for receiving input information to the checklist of the list DB; a work item DB; a work item extraction rule DB; a work item extraction unit for determining whether or not input information of the checklist input unit satisfies an extraction condition of each checklist corresponding to a predetermined work item, for calculating an evaluation value based on a ratio between a total number of the checklist corresponding to the predetermined work item and a relevant number of the checklist satisfying the extraction condition, and for extracting the predetermined work item when the value exceeds a predetermined threshold; and a work-item-extraction-result display unit for outputting the work item extracted by the work item extraction unit to a display screen. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012831 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSESSING WORKPLACE SAFETY - A system and method for assessing workplace safety are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the system comprises a memory device configured to store data comprising at least one first set of data comprising information indicative of at least one worker's adherence to predetermined safety procedures and information indicative of a first assessor bias, and at least one second set of data comprising information indicative of at least one workplace environmental parameter and information indicative of a second assessor bias, and a computer processor electrically connected to the memory device and configured to analyze the data stored in the memory device based on the information indicative of the first and second assessor biases. | 01-08-2009 |
20090018875 | 1ST RESPONDER GUIDANCE AND DECISION-SUPPORT SYSTEM ENABLING VICTIM TRACKING AND EXTRACTION - The invention uses processes, algorithms and programs to support emergency personnel decisions. It consists of several automated and semi-automated software components, hardware components, and processes, which are integrated into a single system that streamlines building intelligence gathering and victim extraction processes, and provides emergency personnel decision support. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018876 | Rating system and method for rating an aquatic operation - A swimming pool or aquatic facility rating method and system to rate a commercial pool or an organization's aquatic operation. The rating system and method is a based on a numerical star system that provides the operators and their patrons with a symbolic representation pertaining to the quality of the facility and its operation. The outcome of this rating method and system is a score which can vary form one to five stars. It is beneficial to both the owners of these facilities and their current and prospective customers to have a quantifiable system that is objective, reliable and easily understood. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018877 | System and Method for Modeling Business Processes - According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a computerized method for modeling business processes includes receiving, at a computer, interaction data for interaction sessions. The interaction data includes session states indicative of session screens. The interaction data further includes transitions between the session states. The computerized method also includes identifying, at the computer, business processes based on the interaction data. The computerized method further includes identifying, at the computer, instances of the business processes in the interaction data. The computerized method further includes storing the instances as event records. The event records include a parameter indicative of a corresponding business process. The computerized method further includes generating a model based on the event records. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018878 | Method and Apparatus for Gathering Participant Free Time to Schedule Events on an Electronic Calendar - A scheduling system includes a client calendar application that a meeting organizer employs to send a request for free time form to prospective participants of a future meeting via email. The client calendar application receives completed request for participant free time forms back from the prospective participants via email. The client calendar application parses the completed free time forms and determines a consensus free time when all prospective participants are free for the meeting. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018879 | METHOD AND SYSTEM SUPPORTING BUSINESS SOLUTION VALIDATION IN A COMPONENT BUSINESS MODEL - A method and system for validating business solutions by evaluating the business services from which the solution is composed, aggregating these evaluations in accordance with a service composition structure, and comparing the aggregated evaluation to target objectives for the business solution, where the service evaluations and the target objectives use the same metrics, which are surrogates for the business solution objectives. A business solution has a Business Level Agreement (BLA) which states business objectives. A business service has a Business Service Level Agreement (BSLA) which states operational objectives. A business solution is seen as a composition of business services. Therefore, the BLA is validated by evaluating and then aggregating the BSLA's for all business services from which the business solution is composed, and then comparing the aggregation against target values of the surrogates. Validation occurs: (1) during solution template composition, (2) at service binding times, and (3) during solution execution via business monitoring. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018880 | Computer-Implemented Systems And Methods For Cost Flow Analysis - Computer-implemented systems and methods for analyzing costs associated with a cost flow model having components of relationships and entities. A system and method can be configured to receive data associated with the cost flow model that identifies the costs associated with the relationships among the entities. One or more matrices are created that are representative of the costs and the entity relationships. One or more sparse matrix operations are performed upon the created one or more matrices in order to determine cost contribution amounts from an entity to another entity. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018881 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - A disclosed image processing apparatus includes an adjusting unit configured to convert input image data into image formation data, an arithmetic unit configured to calculate an image formation ink cost based on the converted image formation data, and a determining unit configured to compare the calculated image formation ink cost with a black-and-white image formation ink cost, wherein the calculated image formation ink cost is fixed based on a determination result of the first determining unit. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018882 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING ENTERPRISE WORKFLOW AND INFORMATION - A system for enterprise workflow management includes software and hardware for gathering information regarding the current state of workflows within the enterprise, examining the operational relationships among the systems and entities relating to the workflows, and facilitating improvement of the workflows throughout their respective lifecycles. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018883 | System for evaluating process implementation - A method for evaluating process implementation is disclosed. The method includes establishing at least one functional map that relates a first criteria indicative of operational failures associated with operating the process and a second criteria indicative of operational times associated with operating the process. The method also includes establishing a first value indicative of a quantity of operational failures predicted to occur during start-up of the operation of the process. The method also includes establishing a second value indicative of a quantity of operational failures allowed to occur during continued operation of the process. The method further includes predicting a first timing indicative a time the process will be operated to achieve the second value as a function of the first and second criteria. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018884 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRACKING AND REPORTING EMISSIONS - The present invention relates to methods and systems of tracking enterprise gas emissions such as greenhouse gas emissions. The systems and methods relate to collecting or entering data relating to one or more emissions source of an enterprise or an enterprise location, calculating emissions totals, and, according to certain embodiments, generating emissions reports. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018885 | RISK MANAGEMENT AND COMPLIANCE SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS - Implementations of a method of managing risk and compliance method may include providing one or more controls, monitoring a business activity to produce one or more monitoring results, evaluating the one or more controls using risk criteria from a risk database to produce one or more control gaps, evaluating a business process using the one or more risk criteria to produce one or more control gaps, remediating one or more of the one or more controls, receiving an audit request, communicating information regarding the one or more controls in response to the audit request, receiving an audit report including one or more audit findings, evaluating the one or more audit findings to identify one or more control gaps, and remediating one or more of the one or more controls using the one or more control gaps. | 01-15-2009 |
20090024424 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC LINKING OF BUSINESS PROCESSES - An embodiment of the invention provides a system and a method for dynamically linking of a business process that allows switching between the business processes based on business needs at pre-defined places of the business process. A business process is a set of tasks or activities that are to be performed to complete a transaction. These switching between the business processes are dependent on the context in which the business processes are used. This context can be defined and modified based upon the changing needs of the business. The invention allows the same business process to be utilized in different contexts without the need for redevelopment. In one embodiment, to implement the dynamic linking of the business process, a business process service layer is provided that process developers can leverage to add points of variability in their processes. The business process service layer talks to a server platform which in turn can execute business logic using the business process database. The business process is built by reusing the existing business processes and linking between these business processes. Thus, this reusability of the business process makes it possible to tailor the process as per the changing needs of the business. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024425 | Methods, Systems, and Computer-Readable Media for Determining an Application Risk Rating - Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for determining an application risk rating. According to embodiments, a method for determining an application risk rating is provided. According to the method, a technology risk score is determined. The technology risk score indicates a technology status associated with a business system. A capacity risk score is determined. The capacity risk score indicates a capacity status associated with the business system. A business risk score is determined. The business risk score indicates a criticality of a function provided by the business system. An application risk rated is determined based on the technology risk score, the capacity risk score, and the business risk score. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024426 | Method and Apparatus for Dynamic Evolution in Business Performance Management - A policy-driven approach to Business Performance Management (BPM) evolution is to capture the mechanism of BPM solution evolutions. These policies are executed by the runtime infrastructure which transforms and interprets evolution policies and allows fine granularity controls on solution evolution. At transformation time, the relationship among the event processing progress and the runtime state is derived based on the observation model. Such relationship information allows verification of freshness of migrating data and parallelization of runtime state validation and event processing. Consistent and efficient evolution of BPM solutions transit while event processing is operational. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024427 | Analyzing time series data that exhibits seasonal effects - To analyze a time series of data that exhibits seasonal effects, the time series is processed to obtain a representation in the frequency domain. According to the representation, plural cycle lengths are identified as representing different seasonal effects of the data in the time series, where a first of the plural cycle lengths is greater than a second of the plural cycle lengths. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024428 | System for and method of processing business personnel information - Information for personnel of a plurality of business organizations is collected. For each person, the information includes the name of the person, the identity of a business organization that the person currently works for and biographical information containing any affiliations identified for the person. Information for a plurality of affiliations is collected and a table of the affiliations is generated, the table of affiliations being stored in computer-readable storage. From the collected information, a data structure is generated and is stored in computer-readable storage. The first data structure includes an entry for each match between the biographical information of a person and an affiliation included in the table of affiliations. A query of a user may be responded to by executing a computer-implemented process on the first data structure. Results of the query are displayed for the user. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024429 | GRAPHICAL RISK-BASED PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT AND BENCHMARKING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method provides analysis of pre- and post-project effects on frequency and severity of operational loss. The method includes the computation of the frequency of incidents and the severity of incidents for equipment based on recorded incident data. Risk, a function of frequency and severity, is calculated before and after a project to determine if the project has changed the risk of an incident in a piece of equipment or facility and if the project has changed the nature of risk (i.e. increasing severity while decreasing frequency). The method may be used to compute forecast estimates of future operational losses, assess goals for improving current performance relative to demonstrated industry performance, and determine statistical confidence intervals of forecast such that risk, and changes in risk, may be visually quantified and communicated. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024430 | METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING ROUTES FOR VEHICLE PARKING ENFORCEMENT - A method for optimizing routes for vehicle parking enforcement includes collecting input variable data, optimizing a parking enforcement route based on the input variable data, and communicating the optimized parking enforcement route to an enforcement agent. | 01-22-2009 |
20090030749 | IMPLEMENTING AN END-OF-LIFE PURCHASE - A system and method of implementing an end-of-life purchase of an item used in manufacturing. A method includes comparing a supply of an article to a demand for the article. The method also includes securing an amount of the article when the supply does not exceed the demand by a predetermined threshold, and waiting a predetermined period of time before repeating the comparing when the supply exceeds the demand by the predetermined threshold. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030750 | BUSINESS INTERACTION SIMULATION SYSTEM FOR TRAINING - The present invention relates to a method for a business interaction simulation for the purpose of training and evaluation. According to one aspect of the solution, the business interaction simulation allows participants to simulate business interactions in more than one politico-socio-economic environment. According to another aspect of the solution, the business interaction simulation allows participants to simulate business interactions with an identified institution that operates in at least one politico-socio-economic environment. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030751 | Threat Modeling and Risk Forecasting Model - A system and method for determining residual business risks by correlating threats, controls, business continuity factors, and other general risk considerations is described. Requirements of an initiative of a project are mapped to a taxonomy, and the mapped requirements are rated with respect to its importance to the project. Projected changes in the mapped requirements are forecasted over a specified period of time, such as an eighteen month period. A threat to the project is mapped to the taxonomy, and the mapped threat is rated with respect to its impact on the project. Projected changes in the effectiveness of the control are forecasted based upon historical data, a maturity rating, and the rated effectiveness of the control. Residual risk associated with the project is then determined, and adjustments to one or more resources associated with the project may be made to reduce the determined residual risk. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030752 | Fleet anomaly detection method - A method for determining whether an operational metric representing the performance of a target machine has an anomalous value is provided. The method includes collecting operational data from at least one machine, and calculating at least one exceptional anomaly score from the obtained operational data. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030753 | Anomaly Aggregation method - A method for aggregating anomalous values is provided. The method comprises obtaining operational data from at least one machine and calculating at least one exceptional anomaly score from the operational data. The exceptional anomaly scores can then be aggregated to identify acute or chronic anomalous values. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030754 | METHODS, SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE UTILIZING XBRL TO IDENTIFY, CAPTURE, ARRAY, MANAGE, TRANSMIT AND DISPLAY DOCUMENTS AND DATA IN LITIGATION PREPARATION, TRIAL AND REGULATORY FILINGS AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE - A method, system and program product for litigation and document management preparation and management, the method comprising: converting or having converted electronically using an XBRL taxonomy and metadata paper and/or electronic documents in various formats including XML/XBRL into XBRL formatted files and storing the XBRL formatted files in one or more repositories or receiving electronic access to such one or more repositories; receiving oral testimony electronic data; converting electronically the received oral testimony electronic data using an XBRL taxonomy and metadata into an oral testimony software file that is XBRL enabled; matching electronically one or more of people, dates, places, events, or documents in the oral testimony software file that is XBRL enabled to one or more of identical people, dates, places, events, or documents stored in the one or more repositories; and displaying, printing or otherwise communicating the matched one or more of people, dates, places, events, or document data items and one or more portions of documents in the one or more repositories that contain the matched data items. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030755 | Systems and Methods to Dynamically Generate Listings to Selectively Track User Responses - Methods and apparatuses to dynamically customize a listing to track a selected type of responses to be generated from a presentation of the customized listing, where the selection of the type of responses is based at least in part on one or more characteristics of the request for the listing. One embodiment includes receiving a request for a listing of an entity; determining a characteristic of the request; selecting a type of responses for the listing based on the determined characteristic; generating a version of the listing to track the type of responses that are responsive to a presentation of the listing; and providing the version of the listing in response to the request. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030756 | Managing Risk Associated with Various Transactions - Systems, methods and consumer-readable media for managing risk associated with various transactions are provided. Such methods may include identifying a consumer-based software application for analysis and classifying the consumer-based software application into a plurality of consumer-facing transactions. Each consumer-facing transaction may be rated according to at least one category or criteria. Further, each rating may be converted into a numeric value. Another aspect of the invention may relate to receiving an identification of a list of threats to each of the consumer-facing transactions. These threats may be categorized into threat categories. The impact of each of the threats may be forecasted. The overall impact of the threats as forecasted may be calculated. Yet another aspect of the invention may relate to receiving an identification of a plurality of threat controls that control at least a portion of the plurality of threats. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030757 | Content Distribution for Mobile Phones - A network adapted to distribute content to mobile phone service providers. The network comprising: (a) an acquisition module configured to receive and store content items from at least one content provider, assign a unique content identifier to each of the content items and associate each content item with a content provider rule; (b) a query module configured to receive content requests from a plurality of mobile phone service providers, each request associated with a service provider rule; and (c) a distribution module configured to compare each of the content items with the service provider rule and make available to each service provider content items in accord with the content provider rule and the service provider rule. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030758 | Methods for assessing potentially compromising situations of a utility company - Methods are provided for assessing potentially compromising situations of a utility company. One or more source displays of a site are accessed. A fly-out or data lensing is used to bring forward a portion of the source displays. The fly-out or data lensing is used to draw attention to a potentially compromising situation and direct the operator's attention without loosing perspective of a whole power system of the utility company. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030759 | Methods for managing high or low voltage conditions from selected areas of a power system of a utility company - Methods are provided for managing high or low voltage conditions from selected areas of a power system of a utility company. Rubber-banding or lassoing is used to select geographic areas. Potential low or high voltage situations are identified in the selected geographic areas. Geographic displays are overlayed with superimposed VAR reserves to create overlayed geographic displays for the selected geographic areas. The overlayed geographic displays are used to identify potential low or high voltage instances in the selected geographic areas. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030760 | COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - A computer-implemented method for managing at least one training plan includes providing at least one complex data object, where the complex data object is classified by an object type, and comprises data on at least one attribute, a status for the training plan, and a time period and displaying the at least one complex data object in a graphical user interface. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030761 | PREDICTING FINANCIAL IMPACT OF BUSINESS FRAMEWORK - The financial impact of the implementation of a business framework can be predicted. Shifted business condition metrics associated with business activities for implementing the business framework can be applied to model financial impact for a business entity. Impact on financial condition according to income statement and balance sheet can be modeled based on financial data for the business entity. Impact can be modeled per activity. Activities can be prioritized based on modeled impact. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030762 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING A DYNAMIC AND AUTOMATED TESTING OF USER RESPONSE - The present invention enables large scale media testing by human testers, where each tester may see multiple pertinent media instances during a single testing session and choose the optimal overall pairings between the testers and the media instances to minimize the number of testers needed for each testing project. By increasing the number of pertinent media views produced by each tester during each testing session, the approach increases the efficiency of media testing and reduces testing costs and time. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030763 | Supplier compliance manager tool - The present invention provides a web-based module, including a risk calculating function, which facilitates the gathering and analyzing of supplier data for obtaining C-TPAT certification. | 01-29-2009 |
20090037235 | System that automatically identifies a Candidate for hiring by using a composite score comprised of a Spec Score generated by a Candidates answers to questions and an Industry Score based on a database of key words & key texts compiled from source documents, such as job descriptions - A system that automatically identifies a Candidate for hiring by using a composite score comprised of a Spec Score generated by a Candidates answers to questions and an Industry Score based on key words & key texts from a source document, such as a job description. This system may reduce the time required to select a meaningful shortlist, as well as improving the compatibility of qualifications of candidates towards the requirements of a position by using a composite score. In doing so, the savings may result in reduction of both tangible and intangible costs currently incurred by an employer-company today. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037236 | ANALYTICAL REPORTING AND DATA MART ARCHITECTURE FOR PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS - A data management architecture for a public institution such as a university is able to extract, transform, and load fact data from disparate data sources and store the information in appropriate data marts. The fact data is correlated with corresponding dimension data, and is correlated with various metrics of a data model, the metrics defined to be useful to the institution. A reporting tool provides user-selectable objects for each metric whereby a user simply selects an object and adds the object to a report in order to automatically generate reports using data from multiple data systems without any manual calculations or reporting by the user. The metrics and data marts can include information for such needs as grants management, financial aid management, admissions, and recruiting. The data marts also can store data over time to provide historical information that may not otherwise be available from the data sources. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037237 | SEMANTIC EXTENSIONS OF BUSINESS PROCESS MODELING TOOLS - A method and a system directed to semantically annotating business process modeling components of a business process model are described. For example, a definition of a business process modeling component and an association of a domain element with the business process modeling component are received. Then, the definition of the business process modeling component is semantically annotated using the domain element. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037238 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A VALIDITY INDEX FOR KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - A computer readable storage medium comprises executable instructions to define and calculate a plurality of performance indicators, including key performance indicators. A validity index for a key performance indicator is determined based on variances of performance indicators that are in conflict with the key performance indicator. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037239 | Method For Improving Internet Advertising Click-Through Rates through Time-Dependent Keywords - A tool that allows internet advertisers to examine the popularity of various different keyphrases entered into a search engine over time is presented. The tool then allows the advertiser to specify a changing set of keyphrases that will be monitored and used to trigger the selection of internet advertisements. In this manner, internet advertisers can take advantage of the different keyphrases used by search engine users that tend to change over time. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037240 | Joint Tracking and Tracing and Business Activity Monitoring - A system and method for executing a business application that comprises a number of monitoring events and a number of monitoring processes corresponding to a number of supply chain events of the supply chain. Tracking and tracing data for the number of supply chain events is generated with one or more RFID readers of an RFID platform. The tracking and tracing data for the number of supply chain events is then mapped against a set of the number of monitoring events and the number of monitoring processes defined for the business application, to monitor performance of the supply chain and business application. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037241 | Automated strategic planning system and method - Various new and non-obvious apparatus and methods for creating a strategic plan for a business, implementing the strategic plan, and measuring progress towards the plan are disclosed. One of the disclosed embodiments is a guided method for creating corporate goals, and from the goals creating action items. The action items are then used to create department goals. Using the department goals, departments then set department action items. The department action items then become individual goals. The individuals then use the goals to set individual action items. The corporation can track progress by tracking progress made towards the individual action items. The individual action items are aggregated to (at least partially) produce the department scorecard. Department scorecards can then be aggregated to (at least partially) produce the corporate scorecard. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037242 | System for Monitoring Periodic Processing of Business Related Data - A system stores and analyzes task processing statistical data and adaptively calculates the overall completion time of day-end processing of a set of standard jobs that create reports that need to be run at the end of each business day, for example, to extract and summarize key business data. In response different processing loads and task execution times occurring on different days. A system for monitoring periodic processing of business related data to provide reports at day end and other times, includes a repository of information. The information identifies multiple measured time durations required for processing business related data to provide a corresponding plurality of reports for individual days of multiple days. A computation processor determines an average time duration for processing business related data to provide an individual report by averaging measured time durations required for processing data to provide the individual report over multiple days. The computation processor uses the average time duration, together with a reference time of processing, to provide a predicted time of completion of processing to provide the individual report. A communication processor provides result data to a user. The result data represents the predicted time of completion of processing to provide the individual report. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037243 | Audio substitution options in media works - A classification method and system for possible content alteration of a media work may include criteria regarding content that is feasible for alteration. Such criteria may be maintained in records that are accessible to an interested party. Some embodiments may include a record of primary authorization rights applicable to a possible content alteration. A further embodiment feature may include a record of secondary authorization rights applicable to substitute altered content incorporated in a derivative version. Various exemplary techniques may be used to provide audio and/or visual substitution options in a derivative version of the media work in accordance with applicable alteration guidelines. | 02-05-2009 |
20090043617 | System and Method for Managing the Delivery of Orders for Goods - A system and method for managing the delivery of goods. The system and method particularly provides for manifesting and controlling route-based delivery of orders or packages from a vendor to one or more locations accessible by customers. The locations may include automated, self-service vending machines and/or will-call lockers, under the control of a system (ideally centralized and automated) that can receive and actively manage manifest information. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043618 | Work Management System, Work Management System Construction Support Service, Control Method and Program - [Object] Even when multiple work processes depending on one another progress in parallel, it is possible to appropriately manage the progress of the whole work that includes these work processes. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043619 | Evaluation of a Process Metric - An exemplary method of responding to a request for a value of at least one metric associated with at least one process includes a step of determining whether responding to the request requires updating the value of the at least one metric. When responding to the request does not require updating the value of the at least one metric, a response is determined based at least in part on at least one stored value of the at least one metric. When responding to the request does require updating the value of the at least one metric, the value of the at least one metric is updated and a response is determined based at least in part on the at least one updated value of the at least one metric. Updating the value of the at least one metric, at least when responding to the request requires updating the value of the at least one metric, includes steps of determining at least one new value of the at least one metric based at least in part on at least one stored value of the at least one metric and storing the at least one new value of the at least one metric. The method also includes a step of responding to the request with the determined response. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043620 | METHOD FOR COPY PROPAGATIONS FOR A PROCESSOR - A method for copy propagations of a processor including two clusters, each cluster comprising a first function unit and a second function unit, a first local register file and a second local register file being respectively accessible by the first and second function unit only, and a global register file having a ping-pong structure to access the first and second local register files, the method comprising the steps of: (a) listing possible copy propagation paths between two nodes of a data flow graph; (b) calculating a profit of machine cycles for each of the copy propagation paths according to constraints of the processor; and (c) performing a copy propagation through the copy propagation path if the profit thereof is greater than a threshold value. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043621 | System and Method of Team Performance Management Software - The invention is an application for teams of information workers, their managers, and human resources professionals to evaluate and raise performance based on communication metrics and norms of behavior within a team. A model and management Web pages enable users to collectively set norms of behavior, communicate, make decisions, set roles and goals, receive evaluations according to their norms, and in other ways conduct interpersonal relations in a business context. Modules acquiring data from email and document management systems, groupware, directories, and other information sources are included. Said information is joined with the invention's internally generated data. An expert system generates observations and advice permitting the team to more appropriately deploy information, adhere more closely to its norms, and lessen stress caused by interpersonal friction. Management is provided a means of assessing teams, setting policies, and defining parametric ranges for norms. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043622 | Waste Determinants Identification and Elimination Process Model Within a Software Factory Operating Environment - Within the context of a software factory, process sensors detect time consuming activities that extend beyond an estimated predetermined completion timeline for a project. These process sensors also detect wait states that are caused by processes and activities of tasks that are not critical to completing the project. A process analysis is used to determine if defined added value processes and activities identified in a value stream analysis are interdependent to a critical path for executing the project. If the defined added value processes and activities identified in the value stream analysis are determined to not be interdependent to the critical path for executing the project, then a determination is made that performance of the defined added value processes and activities identified in the value stream analysis is wasteful and such processes and activities are eliminated from the process. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043623 | Method and system for effective market research - A method of improving market research to understand the effectiveness of advertising campaigns is provided. A first questionnaire is provided to one or more survey participants that includes questions relating to participant's prior interactions with and beliefs about one or more advertised brands. For a predetermined time, the participants then go about their normal every day activities and simultaneously, while experiencing an advertisement or a brand, they provide, to a survey administrator, communications related to the brand via a mobile telecommunication device. These communications are compiled and displayed. During the predetermined time, an administrator may recommend real-time adjustments to the advertising campaign based on data collected via the communications. Shortly after the predetermined time ends, a second questionnaire is provided, which relates to the participant's interactions during their normal daily activities. The questionnaire responses are compared and along with the information provided in the communications, a determination is made regarding the effectiveness of the advertising that the participants encountered. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043624 | ELECTRONIC PROFILE CREATION - A method is implementable in an electronic system coupled to an electronic device, which is, in turn, coupled to a display device. A web page displayable on the display device is served to the electronic device. The displayed web page includes a user interface, which, in turn, includes a selection field. A first set of selectable tags is displayed in the selection field. Each of the first-set tags corresponds to a respective vocational characteristic of a first set of vocational characteristics. At least one selection by a user of a tag is received. An employment profile of the user is generated using the at least one tag selection. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043625 | Process Management System and Method - The present invention relates to process management and control, such as a P&L forecast, budgeting and management system using data collection and computation to produce optimized P&L estimates. The production parameters and cost structure are collated and processed with a dedicated algorithm to simulate the sales forecast and cost factors of the required materials, the required machine hours, and the required labor hours to calculate profitability. The process produces indicators to easily examine the root causes of each project's areas of potential improvement. This present invention provides an application and tool for an effective management of a process. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043626 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING PRODUCT INFORMATION IN LAN - Provided is a system and a method for reporting data in a Local Area Network (LAN), which includes at least one router for broadcasting both product information of an entire shopping center including product advertisement information and product information including identification information of each of shopping center local communication terminals providing the product advertisement information, and identification information of each of shopping center local communication terminals located within a coverage area of each of the at least one router; and a user local communication terminal for receiving the product information and the identification information, detecting the product advertisement information and displaying the detected product advertisement information, finding product information including any one of the received identification information among the received product information of the entire shopping center, analyzing the found product information to detect product advertisement information of the found product information, and first displaying the detected product advertisement information. | 02-12-2009 |
20090048880 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AN ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Disclosed is a method and system for receiving data from an enterprise application of an enterprise, converting the data into enterprise data based on an enterprise blueprint. The enterprise data is analyzed based on the enterprise blueprint to determine a state of the enterprise and an activity to be performed is determined based on the state of the enterprise. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048881 | Visualizers for Change Management System - A change management system may use a phased status indicator that may illustrate several phases of a change request and a current status for each phase of a change management lifecycle. Additionally, a group of change requests may be displayed in a linked manner showing various relationships between change requests. The status indicator and linked display may be used together or separately to illustrate the status of various change requests and within interactive displays of change request data. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048882 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING - A system for performing strategic planning. At least one processor and memory are configured to, based on user input, provide a plurality of roadmaps, and link a data point of a first roadmap to a data point of a second roadmap to integrate at least portions of the first and second roadmaps. “Intelligent” roadmapping can be provided wherein the system scans relationships in data from different sources and loads related categories and data points onto a combined roadmap. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048883 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING INTRAGOVERNMENTAL TRANSACTIONS - A plurality of validated electronic trade documents, associated with a transaction between a government agency buyer and a government agency seller, are obtained. The electronic trade documents are logically linked in an intragovernmental transaction container, and periodically scanned to determine if conditions exist for at least partial settlement of the transaction. Responsive to the determination that the conditions for the at least partial settlement of the transaction exist, the at least partial settlement of the transaction is initiated. Capability for handling grants can also be provided. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048884 | MERCHANT BENCHMARKING TOOL - A benchmarking tool generates reports for delivery to a merchant illustrating a performance of the merchant as compared to the performance of the merchant's peers. The performance is illustrated through metrics that algorithmically combine data on transactions of consumers with the merchant or its peers, respectively. The metrics may be further subdivided into consumer groups such as new consumers, consumers that have shopped within the merchant in the past, consumers that no longer shop within the merchant, or consumers that use a commercial account to pay for purchases. The reports may be rendered in a graphical display for use by the merchant. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048885 | Systems and Methods for Facilitating Cost-Splitting Transactions - A financial account issuer facilitating transactions between accounts is disclosed. The invention provides sellers with an irrevocable method of receiving funds from a purchaser and for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party. The invention also includes the options of interest payments, the use of different account issuers, different financial accounts, budget transfers, spend compartmentalization, cost-splitting, adjusting credit limits, loans, gifting, intermediary facilitating the transaction, transaction tracking, rapid funds availability, confidential transfer of funds, immediate initiation of shipment by a seller, releasing funds to a seller only after approval of the goods, services, or other value, demonstrating proof of payment, and recourse against a remote seller. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048886 | Systems and Methods for Facilitating Gifting Transactions - A financial account issuer facilitating transactions between accounts is disclosed. The invention provides sellers with an irrevocable method of receiving funds from a purchaser and for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party. The invention also includes the options of interest payments, the use of different account issuers, different financial accounts, budget transfers, spend compartmentalization, cost-splitting, adjusting credit limits, loans, gifting, intermediary facilitating the transaction, transaction tracking, rapid funds availability, confidential transfer of funds, immediate initiation of shipment by a seller, releasing funds to a seller only after approval of the goods, services, or other value, demonstrating proof of payment, and recourse against a remote seller. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048887 | Systems and Methods for Facilitating Transactions Involving an Intermediary - A financial account issuer facilitating transactions between accounts is disclosed. The invention provides sellers with an irrevocable method of receiving funds from a purchaser and for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party. The invention also includes the options of interest payments, the use of different account issuers, different financial accounts, budget transfers, spend compartmentalization, cost-splitting, adjusting credit limits, loans, gifting, intermediary facilitating the transaction, transaction tracking, rapid funds availability, confidential transfer of funds, immediate initiation of shipment by a seller, releasing funds to a seller only after approval of the goods, services, or other value, demonstrating proof of payment, and recourse against a remote seller. | 02-19-2009 |
20090055228 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DUSPLAYING INHERENT PROJECT UNCERTAINTY - A software and/or hardware facility for graphically displaying schedule uncertainty inherent in projects. In some embodiments, the facility generates uncertainty bars for display to users that express the uncertainty inherent in work items, such as projects and/or tasks. An uncertainty bar can visually indicate the work item's earliest start date, earliest expected finish date, expected finish date, latest expected finish date and latest finish date, as calculated by the facility. For a project that has multiple component tasks, the facility can generate an uncertainty bar for each component task. The facility can also generate an uncertainty bar for the entire project. In some embodiments, the facility generates graphs that display the history of uncertainty for work items. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055229 | Emergency Warning Service - An emergency warning service is described for providing emergency related information to users of communication terminals in a mobile communication system. The service comprises a procedure of establishing a service agreement in relation with a user. The service agreement comprises at least an identification of a user and a time period during which period the user is allowed access to emergency warnings. After receiving an emergency warning message from an emergency warning message provider, the message comprising information at least regarding a type of emergency and an emergency location, it is decided whether or not the user is to receive the warning message. The decision is based at least on said service agreement. Then, depending on the decision, at least said warning message is transmitted to the user. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055230 | Process for validating and proving technical marketing and competitive analysis from hands-on lab testing and publicly available research information - A process for validating and proving competitive analysis from hands-on lab testing and publicly available research information with the steps of: Gathering publicly available information, Compiling information gathered from Research, Preparing Lab Layout in a network diagram, Developing test methodology and test plans, Building physical test network, Placing device under test, or device to be tested into the test network, Performing the test, Examing the results of testing, Determining if results of testing are compatible with gathered Research, Revising test methodology and test plan, and re-testing the device, Compiling information gathered from hands-on validation lab testing, Combining data from Research phase and Validation testing phase, Performing technical marketing and competitive analysis on Research and Validation testing data, Presenting findings of technical marketing and competitive analysis in output. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055231 | System and a Method of Individualization of Animals and Herd Management - The present invention is particularly applicable to cattle and buffalo livestock, and allows the individualization of animals by observation of codes and characteristics that are visually perceptible and available in various manners in the animal in order to allow the correlation of the information collected in non-electronic means and relative to the management practices performed on the animals at any phase of breeding thereof, providing an unambiguous individualization of the animal for subsequent inclusion in a database. The said identification is provided by a combination of at least, a portion of an Integral Code with a portion or a complete sequence of another Integral Code, according to standards previously defined by the managers/administrators of the system. One of the Integral Codes may be compatible with the ISO 11784 or equivalent standards, and the other, not related to the said standards, may be assigned to the animal by a specific entity, by the owner or the manager of the herd. The selected characters, which make up the portions of the identification codes and may occupy contiguous or non-contiguous positions within the said codes, are visually perceptible and available in different manners in the animal. the order of the sequence of elements used to achieve the individualization of the animal is not fixed and shall be previously defined by the managers/administrators of each system. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055232 | METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING PHYSICAL OBJECTS, TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND TRANSPORTATION MEANS - A system and method for transporting objects is disclosed. In an exemplary system and method, at least one object is transported from a sending station to a receiving station. The transport occurs through at least one physical router that executes a decision about parameters of transport to another physical router or to the receiving station. An exemplary method comprises generating information for handling and moving the at least one object with reference to environmental data and transporting the at least one object based on the information. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055233 | Method and Device for Transporting an Item - A method and a device for transporting an item to a destination location. The item is provided with a label bearing the destination location to which the item is to be transported. The item is additionally provided with a label bearing a transportation service provider. The item is transported to a sorting plant and passes through the sorting plant. Information about the destination location with which the item is labeled is input into a data acquisition system of the sorting plant. It is automatically decided whether a preset error signal for a transportation error was or was not input during passage of the item. Depending on the destination location data which has been input, the sorting plant triggers onward transportation of the item to the destination location. In the event of the error signal for a transportation error having been input, a report is generated. This report describes the transportation error, comprises the input destination-location data, and is transmitted to the transportation service provider which triggered the transportation to the sorting plant. | 02-26-2009 |
20090063209 | Six sigma enabled business intelligence system - A method of presenting an analysis of enterprise wide business data. In response to a user request to a web site operable to access enterprise wide business data and to provide statistical analysis, a six sigma enabled BIS transfers an electronic document to the user. The electronic document allows the user to select dimensions to specify which data to analyze for a given performance measure. Then, in response to a request from the user for a statistical analysis, the six sigma enabled BIS performs a statistical analysis of the performance measure and transfers an electronic copy of the statistical analysis to the user. In one embodiment the document comprises a histogram. The histogram has an overlay indicator of the statistical mean, as well as a target limit. In this fashion, the user may view the variance in the data, and see how much data are outside the target range. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063210 | ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN APPROACH TO TRANSITION COST ASSESSMENT FOR BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION - A method for facilitating in assessing transitional costs in business transformations using a computer-aided organizational design system is provided. The method comprises creating a first organization design model representative of the current organizational design state of an organization using a graphical tool. The method further comprises changing the first organization design model into a second organization design model representative of the organizational design state of the organization after the business transformation. The method further comprises generating a report identifying the transition cost factors and the transition cost of moving from the first organization design model to the second organization design model, wherein the transition cost is determined based on predetermined calculation algorithms or heuristics. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063211 | Finding a Shortest Waste Credit Path for a Manufacturing Process - In an embodiment, a directed graph is created that includes nodes and directed edges that connect the nodes. The nodes represent components and processes, and the directed edges represent a time order of the components and processes in manufacturing processes. Amounts of waste credits for tail nodes in the directed graph are calculated and stored as weights of entering directed edges of the respective tail nodes. The waste credits represent tradable permits for the components and processes to emit waste as part of the manufacturing processes. A shortest path from a begin node to a final node is found, where the shortest path has a lowest sum of its weights, as compared to the sum of the weights for all other paths that exist in the directed graph from the begin node to the final node. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063212 | BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION - Business processes are transformed into a solution having a portal for a service-oriented architecture. A plan for the transformation is created, including a portal implementation roadmap. A services providing company deploys the solution to a client company. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063213 | GENERALIZED PARAMETRIC OPTIMIZATION ARCHITECTURE AND FRAMEWORK - A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for providing an optimization solution comprising an open, generalized and reusable parametric optimization framework and architecture which enables rapid deployment of optimization solutions to any tool or program that builds on an integrated development environment platform. In the optimization framework, a core optimization plugin is provided which comprises an internal optimization model and a set of optimization tools. The optimization framework also comprises pluggable and customizable component providers and descriptors external to the core optimization plugin. The core optimization plugin receives configuration information from a user. The information enables the core optimization plugin to interact with a user data model in a plurality of different user data models. The information also enables the core optimization plugin to interact with providers selected from the plurality of providers and descriptors based on a format of the user data model. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063214 | Advertisement Profiling and Selection - In one embodiment, advertisement consumption data is determined for a viewer. An advertisement is selected from a server based on the determined advertisement consumption data, and the advertisement identification is inserted into a transport stream. A hierarchical categorization of advertisements is used to provide granularity to the advertisement consumption data. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063215 | Location Determination by Current Day Confirmation - Embodiments of the invention include a system and process that manages scheduling and processing of orders to provide improved delivery schedules. The system attempts to schedule package deliveries in time to meet a requested delivery target time and date. This scheduling attempts to schedule a shipping time for the current day to meet next day or nearer term deadlines. The scheduling system examines schedules and shipping locations that are not optimal for minimizing costs, but provide more timely delivery including examining locations other that a facing location for shipment | 03-05-2009 |
20090063216 | On-Line Dynamic Certification - A method for ensuring compliance with an investment policy is described. Information regarding past or contemplated future trades is collected. Financial and/or fiduciary positions are then automatically approved, automatically denied, or submitted for approval or denial by a supervisory user. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063217 | MULTI-STAGED AND MULTI-VIEWPOINT CHOREOGRAPHY MODELING - A choreography manager may be configured to manage a choreography model governing interactions between at least two entities. The choreography manager may include a first choreography modeler configured to provide a first view of the choreography model, the first view including first constructs that are associated with a first sequence degree characterizing a degree to which a sequence of the interactions between the entities is provided. The choreography manager may include a second choreography modeler configured to provide a second view of the choreography model, the second view including second constructs that are associated with a second sequence degree characterizing the degree to which the sequence of the interactions between the entities is provided. The choreography manager may include a choreography mapper configured to relate the first view to the second view, and configured to relate the first constructs to the second constructs. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063218 | Local Event Infrastructure - A local event infrastructure and method for detecting events of a business application. An event manager is configured to detect one or more events of the business application based on a number of predetermined conditions. An event filter is configured to filter the one or more events detected by the event manager according to a relevance to an operation of a business application system that contains the business application. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063219 | REVENUE MONITORING METHOD AND SYSTEM, IN PARTICULAR FOR AIRLINE COMPANIES - The invention relates to a method for building a revenue database of an airline company comprising revenue information for all electronic tickets involving the airline, wherein said method includes the steps of:
| 03-05-2009 |
20090063220 | AGREEMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM TO CONSENT TO A PRORATED VALUE OF COUPON OF AN INTERLINE E-TICKET - An enhanced agreement method and system to consent to a prorated value of a coupon of an E-ticket corresponding to a multi-segment transport involving at least two carriers for the transportation. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063221 | System, method and computer program product for generating key performance indicators in a business process monitor - A system, method and computer program product to enable graphical modeling of business processes. KPIs may be defined as part of the design procedure of forming the process. Once defined, the definitions of the KPIs may be included in deployable units and provided to a runtime environment. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063222 | System for managing loading operations of haul vehicles - A loading system for use with a haul vehicle and a loading machine configured to load material onto the haul vehicle is disclosed. The loading system has an identification tag located on the haul vehicle, an identification tag reader configured to recognize the identification tag, and a transmitter configured to deliver a first signal including information related to the identification tag. The loading system also has a transceiver configured to receive the first signal and deliver a second signal including loading information to the loading machine to initiate loading of the haul vehicle. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063223 | Systems and methods for assessing the level of conformance of a business process - A system for assessing a level of conformance of a business process with one more activities is disclosed. The disclosed system includes a memory to store program code and a process to assess the level of conformance. The assessment process includes storing a process standard, a business process classification, and a conformance scoring criterion, and determining a first conformance score for a first activity in the business process based on the conformance scoring criterion and the process standard. The assessment process further includes the steps of determining a second conformance score for a group of activities including the first activity based on one or more conformance scores including the first conformance score, determining a third conformance score based on the second conformance score, and assessing the level of conformance of the business process based on the third conformance score. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063224 | Integrated and platform independent approach to modeling of business rules using business and application domain ontologies - A method, system, and computer program product for integrated and platform independent modeling of business rules, including ***. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063225 | Tool for automated transformation of a business process definition into a web application package - A method and apparatus for automatically transforming a business process definition into a web application package. The method may include receiving a definition of a business process, and transforming the definition of the business process into a web application package, where the transformation is performed automatically without requiring a user to specify deployment descriptors for executing the business process as a web application. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063226 | Systems and methods for improving haul route management - A method for managing haul routes in work environments comprises receiving performance criteria associated with a haul route and establishing a target total effective grade for at least one machine associated with the haul route based on the performance criteria. The method also includes collecting performance data associated with the at least one machine. A drive axle torque of the at least one machine is determined and an actual total effective grade associated with the at least one machine is estimated. The at least one machine is identified as an underperforming machine if the actual total effective grade for the at least one machine exceeds the target total effective grade. An average total effective grade for the at least one machine is determined as a function of the actual total effective grade. A haul route deficiency is identified if the average total effective grade exceeds a threshold level. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063227 | System and Method for Providing Advertisements in Connection with Tags of User-Created Content - There is provided a system for providing advertisements in connection with tags of user-created content. The system includes: a request receiving unit configured to receive a request for user-created content from a client terminal, wherein the user-created content includes non-text information; a content reading unit configured to read the user-created content according to the received request; a tag retrieval unit configured to retrieve tags of the read user-created content; an advertisement searching unit configured to search advertisements connected to the retrieved tags; and a transmission unit configured to transmit the read user-created content and the searched advertisements to the client terminal. When using the above system, it is possible to provide advertisements having higher relevancy with the content. Further, it is possible to provide advertisements having relevancy with even the content that includes the non-text information. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063228 | Method and apparatus for providing a virtual electric utility - A method and apparatus for virtually generating electricity for use by electric utilities provide a virtual electric utility. In one embodiment, a non-power generating electric utility enters into a supply agreement to acquire electric power from an electric power generating entity. During a term of the agreement, the non-power generating utility intentionally refrains from receiving at least some of the electric power to which it is entitled under the agreement to produce deferred electric power. The non-power generating utility offers to supply the deferred electric power to third party, such as an electric power supplier or an electric power consumer. The power deferment is preferably achieved through issuance of power control commands to a load management system. In another embodiment, an independent third party controls the load management system to function as an alternative energy supplier by virtually supplying deferred electric power back to a power grid. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063229 | ADVERTISER AD REVIEW - A review for a content publisher is received, the content publisher publishing content to which advertisements are targeted over a distribution network. An aggregated approval score for the content publisher is generated based on the received review and other reviews for the content publisher. The aggregated approval score is provide to an advertiser. An indication to accept or reject the targeting of the advertisements to the publisher content is received, the indication being received after providing the aggregated approval score to the advertiser. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063230 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DATA CONTEXT SERVICE - The invention relates to a method of performing an oilfield operation. The method steps include extracting context information from a host application associated with an oilfield project, sorting the context information into a plurality of dimensions of relevance, generating at least one search profile for each of the plurality of dimensions of relevance, requesting a plurality of searches using the at least one search profile, receiving one or more oilfield data items resulting from the plurality of searches, and selectively adjusting the oilfield operation based on one or more oilfield data items. | 03-05-2009 |
20090070158 | METHOD APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR VISUALIZATION OF PROBABILISTIC MODELS - A method, apparatus, computer system and a program storage device for modeling a business process to assess risk is provided. A preferred embodiment of the method includes the steps of: (a) creating a high level model for the business process, (b) modeling a calculation algorithm for the business process; and (c) testing the model; wherein one or more views are used in each of steps (a), (b) and (c); and wherein the pattern technique of identifying and visualizing uncertainty is used in each of steps (a), (b) and (c), in increasing detail at each successive step. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070159 | Processing device, a system and a method for providing a message to a user - The present invention relates to a method, a processing device, and a system for providing message(s) to a user of e.g. a mobile terminal. The method comprises receiving a message(s) including an indication in a processing device and retrieving a personal file, which is stored in a personal unit, in the processing device. After receiving the message(s) and the personal profile, the processing device compares the personal profile and the indication. Therefore, in case the personal profile and the indication match, showing the message(s) to the user or in case the personal profile and the indication do not match, not showing the message(s) to the user. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070160 | Quantitative Alignment of Business Offerings with the Expectations of a Business Prospect - In certain embodiments, a method for quantitative alignment of business offerings with the expectations of a business prospect includes accessing a novelty indicator for an offering, the novelty indicator being based on one or more characteristics of the offering and rating an innovation level of the offering. The method further includes accessing an innovation perception indicator for a prospect of the offering, the innovation perception indicator providing an indication of how the prospect views innovation. The method further includes comparing the novelty indicator for the offering with the innovation perception indicator for the prospect to determine if the offering is aligned with the expectations of the prospect. In certain embodiments, the method includes generating a recommendation, possibly in the form of a report, based on the comparison of the novelty indicator for the offering and the innovation perception indicator for the prospect. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070161 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND DATA MODEL FOR MAXIMIZING THE ANNUAL PROFIT OF A HOUSEHOLD MICRO-ECONOMY - A periodical expense planning system, method and data model considers income, predicted and unpredicted expenses, in order to maximize final balance and profit for the analysis period. It applies multi-period linear optimization techniques, analyzing the expenses of a house cell over N periods for every period within N. The model analyzes the predicted expenses (known costs, but not necessarily the same amount on every period) of the k future periods to come, and also takes into account the actual costs incurred in the r previous periods (having that k+r=N). By doing that, the model calculates the optimal amount that can be taken away from the model in each period (i.e., money to be invested and thus give the user earnings) is achieved, and a planning for the expenses' payment is given. The variables under analysis for each period are how much to save for the next period, how much can be taken away from the model (i.e., the money to be invested), how much should be put into the system (i.e., a low-rate loan), and which expenses should be paid on each specific period. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070162 | System, Method And Graphical User Interface For Workflow Generation, Deployment And/Or Execution - A method, system and graphical user interface for generating, deploying and/or executing one or more workflows are provided. The method includes obtaining, via a graphical-user interface, information for executing a plurality of tasks of a workflow, wherein the information defines an abstraction of at least one function of the plurality of tasks, and forming, from the information, a record for executing a workflow, wherein the record is operable to be dispatched to facilitate execution of the workflow. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070163 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY GENERATING LABOR STANDARDS FROM VIDEO DATA - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for creating a labor standard for a task. The process automatically detects event data derived from a continuous video stream, wherein the event data comprises metadata describing a sequence of motions for performing the task, and parses the event data to identify appropriate event data describing a discrete set of motions from the sequence of motions. The process then analyzes, using an analysis server, the discrete set of motions to form a labor standard, wherein the labor standard specifies an optimal manner of performing the discrete set of motions. Thereafter, the process generates a set of recommendations for performing the task efficiently according to the labor standard. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070164 | REAL TIME SELF ADJUSTING TEST PROCESS - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to test processing manufactured products and provide a method, system and computer program product for self-adjusting test processing of manufactured goods in a supply chain management data processing system. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for real time self adjusting testing of products in a supply chain manufacturing operation can be provided. The method can include associating different products with optional test activities as part of one or more risk groups. Thereafter, a production order can be evaluated to identify a product, to match one or more of the risk groups to the product, and to omit associated ones of the optional test activities in the matched risk groups from a production process for the production order. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070165 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WORKFLOW SOLUTION OVERVIEW - A method and system are provided for providing a user interface in a workflow management system. The method includes, responsive to user inputs defining a workflow in the workflow management system, displaying the workflow in a graph-based format, wherein the workflow includes a set of steps and a control flow. The method further includes deriving a set of automatically-generated rules from the set of steps and the control flow to create a rule-based format representing the workflow. There may more manual-maintained rules that are not a part of the graph or control flow, but attached to one or more steps. The method further includes executing the rule-based format workflow at a server. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070166 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MITIGATING LIABILITY RELATED TO REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS - Embodiments of the invention may be used to mitigate potential liability for non-compliance with legal requirements related to employment authorization and verification. In one embodiment, a method is used to digitize employment verification forms, to create a database of the information reflected in the paper employment verification forms, and to identify errors in the employment verification forms, while concurrently limiting both the potential for unwanted disclosure of employee personal data and the potential for increased employer liability due to “knowledge” of problematic or incorrect employment verification form data. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070167 | Rule based product assessment method and apparatus - A computer implemented method, and apparatus, and a computer readable media for automated processing of standard cost estimates for business activities. A standard cost estimate indicating standard costs of a business activity is defined. A design pattern is used to encapsulate product characteristics including, defining at least one change request based on a production scenario, and modifying the standardized cost estimate. An updated standardized cost estimate indicating updated cost of the business activity based on the at least one change request is then derived. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070168 | Enterprise energy management system with social network approach to data analysis - A system for analyzing power management data by a community of users having a common interest is disclosed. Power management related data is collected from multiple sources and categorized. The power management data can then be manipulated and presented based at least on the categorization thereof. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070169 | VALUE ADDED BUSINESS MONITORING AND REPORTING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems, method and reports, for executing calculating economic and tax capital balances at the partner/shareholder level for partnerships and unitized companies are disclosed. The system provides full reporting and allows for business information to be transmitted electronically and in multiple formats. The system also allows a user to retrieve a business entity's foundation documents within the system. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070170 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT - There is disclosed a method for assessing and managing risk within a process comprising:
| 03-12-2009 |
20090070171 | HOST CAPTURE - A system and method for processing transactions. A unique transaction identifier is generated for each transaction. Processing of the transaction utilizes the unique transaction identifier. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070172 | RENT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE - Disclosed is software to manage tenants and provide accounting. The present invention is rent management software that allows unlimited tracking of properties and units. Provided is a powerful search engine that will scan a database in many different ways. An email or letter can be generated from any address stored in the database. A reminder feature will keep a user constantly organized with daily prompts. A find replace filter system is included to quickly save time and then money. An accounting system is included that requires little accounting experience. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070173 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING SPACE EFFICIENCY FOR OFFICE USERS - A system and method for identifying and calculating inefficiencies in a real estate space includes determining the areas of rooms required by a user. A circulation loss is calculated. The total of the room areas and the circulation loss are added to determine a net usable space required by the user. The net usable amount of space is multiplied by the subject building's inefficiency measure to identify the amount of rentable space necessary given an efficient program, space plan and building. The user's updated, proposed space program is compared to the user's current or original space program to identify efficiency losses. The system may be configured on a network computer system or a standalone computer. | 03-12-2009 |
20090076864 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RULES-BASED SERIALIZED SERVICE TRANSACTION PROCESSING - The present invention is directed to a services system using Internet Protocol (“IP”), integrating applications, and enabling participants of the services system to collaborate, and build, provision, and manage payment (commerce) services. The services network enables multiple transactions contained within a single transaction message to be processed by multiple participants within in the service system. Commerce business rules govern how individual transactions with a multi-transaction message are processed by participants in the service system. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076865 | METHODS TO PROVISION, AUDIT AND REMEDIATE BUSINESS AND IT ROLES OF A USER - A business role for a user is selected based on a job title of the user. IT roles are identified based on the selected business role. Provisioned IT roles of the user are compared to the identified IT roles. Differences between the identified and provisioned IT roles are remedied. The differences may be remedied by changing the business role definition. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076866 | Revenue Assurance Analytics - A system and method of revenue assurance for a service activity are presented. Multiple data feeds are received by a revenue assurance analytic system, where each data feed contains the same logical component of the service activity. The multiple data feeds are processed to detect revenue assurance issues in the service activity based on one or more common linking keys between disparate records related to the logical component. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076867 | BALANCED SCORECARD AND REPORTING TOOL - Methods and systems for developing key performance indicator (KPI) systems are provided. A centralized data store contains an indexed collection of KPIs. The KPIs may be arranged in a manner that facilitates rapid searching and retrieval. Multiple computer devices are connected to the centralized data store. The computer devices are programmed with computer-executable instructions for searching the data store and creating balanced scorecard applications that utilize one or more of the KPIs. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076868 | Automated Electronic Commerce Data Analyzing and Sales System - A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to implement an automated e-commerce monitoring system. Data can be extracted from different e-commerce sites in an inconspicuous manner. The different auction sites can be monitored for arbitrage situations and suspicious sellers or items for sale. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076869 | Methods and Systems for Price Block Interruption - In at least one aspect, the invention comprises a computer-implemented method comprising: (a) electronically receiving a price request; (b) processing in a pipeline price information corresponding to said price request by applying a sequence of configurable rules to said price information; (c) temporarily withdrawing said price information from said pipeline while at least one of said configurable rules being applied is waiting for additional information; (d) inserting said price information into said pipeline after said additional information is received by said at least one of said configurable rules; (e) calculating a price based on said processed price information; and (f) electronically transmitting said price in response to said price request. Other aspects of the invention comprise related software and system implementations. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076870 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DATA COLLECTION AT A POINT OF RETURN - Systems and methods are described for collecting data at a merchant's point of return for use in processing a merchandise return transaction that is being requested by a customer. In various embodiments, the data may be collected using a wide variety of data collection technologies and may be used in conjunction with stored data, including data collected from other merchants, by a return authorization system to make a determination whether to accept or deny the requested merchandise return. The data may additionally or alternatively be used to determine whether to issue a warning to the customer about limitations on future return transactions presented by the customer. Examples of data categories that may be collected include, but are not limited to, information about: the merchant, the customer, the requested transaction, the merchandise being returned, one or more receipts, a clerk processing the transaction, and other general applicable information. | 03-19-2009 |
20090083087 | MODELING OF TASK-BASED CONSTRAINTS AND AUTOMATED POLICY DERIVATION - A method and system for the augmentation of at least one task of a business process model are described, such augmentation including receiving a task-based authorization constraint to be applied to the at least one task. An augmented business process model is generated utilizing the business process model and the task-based authorization constraint. An authorization policy is automatically derived from the augmented business process model. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083088 | SYNCHRONIZING DATA BETWEEN BUSINESS APPLICATIONS - Architecture for synchronizing data between business applications according to a multi-master arrangement. Changes to business entities can be snapshot changes, delta changes, and long-running process changes, the latter which can be derived from the first two. The architecture includes automatic error retry logic, such that when synchronization errors occur, the logic can be replayed to resolve the errors, when conditions have changed where the errors can be resolved. This also applies to when one error causes a cascading set of errors. By replaying one error, the other errors will be resolved. Backup and restore of a participating application is also provided such that a new data change in a non-backup-restored application will automatically be synchronized to the recently-restored system. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083089 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ANALYZING FAILURE MODES ACCORDING TO COST - Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer readable media for analyzing failure modes derived from a failure modes and effects analysis. One or more failure modes for a product are identified. A respective cost exposure for each of the identified one or more failure modes is determined in order to provide the criticality and risk of a product's failure modes in financial terms. The one or more failure modes can then be prioritized in accordance with the determined cost exposure. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083090 | COMPREHENSIVE WASTE BILLING SYSTEM - An apparatus, program product and method validate service provider invoices for a customer to ensure that the waste disposal services associated with such invoices are both authorized to be performed and priced correctly in view of a contract between the customer and the service provider. Such invoice validation may be performed in connection with aggregating invoices from multiple service providers, paying those service providers, and generating on behalf of a customer a composite invoice that itemizes the waste disposal costs and services from multiple service providers. In addition, in some implementations a third party that assesses a customer's waste disposal services is permitted to share in the savings of a customer resulting from the assessment. A third party and a customer agree upon a cost reduction that the third party promises to realize for the customer, and to the extent the realized cost reduction for the customer exceeds the agreed-upon amount, at least a portion of the realized cost reduction that exceeds the agreed-upon amount is awarded to the third party. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083091 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSIGNING MATERIAL TRANSPORT VEHICLE IDLE LOCATIONS - A method for determining parking assignments for material handling vehicles in a manufacturing system is provided. The manufacturing system is operable to perform fabrication processes on a plurality of loads. The method includes identifying at least one idle material handling vehicle. A first cost factor associated with expected transit times for the at least one idle material handling vehicle to available parking locations in the manufacturing system is determined. A second cost factor based on a number of loads available to be serviced by the at least one idle material handling vehicle in the parking locations and relative priorities assigned to the loads is determined. A parking location for the at least one idle material handling vehicles is determined based on the first and second cost factors. A parking request is issued to the at least one idle material handling vehicle based on the determined parking locations. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083092 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING A TASK LIST IN AN ENTERPRISE SYSTEM - Disclosed is a method and system for defining a step of a business scenario, converting the step to a business process executable in an enterprise system and generating a task list containing a list of business processes in the business scenario. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083093 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRACKING AND RATING RENTERS - An application for a method of tracking and assessing rentals includes entering renter information regarding a renter and entering rental assessment data regarding at least one rental at a client computer and transferring the renter information and the rental assessment data from the client computer to a server computer system. In the server computer system, an overall assessment is created from the rental assessment data and the renter information, the rental assessment data and the overall assessment is stored in a database record associated with the renter. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083094 | RENEWAL METHOD AND SYSTEM - A renewal method and system. The method includes receiving, by a computing system from a requester, a selection of said first candidate from a list of candidates. The computing system retrieves a portion of candidate related data from an original request document for the candidate. The computing system receives from the requester, a selection of at least a one supplier from a list of suppliers. The computing system generates a first renewal request document associated with the first candidate. The first renewal request document includes the portion of the candidate related data from the original request document. The first renewal request document is for first renewing an association between a first company and the first candidate. The computing system transmits the first renewal request document to the at least one supplier. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083095 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SORTING ONLINE ADVERTISEMENTS - A method and system for sorting online advertisements to enable users of online advertising networks, auctions, merchants, etc. to identify known or trusted parties are provided. Users designate other users as friends. When a user searches for or browses through advertisements, those advertisements posted by the user's friends are easily identified. Advertisements posted by members of the user's network (i.e., friends of the user's friends) are also easily identified. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083096 | Handling product reviews - A method for handling product reviews can detect a first quality product review from a second quality product review. The first and second quality product reviews can be associated with a product. The first quality product review can be filtered. An opinion segment in the second quality product review can be identified and the polarity can be determined of the opinion segment. An opinion set can be generated with the opinion segment for a product feature. A score (or weighty can be aggregated of segments in the opinion set for the product feature. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083097 | Process for water storage facilities - The present invention provides a process comprising the evaluation, planning, and provision of maintenance and repair services for water storage facilities on an ongoing, integrated and monitored basis including the use of comprehensive maintenance and state of the art cleaning and circulation technologies. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083098 | System and method for an online auction with optimal reserve price - An improved system and method for an online auction with optimal reserve price is provided. An auction engine may choose advertisements for web page placements using an optimal reserve price. To estimate an optimal reserve price, a bid may be received from a bidder for the keyword, click-through rates of advertisements allocated web page placement may be obtained for the keyword, and the optimal reserve price may be estimated for the keyword to maximize revenue by determining a distribution for the values per click from the bidders for the keyword. Web page placements may then be allocated for advertisements with bids at least the value of the optimal reserve price and payment for each of the advertisements allocated web page placements may be calculated using the optimal reserve price. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083099 | Online interactive website for the jewelry industry - An online network including an interactive website by which to enable jewelers and others associated with the jewelry industry to quickly and easily conduct searches from a desktop computer to enhance their business. According to a preferred embodiment, the online searches that may be conducted at the website relate to the location and availability of a particular gemstone (e.g., a diamond), the wholesale value of a particular gemstone, and a schedule of events applicable to those in the jewelry industry. A jeweler visits the website and enters on his computer the details of a gemstone of interest or an event to be attended. An automated search of a database stored on an affiliated server is conducted and the results are reported to the jeweler so that appropriate action can be taken concerning the stone or event. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083100 | Collision avoidance - In a method for avoiding a collision on a job site, information is received regarding a plurality of selected entities on the job site. The information is received at a location independent from the entities. The information is evaluated to determine whether a trigger has occurred. The trigger is associated with a potential collision situation involving an entity of the entities. A collision alert message is issued for the entity if the trigger has occurred. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083101 | Computer method and apparatus for indicating performance of assets and revisions held in a repository - Computer method and apparatus managing engineering product revisions. A repository holds one or more assets. For each asset, the repository holds respective revisions of the asset. A revision manager tracks changes of state of assets of the repository. Each change of state of a given asset results in a respective revision of the given asset. The revision manager provides a project view illustrating changes of state of assets and including performance indicators corresponding to respective changes of state of assets held in the repository. The performance indicators may be color coded and may be based on a changeable metric. The revision manager provides in the project view an indication of each change in metric. Plural performance indicators for a set of assets may be presented in the project view as a graphical series. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083102 | Computer method and apparatus for engineered product management using a project view and a visual grammar - Computer method and apparatus managing software configuration revisions. A repository holds one or more assets. For each asset, the repository holds respective revisions of the asset. A revision manager tracks changes of state of assets of the repository. Each change of state of a given asset results in a respective revision of the given asset. The revision manager provides a project view illustrating for a set of assets (i) changes of state of assets of the set, (ii) resulting revisions of the assets and (iii) any relationships between the resulting revisions. In this way, i.e., via the project view, the present invention revision manager enables users to manage assets and revisions. The revision manager renders the project view in one mode illustrating changes made to the assets (state changes) in order of time, and in another mode illustrating changes made to the assets (state changes) in order of sequence of revisions. The revision manager may render the project view effectively overlaid or otherwise combined with project planning and scheduling information. The revision manager employs a visual grammar in providing and generating the project view. The visual grammar employs: lines to indicate branches, a certain polygon to represent tags, a shaded or filled circles to represent commit points, and dashed lines to show where assets are copied from one state to another, merging of changes from one branch to another, and deletion/creation of branches and assets. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083103 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE - A method for measuring the culture of an organisation includes establishing ( | 03-26-2009 |
20090083104 | SINGLE POINT OF ENTRY FOR WEB APPLICATIONS - A method for centralizing web application interaction, the method including handling a request, using a central point of entry, from a remote application, determining a local application suitable for processing the request, and handing out the request to the, local application determined to be suitable for processing the request. | 03-26-2009 |
20090089106 | System And Method For Developing Strategic Scenario - Provided are a system and method for developing a strategic scenario. The system includes: a region analyzer for receiving initial scenario regions and sub-regions, verifying an organic relationships therebetween by performing a systematic thinking, calculating metric points of factors by performing an influencing matrix analysis, calculating a dynamic index for the factors based on the calculated metric points and classifying the factors into factor groups; a scenario diagnosis unit for selecting major factors based on the dynamic index and creating a projection catalogue of the selected major factors; a scenario developer for performing a comparability analysis between future prospects of selected major factors, performing a projection bundle extracting analysis based on the metric results from the comparability analysis, and deciding a final scenario by performing a cluster and a multidimensional scaling analysis; and a database for storing data generated from the region analyzer, the scenario diagnosis and the scenario developer. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089107 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RANKING A CUSTOMER USING DYNAMICALLY GENERATED EXTERNAL DATA - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for ranking a potential customer. In one embodiment, external data associated with the potential customer is processed in a set of data models to generate a set of risk assessment factors for the potential customer. The external data comprises dynamic customer data elements generated in real-time as the potential customer is approaching a retail facility. The potential customer is ranked based on the risk assessment factors. The ranking indicates whether the potential customer poses a possible risk to the retail facility. In response to the ranking indicating that the potential customer poses the possible risk, actions are initiated to deter the potential customer from entering the retail facility. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089108 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY IDENTIFYING POTENTIALLY UNSAFE WORK CONDITIONS TO PREDICT AND PREVENT THE OCCURRENCE OF WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for predicting an occurrence of a workplace accident. The process monitors current event data derived from a continuous video stream. The current event data comprises metadata describing events occurring at a workplace. The process then compares the current event data with previous event data that describes a set of previous events associated with a previously identified workplace accident. In response to detecting events in the current event data corresponding to at least one event in the set of previous events, the process generates a notification identifying a potential occurrence of the workplace accident. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089109 | CONFIGURATION OF WEB SERVICES - Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for configuration of web services. In general, data is received characterizing web service calls for an application, a placeholder destination for the web service calls, and an identification of a system to be mapped to the placeholder; and a configuration is generated for the web service calls, where the configuration maps the placeholder destination to the system. The configuration may be a configuration of proxy objects to make the web service calls. Mapping the placeholder destination to the system may include generating a configuration including the system in lieu of the placeholder destination. Systems may be included in domains, where a security policy may be applied to systems in a domain. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089110 | METHODS OF RANKING CONTENT FOR BRAND CENTRIC WEBSITES - Computer-implemented methods for ranking modules within a module page of a website are provided. One method includes generating a website that relates to a brand, and the website is configured to contain one or more modules, and each module has media content related to the brand. The method includes monitoring each module for user interactivity and examining rules associated with monitored user interactivity of each module. Then, the method ranks each of the modules that are part of the website based on the user interactivity and the examined rules, and the ranking is capable of causing an automated repositioning of one or more modules within the webpage. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089111 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATING PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT - A system and method to automate product life cycle management is disclosed. Product registration is automated by providing a package with automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) media, such as an RFID tag or a barcode, and a point-of-sale terminal that writes a unique product registration key to the AIDC media. Information about the product and customer is maintained by the brand owner's product management system. A global directory service acting as a broker is used as an intermediary to facilitate interactions between point-of-sale or post sale systems and the brand owner's system. Upon product purchase, customer and unique product identifier is sent to the brand owner's product management system via the broker. The brand owner's system creates a unique product registration key that is sent back to the point of sale terminal, which then writes the unique product registration key to the AIDC media annexed to the product. When the product returned to a store, the AIDC media is scanned, the unique product registration key is extracted, and sent to the brand owner's system for decoding, verification and for product life cycle management. The disclosed system and method ensures that retailers or other unauthorized entities cannot track the product thus alleviating privacy concerns. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089112 | Service Resource Evaluation Method and System - A method for determining the value of service knowledge is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a database of service knowledge, including one or more service knowledge objects, corresponding to a system. The method may also include associating the service knowledge with a plurality of taxonomic service categories associated with respective service events. Further, the method may include establishing a value of the one or more service knowledge objects. Such value may be established through a comparison of a first and second expected maintenance costs for the system determined from the service knowledge without and with, respectively, the one or more service knowledge objects. Additionally, the method may include storing or outputting the established value. Various other methods, systems, and devices are also disclosed. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089113 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION PROCUREMENT, LOGISTICS, AND PAYMENT TRANSACTION FACILITATION - The disclosure details the implementation of apparatuses, methods, and systems for market generation and matches of importation and exportation procurement, logistics, and payment transactions; i.e., a cross-border Facilitator (hereinafter “Facilitator”). Through its various components, the cross-border Facilitator creates new markets by generating and facilitating three stages of a cross-border trade transaction: identification, selection and execution. In one embodiment, the Facilitator manages the transaction by: creating a transaction “template” based on transaction information (i.e., HS product code, ISO country code, etc), alerting the buyer to potential problem areas, and updating of important upcoming dates and actions. The Facilitator creates all the required documents, integrates all events, including the service providers, and allows both parties to track the status of the transaction on-line at any time. In one embodiment, the Facilitator receives a search request from a system user, the search request including product and shipping related data. The Facilitator then generates a quote for the transaction and transmitting the quote to the user. The Facilitator receives an indication that the transaction quote has been finalized by the user and effectuates one or more transaction logistics elements based on the product and shipping details included in the finalized quote. The Facilitator then facilitates payment of one or more entities involved in the transaction. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089114 | AUTOGENERATION OF CONFIGURATION ACTIVITIES - An activity generation system helps partners set up an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system by automatically generating a list of configuration activities that partners perform to configure the ERP system. The activity generation system programmatically generates a list of configuration activities and dependencies from the metadata of the ERP system. The activity generation system identifies the data sources associated with the menu items available to the user. For each identified data source, the activity generation system determines whether the data source is related to configuration of the system and creates a configuration activity related to the configuration of that data source. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089115 | Computer-implemented methods and systems for deriving process flow diagrams - A computer-implemented method of deriving a process flow diagram may include defining a computer-implemented business process, the business process including a plurality of computer-implemented operations, each of the plurality of operations including a condition precedent that must be satisfied for the activity to be executed. The defined computer-implemented process may be carried out over a selectable period of time, each time executing selected ones of the plurality of operations, depending on which of the condition precedents are satisfied and data may be collected on the executed selected ones of the operations upon execution thereof. A process flow diagram may then be derived from the collected data, the derived process flow diagram representing an historical view of the executed selected ones of the plurality of operations of the defined computer-implemented process. The derived process flow diagram may then be rendered. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089116 | Method and System for Acquiring and Tracking Redeemable Codes - Improved approaches to generate, distribute, redeem or return codes are disclosed. The codes can be used (i.e., redeemed) to purchase products from an online store. The codes can be electronically requested and received. In one embodiment, the codes can be acquired from a server via a network. The codes can be content specific codes that are redeemable for particular content, such as specific digital media assets. The codes can be returnable, and royalty obligations that may be due can be adjusted for returns. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089117 | Store Affiliation System - Techniques for improved interaction between online retailers and traditional brick-and-mortar retailers that provide patron-accessible networks are disclosed. The location and/or the fact that any given purchase was made from a particular retailer's patron-accessible network can be tracked for various purposes. The invention can facilitate partnering between online retailers (i.e., online stores) and traditional ‘brick-and-mortar’ business establishments. As an example, the invention can be used to track and give credit for online purchases at an online retailer that are facilitated by a brick-and-mortar retailer. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089118 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SELECTING SHARED SERVICE CENTERS - A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code includes storing collected data representative of service recipient attributes in multiple countries and storing collected data representative of at least one shared service center's (SSC's) attributes. Additionally, the method includes performing a feasibility analysis to determine if one or more SSCs are feasible to provide an indication of one or more feasible SSCs. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089119 | Method, Apparatus, and Software System for Providing Personalized Support to Customer - A software agent gathers data concerning customer usage of a software product, including error information and other relevant information. A support server gathers customer usage data and determines which optional features of a product are being used, or not being used, by the customer. The developer may then determine what features and functionalities of a product are critical for each individual customer or group of customers. The support server may generate a personalized support system for each customer or group of customers based on the gathered information. The support server may create a segment of customers within vertical industry segments and target the customers with new and advanced features to help solve their individual business problems. Customers may access personalized support pages based on their usage data. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089120 | ADVERTISEMENT PROCESSING METHOD, ADVERTISEMENT DISPLAY METHOD, AND CONTACT ADVERTISEMENT PRESENTATION SYSTEM - An advertisement processing method by accepting an extraction request including a customer ID of a particular customer and conditions relating to products that are handled by a store and may be purchased by the particular customer, accessing a contact advertisement data storage in which advertisement contact situation data including data relating to advertisements registered by customers as correlated with customer IDs of the customers and data relating to situations in which the customers came into contact with the respective advertisements are stored, searching the contact advertisement data storage by the customer ID of the particular customer and the conditions relating to the products that are handled by the store and may be purchased by the particular customer, extracting suitable advertisement contact situation data, and outputting information about the extracted advertisement contact situation data. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089121 | Method and system for controlling a project - A method and a system are disclosed for controlling a project for the provision of a product. In at least one embodiment, project data of the project is assigned to a product structure of the product and, depending on the project data which is assigned to the product structure, the control of the project takes place in an automated manner. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089122 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ANALYZING FINANCIAL DATA TO DETERMINE THE COST OF FRAUD - A system for analyzing financial data to determine the cost of fraud related to financial presentation devices that are presentable to providers of goods or services is provided. A fraud assessment module executable by a processor receives sales data and operating cost data both related to financial presentation devices and determines a direct fraud loss and fraud operating cost based on the received data. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089123 | Method and a Tool for Performance Measurement of a Business Scenario Step Executed by a Single User - Described herein are a method and a tool for performance measurement of a business scenario step in an enterprise environment, which support “per business scenario step” granularity and do not attach any agents to the enterprise environment, thus avoiding any memory or CPU time overheads. The performance measurements are based on two sets of system readings collected prior to the and after the execution of the business scenario step. The method calculates the memory used by the enterprise environment during the business scenario step execution, the elapsed CPU times used by all Operation System (OS) processes involved, the number and duration of all roundtrips between the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) browser initiating the execution of the business scenario step and the enterprise environment, and between the enterprise environment and all back-ends involved. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089124 | JOB PLACEMENT SYSTEM WITH PROFILE MATCHING - Potential employees are matched with employers by storing data in a computer database regarding information on job openings from multiple employers, information on employee candidates, and information about the employers. Candidates are scored relative to a specific job posting and an anonymous list of the highest scoring candidates with a graduated fee rate based on one or more factors relating to the specific job posting and the scores associated with the highest scoring candidates. A selected candidate is rewarded when the selected candidate's information is revealed to the employer. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089125 | CUSTOMS INSPECTION AND DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF FOR WEB-BASED PROCESSING OF CUSTOMS INFORMATION - A multi-user, multi-organization web-based system for processing customs information is provided. The system includes a server device connected to a communication network and having a communication server module for communicating over the network. The server device receives a declaration pertaining to a consignment, including identification of specific goods in the consignment and predetermined parameters of the consignment. The server device further includes an application program module that verifies the declaration, conducts a risk analysis of the received information, calculates an amount of customs duty and taxes for the consignment, and determines whether or not to initiate an inspection process based on the risk analysis. A computer-implemented method for processing the customs information is also provided. The method includes the steps of receiving a declaration pertaining to a consignment, and verifying the declaration. Also included are the steps of conducting a risk analysis of the received information, calculating an amount of customs duty and taxes for the consignment, and determining whether or not to initiate an inspection process based on the risk analysis. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089126 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AN AUTOMATED CORPORATE GOVERNANCE RATING SYSTEM - A method and system for developing and deploying an automated corporate governance rating software system for reducing the cost of research comprising analyzing data and generating scores. The system further comprises rating the performance of the leadership team, board of directors and executives of public and private companies. The system comprises web portals wherein a user selects a company of interest and a corporate governance score for that company is generated. The method further comprises retrieving the company's securities filings from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) database, generating the company's ratings. The method comprises domain-specific natural language questions, extracting concepts based on such a venture and automatically extracting and analyzing data to generate answers based on securities filings at the U.S. SEC. The method further comprises using over 200 corporate governance variables and an algorithm to generate corporate governance ratings and deliver them to the user via a web portal. The natural language processing involves over 2,000 industry key words and terms from the capital and financial markets, and four corporate governance categories including governance and ethics, compensation, auditing and accounting, and finance. | 04-02-2009 |
20090094073 | REAL TIME CLICK (RTC) SYSTEM AND METHODS - A real-time click system to process advertisement (ad) clicks includes a real-time listener operative to listen for, and store in a memory, a plurality of click event packets emitted by an ad server when corresponding ads are clicked by web users. A sequencer stores the click event packets in a database. A collector is coupled with the real-time listener and the sequencer and is operative to retrieve the plurality of click event packets, upon request, from the memory at a predetermined time interval. The collector also determines a partition number associated with each of the plurality of click event packets and sends to the sequencer the click event packets having a partition number corresponding to the sequencer. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094074 | Method for Constructing Business Process Models from Task Execution Traces - A business process is modeled by determining, for each possible pair of tasks in a trace of executions of N tasks corresponding to a business process, whether the tasks in each pair have an identical relation condition with every other task in the trace. A pair of tasks is identified as child task nodes of an associated parent relation node if the identical relation condition is true. A renderable workflow tree is constructed from all identified child task of the associated corresponding parent relation, nodes. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094075 | System And Method For Real Time Maintaining An Inventory Of Services And Associated Resources Of A Client Company - A system for real-time maintaining an inventory of services and associated resources of a client company. A product component communicates with feeds receiving inventory data from the client company. A transactional component communicates with the product component for managing transactional records, processing responses related thereto and updating the inventory records accordingly. An expert engine component evaluates the transactional records against corresponding ones of the inventory records stored in the product component to identify eventual changes to be made to the inventory records as determined by set conditions, and controls generation of service orders articulated on action parameters of the transactions and the inventory records concerned by the transactions. A user interface capable of displaying selected inventory records, inputting transactions relative to the inventory records, and of inputting responses to the service orders placed by the expert engine component communicates with the product and transactional components. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094076 | METHOD AND SYSTEM USING LINEAR PROGRAMMING FOR ESTIMATING TEST COSTS FOR BAYESIAN DIAGNOSTIC MODELS - In accordance with an embodiment, a method for troubleshooting a fault to determine a root cause of the fault. A Bayesian network model is created based on information obtained from a Fault Isolation Manual (FIM), where the FIM provides tests to be performed in troubleshooting the fault to determine a root cause of the fault. Heuristics are used to determine a structure and conditional probabilities for the Bayesian network. A plurality of test costs inherent in the FIM are imputed by first generating a plurality of constraints between the cost of each test and fault probabilities that hold for all fault scenarios. A linear programming algorithm is used to solve the plurality of constraints, and to construct a tuned Bayesian network model. The tuned Bayesian network model is used to iteratively rank likely faults according to their probabilities given accumulating test evidence, and to rank pending tests according to their value. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094077 | Site development planning - In a computer implemented method for site development planning, a development mix is automatically determined for developing a site. The development mix is based upon a location of the site and regulatory information regarding the site location. An earthworks parameter for the site is automatically estimated from the development mix. A site build phase parameter is automatically determined from the development mix. One or more of the development mix, site earthworks parameter, and site build phase parameter are then provided as a site development planning output. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094078 | ENVIRONMENTAL OFFSETS FOR SERVICES - Techniques for providing services in a manner that takes into account the environmental impact of such service delivery are provided. In one embodiment, in response to a request for services from a prospective customer, the environmental impact of the requested service is determined based on analysis of each sub-service constituting the service. The resulting estimate of the environmental impact as well as any alternative delivery options having an effect on the estimated environmental impact may be presented to the prospective customer. In another embodiment, the potential customer may be provided the option to pursue an offset against the estimated environmental impact. In this manner, potential customers may be provided with more environmentally-conscious options when selecting a potential service provider. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094079 | EVALUATING COMMODITY CONDITIONS USING AERIAL IMAGE DATA - Various tools, strategies and techniques are provided for evaluating the condition of one or more commodities in one or more regions of interest. Collection of image data associated with the commodities can be facilitated through use of an aircraft traveling a predetermined travel route over the regions of interest. The collected image data may be analyzed to evaluate the condition of the commodities, forecast commodity production, and/or to perform other tasks. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094080 | METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING THE OPERABILITY OF A PRODUCTION PLANT - A method for improving the operability of a production plant is invented. The production plant has at least one production process comprising at least one equipment, a system for obtaining equipment condition measuring data and a system for obtaining maintenance work data. The equipment condition measuring data and the maintenance work data is continuously acquired and stored to equipment reliability calculation system, and equipment reliability is calculated based on the equipment condition measuring data and the maintenance work data. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094081 | APPARATUS, METHOD, AND SYSTEM TO MONITOR PERFORMANCE OF COIN ACCEPTORS, BILL VALIDATORS, AND OTHER AUTOMATED PAYMENT METHODS - An apparatus, system, and method of monitoring performance of a currency detector such as a coin acceptor or bill validator. Status of the currency detector relative to each item introduced to it is tracked. A ratio of rejected items to accepted items is compiled over a given period of time to create a rejection rate. Rejection rate can be displayed or communicated to another device. The rejection rate can be used to indicate poor operation or malfunction of the currency detector. It may indicate attempts at cheating. It also can be used to attempt to improve performance or adjust or train operation of the currency detector. Analogous techniques can be used to monitor performance of a credit card or proximity card reader. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094082 | Systems and methods for application programming interfaces for shipping services - Systems and methods provide shipping services information. In one implementation, a method is provided in which an e-commerce server receives a request for shipping information from an end-user. The e-commerce server generates an extensible markup language (XML) request based on the requested shipping information and sends the XML request to an application programming interface (API) server. The API server determines, based on the XML request, one of a plurality of API modules stored in the API server to process the XML request and generates an XML response based on data included in the XML request. The API server sends the XML response to the e-commerce server, which sends the XML response to the end-user. | 04-09-2009 |
20090099879 | System and Method of Facilitating Interaction Between Members of Supply Chain - A computer-implemented method involves facilitating interaction between members of a supply chain. A communication platform links to a plurality of hubs for electronic data transfer. The hubs are associated with the members of the supply chain. The method provides a standardized model for product decisions for each member of the supply chain. The method involves formulating a product plan by a first member of the supply chain. The product plan utilizes the standardized model and data available to the first member to generate a forecast under the product plan. The method transfers the product plan with shared data and forecast through a first hub associated with the first member and through the communication platform to a second hub associated with a second member of the supply chain. The communication platform controls the transfer of data so that the second member can evaluate the product plan and forecast under the standardized model. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099880 | DYNAMIC BUSINESS PROCESS PRIORITIZATION BASED ON CONTEXT - A user interface to establish dynamic prioritization of business process instances enables a user to select a business process for association with dynamic prioritization, define at least two different priority levels that correspond to the business process and to define a priority relevant context associated with the business process, where the priority relevant context is evaluated to select an execution priority level from at least two different priority levels for association with a specific instance of the business process. The user interface further enables a user to define at least one directive that is evaluated in consideration of the priority relevant context in order to select the execution priority level and is coupled to data storage to store the priority levels and the priority relevant context. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099881 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTION OF A REPORT WITH DYNAMIC WRITE-BACK TO A DATA SOURCE - A computer readable medium includes executable instructions to integrate a write-back module in a report document, to publish to a recipient the report document and metadata identifying the recipient, and to update a data source based on received write-back information, including the metadata identifying the recipient. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099882 | Enhanced Security Framework for Composite Applications - Automatic secure application composition, in applying a security framework is applied to a business process. An external policy negotiation is conducted to specify a common policy between the composite application and an external service based on applying the security framework, the common policy is enforced for each interaction between the composite application and the external service, and access by the external service to local services and objects is regulated based on the security objectives. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099883 | PROCESS MANUFACTURING WITH LEAST COST FORMULATION - A system for manufacturing a product receives a formulation specification that includes a plurality of ingredients for the product. The system further receives cost information for the ingredients and inventory information. The system then generates a least cost formulation for the product based on the formulation specification, cost information and inventory information. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099884 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING FRAUD BASED ON FINANCIAL RECORDS - An approach is disclosed for detecting fraud in financial records of a network subscriber. Financial records are received and impersonal data are extracted. Financial record data are processed to conform to a normalized format. Normalized records can be correlated into groups linked to respective sources such as, for example, an individual, a business entity, or a healthcare practitioner. Digits contained in this data are analyzed to determine a pattern that is indicative of fraud. An alert, to the fact that fraud has been detected with respect to an identified plurality of records if such determination has been made, is then generated. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099885 | METHOD FOR RISK ANALYSIS USING INFORMATION ASSET MODELLING - A method for risk analysis using information asset modeling. The method has the steps of: (a) identifying an information asset which uses or provides a network service; (b) identifying a threat on the information asset through a computer network; (c) identifying a vulnerability of the information asset; (d) calculating an AL (attack likelihood) by using a CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) score obtained by converting a severity caused by a success of an attack on the vulnerability into a standardized value; (e) computing the value of the information asset so as to calculate an IM (impact analysis); and (f) multiplying the calculated AL and IM so as to determine an RL (risk level) for the information asset. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099886 | System and method for performance-based payload management - A method for managing machine payload based on haul road conditions comprises collecting performance data associated with a machine operating in a work environment and determining an actual total effective grade of the machine based on the collected performance data. The total effective grade is compared with a target total effective grade value, and total effective grade associated with a plurality of payload levels may be simulated if the actual total effective grade is not within a threshold range of the target total effective grade value. At least one of the plurality of payload levels that causes the simulated total effective grade to fall within the threshold range of the target total effective grade value is identified. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099887 | Method of undertaking and implementing a project using at least one concept, method or tool which integrates lean six sigma and sustainability concepts - A method of undertaking and implementing a project using at least one concept, method or tool which integrates Lean Six Sigma and Sustainability Concepts is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) collecting data regarding a project to be undertaken; b) analyzing the collected data to identify a problem associated with the project; c) defining a desired solution to the problem; and d) creating a plan of action based on the desired solution. At least one of steps a) through d) is performed utilizing at least one concept, method or tool which integrates Lean Six Sigma and financial and social and/or environmental sustainability concepts. The method also includes implementing the plan of action to obtain financial and social and/or environmental benefits. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099888 | METHOD OF DESIGNING PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES - A method for use in a system for prioritizing risks associated with the design and manufacture of products involves performing a failure mode detection analysis. Functions of the product and/or of the process and the effects of undesirable events related to malfunctions are characterized, and potential failure modes and causes for the effects are identified. The features of the product/process that are responsible for the undesirable effects are determined. Severity, occurrence and detectability of the undesirable events are evaluated using specific measures designed to encourage score keeping, and risk factor numbers are computed. The resultant numbers are ranked and prioritized for a set of selected functions. Risk reduction may then be performed through engineering activities directed to remedy causes associated with the malfunctioning features. Failure mode detection analysis may be updated to continue incremental and focused improvements to the product and/or process. The method permits the capture of potential failures before they reach the field and the customer. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099889 | Image processing system and image forming apparatus - When a predetermined anomaly has occurred in a digital multifunctional machine, the fact of the anomaly occurring is notified to the service center and the computer at the guardhouse. The service person sent out from the service center is issued with an entrance permit from the entrance permit issuing device at the guardhouse. Then, the service person can pass through the passage gates in the building using the information recorded in the entrance permit and reach the place where the digital multifunctional machine is installed. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099890 | WEB BASED SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER WRITEABLE MEDIUM FOR MANAGEMENT OF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SIGNAGE INCLUDING ORDERING/TERMS AND PLACEMENT - An online system and associated computer writeable medium for managing residential and commercial signage, including the step of customer order placement in the creation and installation of any plurality of signage. The system includes a series of web based illustrations for managing the specifications associated with the created signage, as well as installation specifics and removal. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099891 | MEASUREMENT OF CONTENT PLACEMENT EFFECTIVENESS OVER WEB PAGES AND LIKE MEDIA - A system estimates whether a page carrying content of interest is currently in focus on a user, computer. in addition the system may determine the part of a current content page that is currently visible on a user screen. A movement detection unit detects movement of the content page within the user's browser, and an estimator infers whether a particular content item of interest is within the currently visible area. The movement detection unit in one version detects operating system directives to find out whether the user is scrolling etc through the page. Alternatively an identifiable point is placed on the content item and continual measurement is made between identifiable point in the content and a point in the currently visible area. The system is useful for providing statistical data about the effectiveness of advertisement placement within web pages. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099892 | Store System - A store system comprises: store controller | 04-16-2009 |
20090099893 | COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED SYSTEM AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR ANALYZING A COLLABORATIVE SPACE - Under the present invention, interactivity metrics between users of collaborative spaces are measured. Based on the interactivity metrics, the collaborative spaces are categorized. Then, when a potential user provides desired interactivity metrics for a collaborative space he/she wishes to utilize, one or more of the categorized collaborative spaces can be recommend thereto. | 04-16-2009 |
20090106057 | Two-Leg Multilevel Marketing Organization Construction System - The invention provides a two-leg MLM organization construction system which encourages a member who puts in effort in recruiting members by offering a chance to drastically increase bonus earnings. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106058 | ASSESSING AD VALUE - A system is provided for assessing an effectiveness of online advertising by recording the context in which each advertisement is provided and tracking whether each advertisement resulted in a consumer response. When a request for an online advertisement is received, a unique code, which can be utilized to redeem a coupon, is generated and provided with an advertisement. Contextual information associated with providing the online advertisement is recorded for the unique code. Contextual information can include, for example, information about the provided advertisement, information about how the advertisement will be presented, information about the potential viewer for the advertisement, and the like. If the unique code is later utilized to redeem the coupon, the redemption is recorded for the unique code so that an online advertiser can assess the effectiveness of their online advertisements in relation to various contexts in which their advertisements are provided. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106059 | EXECUTIVE REPORTING - Providing for generating an executive report of business or personal activity is described herein. By way of example, such executive report can identify a change and related cause with respect to a prior report. As a particular example, an inference engine can receive an activity report and reference prior reports to identify the change and related cause. A set of results containing such information can be provided to a synthesis component that can include and highlight such information in the executive report. In addition, additional sources of data can be referenced in order to include and/or customize the report to a particular individual, organization, culture, or the like. As described, aspects of the subject innovation can provide an executive report highlighting important aspects of data and tailoring those aspects to interests of one or more users. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106060 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING CAPITAL INVESTMENT, EMPLOYMENT CREATION AND GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OF GREENFIELD INVESTMENT PROJECTS - A Project Size Estimation and Triple Weighted Location Assessment Model to estimate the capital investment, employment creation and to determine the highest quality geographic location for a Greenfield investment project, based on algorithms that firstly calculate and apply capital and employment intensity and average project size ratios to estimate capital investment and employment creation for the project and secondly apply a triple weighted quality assessment model to calculate the quality competitiveness of locations for the investment project. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106061 | PROGRESSIVE VENDOR DATA MANAGEMENT AND VERIFICATION IN A MULTI-NODE SUPPLY NETWORK - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to product data sharing in a multi-node supply chain and provide a method, system and computer program product for progressive vendor data management and verification in a multi-node supply chain. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for progressive vendor data management and verification in a multi-node supply chain can be provided. The method can include propagating vendor data requirements for a product component downstream from a root node in the supply chain to a leaf node in the supply chain producing a portion of the product component. The method further can include verifying vendor data at each node in the supply chain according to the vendor data requirements. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106062 | Employee performance return on investment - An Employee Performance Return on Investment (EP-ROI) tool helps a customer decide where to make investments in workplace design features to optimize employee performance and, thus, maximize the impacts on the financial productivity of the organization. The EP-ROI tool considers many factors in illustrating the impact on predicted business outcome values given various levels of investment in workplace design features. For example, the EP-ROI tool considers the customer's workplace environment type, such as a call center or professional\office, and the customer's remodeling or construction project type when developing the predicted business outcome values. In addition, the EP-ROI tool considers a customer's employee job types and their associated work process characteristics in reaching the predicted business outcome values. Furthermore, the EP-ROI tool allows a customer to create multiple customer models in illustrating the effects investing in different workplace design features have on predicted business outcome values. For example, the customer may refer to previously created models in reaching an informed business decision for investing in workplace design features. Hence, a customer may use the EP-ROI tool to create successive approximations that ultimately permit the customer to optimize the outcomes of the model to support their specific business objectives. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106063 | RELATIONAL LOGIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - In one aspect, the invention relates to a method to propagate relations between a first rule set and a second rule set wherein the first and second rule sets are invoked by a common workflow model. The method includes tracing paths forward through the workflow model from the first rule set to the second rule set. Enumerating relations that extend forward from the first rule set to the second rule set is another step in the method. Additionally, using multi-valued logic, calculating the effects to the relations of control flow through the workflow model from the first rule set to the second rule set, tracing paths backward through the workflow model from the first rule set to the second rule set, enumerating relations that extend backward form the second rule set to the first rule set, and using multi-valued logic, calculating the effects on the relations of control flow backwards through the workflow model from the second rule set to the first rule set are also steps in the method. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106064 | System and Method for Reduction of Cost of Ownership for Wireless Communication Networks - Systems and methods to assist wireless telecom service providers to determine the optimal core network evolution plan in a network planning time period. Total cost of ownership of wireless core networks is generally modeled to include capital expenditure, customer acquisition and retention cost, network operational cost and staffing and engineering cost. The total cost of ownership model is used to determine the optimal core network evolution plan at different layers of the core networks, which are modeled as a number of abstract networks in mathematical terms. A core network evolution optimization algorithm determines the optimal number of core network configurations and when to deploy the configurations in the planning period in order to minimize the total cost of ownership. A multi-level serving area optimization algorithm determines an optimal core network configuration at a given point of time. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106065 | PROCESS FOR AUTOMATICALLY HANDLING ELECTRONIC REQUESTS FOR NOTIFICATION OF UNSOLICITED COMMERCIAL EMAIL AND OTHER SERVICE DISRUPTIONS - A system and method for automatically processing and responding to large volumes of customer requests regarding Unsolicited Commercial Email (UCE) and other service disruptions. The process combines manual and automated steps, and includes routing, filtering, aggregating, validating, ticketing, custom and automated responses, tracking, analyzing, and closing each validated request. The process can be used by the Customer Support Center (CSC) of the Internet Service Provider (ISP) to insure that all complaints are handled successfully, that promotion of complaints is done correctly, that legal aspects of certain criminal or fraud related incidents are handled correctly, and that portions of the processing of complaints are handled automatically. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106066 | System and Method for Automating Integration of Semiconductor Work in Process Updates - WIP status updates, as received from semiconductor manufacturing suppliers, is converted to transactions. In one approach, supply chain events, for example lot splits, lot merges, and lot scrap, are identified based on previous lot statuses and current lot statuses from the WIP status update. Identified events are interpreted as transactions, which can be used to interface with a transactional system such as an ERP system. | 04-23-2009 |
20090112642 | PATENT INFORMATION ANALYZING APPARATUS, PATENT INFORMATION ANALYZING METHOD, PATENT INFORMATION ANALYZING PROGRAM, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - The claim analysis process section ( | 04-30-2009 |
20090112643 | PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR ACQUIRING AND REPORTING COMPLIANCE WITH DATA SECURITY REQUIREMENTS - Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for tracking and reporting information related to compliance with a set of security requirements by one or more entities handling financial transaction information. According to one embodiment, a system can comprise one or more acquirer systems, each adapted to process information related to a plurality of financial transactions for entities involved in the transaction. A tracking and reporting system can be communicatively coupled with each of the acquirer systems. The tracking and reporting system can be adapted to collect at least a subset of the information related to the plurality of financial transactions, collect compliance information related to the entities involved in the transaction, the compliance information for each entity indicating that entity's compliance with the set of security requirements, and generate one or more reports based on the information related to the plurality of financial transactions and the compliance information. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112644 | System and Method For Implementing a Service Oriented Architecture in an Enterprise - A graphical representation of activities of an enterprise is created to aid in the implementation of a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). The graphical representation has a vertical axis and a horizontal axis. Descriptive job titles of actors associated with the enterprise are documented along the horizontal axis. Functional domains are documented along the vertical axis. Existing business functions and existing key processes of the enterprise are then documented along the horizontal axis for each functional domain, and the functional domains are prioritized to determine an order in which the SOA is implemented. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112645 | MULTI OBJECTIVE NATIONAL AIRSPACE COLLABORATIVE OPTIMIZATION - Systems and methods for planning and optimizing air traffic flow within an airspace are provided. In one embodiment, a system ( | 04-30-2009 |
20090112646 | REPEATABLE AND STANDARDIZED APPROACH FOR DEPLOYMENT OF A PORTABLE SOA INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN A CLIENT ENVIRONMENT - The present invention discloses a repeatable and standardized approach for deploying a SOA infrastructure to client environments. The approach is designed to accelerate a deployment by leveraging existing integration assets and utilizing a phased approach when executing the deployment. It is preferred to perform the integration with significant client participation, which speeds the deployment process while ensuring knowledge of a resulting SOA solution is transferred to a client's IT team. Stages of the phased approach can include a transition enablement stage, an environment preparation stage, a sandbox delivery stage, and an integration and skills transfer stage. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112647 | Search Assistant for Digital Media Assets - Techniques and systems for facilitating searching of digital media assets are disclosed. In one embodiment, a user can be assisted in entering search strings for searching a media repository (e.g., online media store) having a plurality of digital media assets that are available, e.g., available for purchase. As media assets are purchased from the media repository, popularity indications for such digital media assets can be adjusted. When the user enters a search character, a list of possible complete search strings corresponding to digital media assets available in the media repository can be obtained over a network and presented to the user. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112648 | ONLINE SALES AND MARKETING INTEGRATION - Various online sales and marketing activities and data are integrated into a single cohesive system capable of generating and modifying marketing strategies based on collected data and coordinating sales and marketing efforts using online tools. Different management modules or applications for online sales and advertising activities in a networked environment provide input to an analysis module, which provides feedback to a recommendation or campaigning module for coordinating and optimizing online marketing activities. Online activities are then executed based on the recommendations resulting in an organized integration of sales and marketing tools. The system may be implemented in a solution marketplace platform as an iterative loop that also provides access to Independent Software Vendors through standardized interfaces. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112649 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASSESSING FINANCIAL RISK ASSOCIATED WITH A BUSINESS ENTITY - A method for assessing financial risk associated with a business entity involves recording usage data associated with a consumer business software, where the usage data describes consumer behavior associated with the consumer business software, and where the consumer business software is associated with a business entity. The method further involves generating a financial risk assessment associated with the business entity based on the usage data, and determining an approval status based on the financial risk assessment, where the approval status indicates whether the business entity is approved to receive a financial service. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112650 | ONLINE METHOD OF PROCURING MORTGAGE LOANS - A method for prioritizing candidate wholesale loan lenders in response to a loan request by a mortgage broker for a client including establishing a lender database serving as a repository of electronic client files generated by said mortgage broker in connection with a client's loan request, permitting subscribing wholesale lenders to access to said lender database via a network, allowing the lenders access said electronic client files from said lender database according to a permission associated with each electronic client file, forwarding via said lender database responses to said mortgage broker, and assigning a hierarchy of the selected subscribing wholesale lenders' responses to said loan request. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112651 | LATENCY LOCATOR - A method for capturing data packets sent on a network for evaluating response time performance, the network including a financial institution and a partner bank. The method includes associating a captured data packet sent to the partner bank with a captured data packet received from the partner bank, by comparing at least one coded field of a data portion of the captured data packet sent to the partner bank with at least one coded field of a captured data portion of the data packet received from the partner bank. The method also includes measuring a response time of the associated data packet received from the partner bank, relative to a transmission time of the captured data packet sent to the partner bank. The method further includes transmitting an alert message upon determining that the response time is not within an adjustable predetermined threshold, wherein the alert message includes data from a data portion of the associated data packets. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112652 | PROJECT PUBLISHING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method and system of project publishing are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes generating self publishing services associated with a project, generating automated publishing services associated with the project, generating advanced publishing optimization services associated with the project, and generating post publishing tracking services associated with the project. The project may include a book, a periodical, an audio book, advertising copy, a screenplay, a newsletter, music, a video file, and/or an audio file. The generating self publishing services associated with a project may include selecting a media type and a size of publication of the project, downloading templates of current content of the project, receiving uploaded completed manuscripts of the project, creating artwork associated with the project, generating targeted offers of upgraded services, setting a pricing of the project and/or a retail discount amount of the project, and/or selecting optional distribution services of the project. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112653 | Auction-Pricing Many Substitute Products - A method of providing advertising services selects a finite set of topics, and arranges the selected set of topics into a hierarchical structure. The method classifies impression items into the nodes within the hierarchical structure, and allows bidding against the nodes within the hierarchical structure. Some embodiments allow a bidder to request a refinement of the hierarchical structure. These embodiments receive such a request, and compare the request to a set of criteria. If the request meets the set of criteria, then based on the request, the method divides a first node in the hierarchical structure to at least a second and third node. The method allows bidders to bid on each of the first, second, and third nodes. Preferably, the method receives several bids for one or more of the nodes within the hierarchical structure, and calculates an equilibrium price for each node. The bids are for purchasing the right to present content in relation to a node. The method optionally measures a performance for the nodes within the hierarchical structure. Based on the measure of performance for the nodes, the method preferably removes an under-performing node from the hierarchical structure. Generation and/or maintenance of an under-performing node may lower the price of one or more nodes in the hierarchical structure. Additional embodiments include a system and/or a computer readable medium for performing the foregoing. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112654 | Continuous quality assurance in a business rule management system - Some embodiments of continuous quality assurance in a business rule management system have been presented. In one embodiment, a set of rules is maintained in a rule repository of a business rule management system (BRMS). A continuous quality assurance process is provided in the BRMS to automatically execute a predefined test on the rules in response to a change in the rules. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112655 | Context-specific modeling of collaborative business process - Among other disclosure, a computer-implemented method for context-specific modeling of a collaborative business process includes receiving an identification of a collaborative business process to involve a communication between at least two entities. The identification is submitted by an entity seeking to model the collaborative business process for a specific context associated with the entity. The method includes selecting, in a repository and using the specific context, at least one modeling artifact that has been defined for use in the identified collaborative business process. The repository includes a plurality of stored modeling artifacts for at least one collaborative business process, each of the stored modeling artifacts associated with at least one context value. The method includes providing the selected modeling artifact to the entity in response to the received identification. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112656 | Returning a personalized advertisement - Provided embodiments include a device, apparatus, system, computer program product, and method. A provided method includes receiving from a requestor device a marketing impact information indicative of a physiological response by a person to a general advertisement. The method also includes acquiring an indication of a characteristic of the general advertisement. The method further includes initiating a selection of a targeted-advertisement by an advertising rule responsive to at least the characteristic of the general advertisement and the marketing impact information. The method also includes returning an indication of the targeted-advertisement. The method may include analyzing the marketing impact information for an indication of a reaction by the person to the general advertisement. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112657 | REPOSITORY INFRASTRUCTURE TO STORE TRANSACTION INFORMATION FOR PROVIDING CUSTOMER SERVICE - Particular embodiments generally relate to providing customer service recommendations. A first business entity may provide customer care for a user of a device. For example, the first business entity may have manufactured the device. The user of the device may participate in many transactions during use of the device. The transactions may be with other devices and/or services. When these transactions are performed, information for these transactions may be stored in a repository. At some point, the user may encounter problems with the operation of the device. The user may contact customer care for the first business entity and allow access to the transaction information. Thus, the first business entity may be able to review transactions that occurred with business entities other than itself. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112658 | CLIENT SUPPORTED MULTIPLE PAYMENT METHODS SYSTEM - A method begins by providing at least one account level preference of a plurality of account level preferences based on a level of subscription. The method continues by receiving a selection of one of the at least one of the account level preference to produce a selected account level preference. The method continues by generating payables process data in accordance with the selected account level preference. The payables process data includes a list of a plurality of creditors and associated payment data. For a creditor of the plurality of creditors, the associated payment data includes at least one payment scheme for paying at least a portion of debt owed to the creditor via at least one of: a business credit card, a funds transfer, commercial paper, tangible consideration, and a debit account. The method continues by transmitting the payable process data to a payment entity device. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112659 | PAYMENT ENTITY ACCOUNT SET UP FOR MULTIPLE PAYMENT METHODS - A method begins with a payment entity device receiving payables process data from a client device. The payables process data includes a list of a plurality of creditors and associated payment data, wherein, for a creditor of the plurality of creditors, the associated payment data includes at least one payment scheme for paying at least a portion of debt owed to the creditor via at least one of: a client credit card, a funds transfer, commercial paper, tangible consideration, and a debit account. The method continues with the payment entity device determining level of service for a client associated with the client device. The method continues with the payment entity device generating a payables profile for the client based on the payables process data in accordance with the level of service. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112660 | PAYMENT ENTITY FOR ACCOUNT PAYABLES PROCESSING USING MULTIPLE PAYMENT METHODS - A method begins by receiving an accounts payable data file from a client device. The method continues by determining whether a payables profile of a client associated with the client device is to be modified based on the accounts payable data file. The method continues by determining a level of service of the client when the payables profile is not to be modified. The method continues processing payment transactions for accounts payable contained in the accounts payable data file on behalf of the client in accordance with the payables profile via a wide area network when the level of service is a first level of service. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112661 | PAYMENT ENTITY DEVICE TRANSACTION PROCESSING USING MULTIPLE PAYMENT METHODS - A method begins with a payment entity device receiving an accounts payable data file from a client entity processing module. The method continues with the payment entity device determining a method of payment for an account payable of the accounts payable data file in accordance with a payables profile. The method continues with the payment entity device initiating a first type of payment for the account payable when the method of payment is a first type; initiating a second type of payment for the account payable, when the method of payment is a second type, or initiating a third type of payment for the account payable when the method of payment is a third type. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112662 | PAYMENT ENTITY DEVICE RECONCILIATION FOR MULTIPLE PAYMENT METHODS - A method begins by storing payment request data, which, for a client, includes a payables profile and an accounts payable data file. The method continues by receiving payment remittance information subsequent to initiation of a payment in accordance with the payment request data. The method continues by storing the payment remittance information. The method continues by consolidating the payment remittance information and the payment request data to produce consolidated payment data. The method continues by generating at least one report based on the consolidated payment data. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112663 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BUSINESS PROCESS TRANSFORMATION WIZARD - A computer implemented method and a computer system implementing the method of a business process transformation wizard leads a business analyst through a series of steps to invoke business transformation patterns, in order to analyze the results of those processes. The wizard first prompts the business analyst to specify business objectives of process transformation. Required parameters are added to the business process model guided by the business process transformation wizard until the business process model is completed. Once the model is completed, the wizard prompts the business analyst to select transformation techniques or patterns for optimizing process parameters and, for each selected transformation pattern, optimizes process parameters using a selected optimization technique. The wizard also prompts the business analyst to select transformation patterns for optimizing topology of the business process and, for each selected transformation pattern, optimizes topology for the business process using a selected optimization technique. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112664 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY MONITORING, DIAGNOSING, INTERVENING WITH AND REPORTING PROBLEMS WITH CINEMATIC EQUIPMENT - A method of communicating with, and receiving data representative of equipment state and status from, presentation components in theatres is disclosed. The method includes the steps of receiving and storing data representative of equipment status in a central computer storage unit, transmitting data representative of equipment status from each of a plurality of remote computer storage units coupled to the central computer storage unit, receiving data representative of equipment status, providing a job scheduling report, and providing fault data. The data representative of equipment status is received at each remote computer storage unit from a plurality of presentation components associated with a plurality of theatres. The a job scheduling report includes data regarding complete instances of jobs scheduled to play at shows at a first set of the plurality of theatres, and data regarding incomplete instances of jobs scheduled to play at shows at a second set of the plurality of theatres. The fault data identifies a type of fault in connection with each incomplete instance of a job not played at a show in connection with each of the second set of the plurality of theatres. The fault data includes information regarding one of a plurality of types of faults associated with each of the second set of the plurality of theatres. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112665 | EXECUTION DECISION SUPPORT PROGRAM AND DEVICE OF REGULATION MEASURES - The present invention calculates a predicted accumulative import amount for each chemical substance for each month by using information on a predicted monthly shipping amount and the amount of a chemical substance contained in the product and specifies the chemical substance whose predicted accumulative import amount exceeds a regulation threshold and the time when the import amount exceeds the regulation threshold. The present invention specifies the product containing the chemical substance, calculates the predicted shipping amount of the product from the threshold excess time of the chemical substance to the end of the year, and calculates the loss amount caused by the loss of sales opportunities from the profit per unit sales amount for each product when any regulation measures are not executed on the chemical substance. The present invention finally calculates the ratio of the expense necessary for the measures and the summed value, and displays the ratio. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112666 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING A MONITORING VIEW OF AN EXECUTABLE BUSINESS PROCESS - A method and apparatus for generating a monitoring view of an executable business process. The method comprises the steps of: obtaining a business process model from an executable business process template; generating a business process monitoring model from the business process model; obtaining status data of a business process instance from a business process engine; generating a business process monitoring model instance by combining the status data with the business process monitoring model; and presenting the business process monitoring model instance as a monitoring view for a user to monitor a running business process instance. The apparatus includes hardware for accomplishing the foregoing method steps. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112667 | Automated Business Process Model Discovery - A computer-implemented method includes: (A) receiving descriptions of a plurality of paths of instances of a transaction through a computer system; and (B) generating, based on the descriptions, a description of a business process model of the transaction. The description describes the plurality of paths through the computer system. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112668 | DYNAMIC SERVICE EMULATION OF CORPORATE PERFORMANCE - Services provided by a business employing an information system are emulated dynamically within a model information system (IS) architecture. The services may be defined by business or corporate management, establishing business objectives that may be categorized as organizational, functional (e.g., performance of the IS architecture) and nonfunctional (e.g., service quality and costs) elements. An emulated service can include a number of such business objectives. By dynamically emulating functional and non-functional aspects of providing a service, a business and supporting IS architecture can be optimized to deliver the service. A computer-based method and system provides such emulation and models the services and IS architecture of an enterprise. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112669 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONDUCTING PROGRAMMING COMPETITIONS USING ALIASES - This invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a coding competition. In one embodiment, a method for providing a coding competition includes transmitting a coding problem to contestants, receiving computer code created by a contestant, determining a response of the computer code to test data, and evaluating the response of the computer code to the test data. In another embodiment, a method for evaluating a skill level of a contestant includes electronically communicating a coding problem to contestants, electronically receiving a software program in response to the coding problem from one of the contestants, evaluating the received software program, awarding points to the contestant based on the received software program, and determining a rating for the contestant for the competition based on the number of points awarded to the contestant. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112670 | HUMAN RESOURCES METHOD FOR EMPLOYEE TERMINATION PROCEDURES - In one example, a human resources method for employee termination procedures includes various acts. First, a server system receives, from a client system, an indication that an employee termination is voluntary. Next, the server system automatically generates a checklist listing a set of forms that correspond to the voluntary employee termination. Then, the server system automatically generates the set of forms. Finally, the server system sends, to the client system, the checklist and the set of forms. | 04-30-2009 |
20090119136 | Method and Apparatus for Playing Audible Advertisements on a Communication Device - The illustrative embodiments described herein provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for playing audible advertisements on a communication device. In response to receiving a request from a caller to initiate a call, an audible advertisement from a set of audible advertisements is selected using criteria matching a user profile associated with the caller. The audible advertisement is played on the communication device to the caller prior to initiating a connection to a callee. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119137 | System and method for efficient product assessment - A method, system, and computer program product for determining and increasing the accuracy of costing including determining possible components of a product; allocating each component at least one costing wherein the costing depends on the current product definition process which may vary over time and wherein different methods for the costing may be applied; assigning an accuracy value for each costing method that is applied; for each component, multiplying its assigned accuracy value with the component's proportion to the total cost of the product, and summing up the weighted accuracies of the costings of the components resulting in an overall accuracy of the costing of the product. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119138 | System and method for managing and presenting information of wedding service providers - One embodiment of a system and method of presenting information of wedding service providers to wedding planners may include investigating wedding service providers of a selected service category. At least three of the wedding service providers may be determined to qualify as meeting a product quality threshold for the selected wedding service category. Information of three of the wedding service providers for the selected wedding service category may be displayed from which a wedding planner may select in planning a wedding. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119139 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING TECHNOLOGY MATURITY - A method for measuring technical maturity index (TMI) for oilfield operations of an oilfield, the oilfield having a subterranean formation with geological structures and reservoirs therein. The method includes sending an assessment including a listing of a number of capabilities to at least one user associated with a first oilfield operation, where each of the number of capabilities is associated with a technology for the oilfield operations, and receiving a first number of responses in response to the assessment for the first oilfield operation, where each of the first number of responses specifies one of the number of capabilities and a level of adoption corresponding to the one of the number of capabilities. The method further includes obtaining a TMI for the first oilfield operation using the first number of responses and presenting the TMI for the first oilfield operation. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119140 | Process-controlled enterprise resource planning system (PERP) - The present invention discloses a process-controlled enterprise resource planning system (herein referred to as a PERP) that features an operational interface allows an operator to operate a required process in at least one start process interface or a start enterprise resource management interface. If the operator selects the start process interface, a process processing unit controls successive operational actions required the operator to operate the operational interface according to an event control process or the process-step control information corresponding to the start process interface. If the operator selects the enterprise resource management interface, an enterprise resource management processing unit controls management and process of the enterprise resource database according to the process-step control information corresponding to the start enterprise resource management interface. Thereupon, operational mistakes can be prevented and time-consumption for training the operator can be reduced. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119141 | MONITORING AND MANAGING REGULATORY COMPLIANCE AMONG ORGANIZATIONS - A dynamic system and method for efficiently measuring organizational compliance with multiple, overlapping, selected sources of compliance requirements by making associations of individual source controls and survey questions with a limited set of discrete compliance objectives, and by enabling creation of compliance surveys and analysis of survey answer sets based on user-selected criteria that may include selection of a specific source or sources; one or more discrete compliance objectives, and/or a choice of questions from a master question pool. Custom surveys with weighted questions and dynamic reporting enables responses to compliance audits to be analyzed against a pre-determined benchmark result, against responder's own prior results, or against other responders. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119142 | Restroom convenience center - A restroom monitoring system for monitoring attributes of fixtures within a restroom using sensors. Additional attributes are determined from the monitored attributes. Consumable usage levels are estimated based on predetermined consumption levels associated with usage states of the fixtures. The restroom monitoring system provides an indication of the need for replenishment of consumables based on the monitored attributes of the fixtures. In addition, restroom monitoring system may provide additional information regarding the restroom attributes to a service provider, a manager or a user. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119143 | BRAND NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Tools and techniques for identifying brand misuse and/or for distributing information about such misuse. Certain of the tools and techniques can be used to determine that a set of online content (e.g., a web site, web page, or portion thereof) is untrustworthy (for example, because that set of online content misuses a brand) and generate a brand notification feed indicating the untrustworthiness of the set of online content. This brand notification feed might be distributed to a security vendor, who can incorporate information from the brand notification feed into the information it provides to clients. | 05-07-2009 |
20090125342 | DISPOSITION METHOD AND DISPOSITION MODULE - A method for the disposition of process steps in the context of jobs is disclosed, which are issued by a management information system, and executed on at least one execution system, wherein the jobs are defined by a calculation module in the context of the management information system, allocated to volume- and time resources of the execution systems through a disposition module, and transmitted to the execution systems in Job Definition Format. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125343 | Advertising via Mobile Devices - A method, article and apparatus for advertising via a mobile device. A communication request is received from the mobile device that includes a screen for displaying an ad. One more ad selection criteria are then determined. Such criteria may include a visibility of the ad on the screen; a target audience determined on the basis of information provided from the mobile device; and attributes of the determined target audience. The ad selection is ad based on the visibility of the ad and the attributes of the target audience. Commands may then be initiated to cause the selected ad to be displayed on the screen of the mobile device. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125344 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FUSION BETWEEN INCOMPATIBLE DATA MODELS - Disclosed is a system and a method for fusion between incompatible data models. The system generates a product data structure of a first data model and a product data structure of a second data model. Using a business Add-in method, this product data structure of the first data model is fused to the second data model to generate a fused product data structure of the second data model. An output controller is provided to output this fused product data structure of the second data model, thus making functions of first data model available in the second data model. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125345 | METHOD OF DERIVING A BUSINESS PROCESS FROM A SET OF PATHS - A method of deriving a business process from a set of paths including modeling a set of discrete paths within a set of activities, building a matrix including first through i columns, i being equal to a number of discrete paths within the set of identified discrete paths, and first through j rows, j being equal to or greater than a number of activities in the discrete path having the largest number of activities therein, each element of each row being either empty or representative of a common activity, searching for at least one discrete path within the matrix, and generating an implementation of the business process according to the presence of the at least one discrete path. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125346 | PERFORMANCE RECONCILIATION TOOLS - Apparatus, a method, or one or more subparts thereof may be provided. A reconciliation process invoker may be provided which is configured to cause a given state change intended to invoke a given reconciliation process. Media-stored reconciliation processes may be provided, including the given reconciliation process, executable by a reconciliation process execution mechanism. The media-stored given reconciliation process may include instructions configured to instruct a change, upon execution of the given reconciliation process by the reconciliation process execution mechanism, of one or more configuration parameters of at least one performance factor system. A set of reconciliation process fields may be provided, which may be provided as part of a computer screen display user interface. The reconciliation process fields may include, in part, state identifier fields configured to hold reconciliation process state identifiers, sub-process fields, associated with respective states identified by ones of the process state identifiers, configured to hold sub-process identifiers identifying sub-processes to be executed during execution of the reconciliation process, and corresponding sub-process parameters for the identified sub-processors. Business process definition fields may be provided, which may be presented as part of a computer screen displayed user interface. The business process definition fields may include at least one identifier field configured to hold an identifier parameter to identify the business process being defined, a vertical segment field to hold a vertical segment identifier field, a function field to hold a function identifier, and a version field to hold version data. A reconciliation process status interface may be provided which includes reconciliation process status information interface tools. A reconciliation process invocation control interface may be provided, which includes reconciliation invocation control tools. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125347 | Determining Lease Quality - Leases and other types of agreements may be evaluated based on factors including time to delivery, cost of the agreement and/or quality of agreement. According to one or more aspects, the quality of an agreement may be judged based on the rights and/or provisions obtained in the lease. In one example, points may be awarded for each category (e.g., time, cost and/or quality) based on goals that are met. The points may be totaled and combined to form a composite lease quality score or index. A commission for a partner entity procuring the lease may be determined based on the composite lease quality score or index. For example, if the lease quality index is in a median range, the standard or average commission may be awarded. However, if the lease quality index is at least one standard deviation greater than the median, a higher commission may be awarded. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125348 | METHODS FOR GENERATING HEALTHCARE PROVIDER QUALITY AND COST RATING DATA - A computer-implemented method for generating healthcare provider quality rating data from healthcare claim records representing services provided by a plurality of healthcare providers (such as physicians or hospitals) to one or more patients includes grouping the claim records into one or more claim groups, each representing services provided to a patient by one or more providers; assigning each claim group to a responsible provider; assessing the claim records in each claim group using guidelines for the particular disease or condition and generating a compliance score for the claim group, wherein the compliance score indicates the extent to which the claim records in the claim group match the guidelines; and generating provider quality rating data for each provider using the normalized aggregate compliance score. The provider quality rating data may include one or more performance categories or graphic symbols that indicate the provider's quality of treatment in comparison to an average value. Provider volume data may also be generated. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125349 | GLOBAL CONDUCT SCORE AND ATTRIBUTE DATA UTILIZATION - In one embodiment, a system and method is illustrated as including generating a model using at least one of a global conduct score and attribute data. A range of numeric values may be retrieved, based upon which, a better term is granted in a transaction than would otherwise be granted in the transaction. A comparison may be made between the model and the range of numeric values. Further, a better term may be granted in the transaction where the model falls within the range of numeric values. The global conduct score is computed using an approach including at least one of a feed score approach, and a composite score approach. The attribute data includes page view data, click through data, account usage data, and good purchased data. The model includes a global conduct score model, a weighting model, an AI based model, and an associated network based model. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125350 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CAPTURING AND STORING SUPPLY CHAIN AND LOGISTICS SUPPORT INFORMATION IN A RELATIONAL DATABASE SYSTEM - A computer implemented method of and system for capturing, storing and organizing supply chain and logistics support information for a retail enterprise. Supply chain and logistics support information is stored and organized within a relational database in accordance with a logical data model comprising a plurality subject areas, and entities and relationships within the subject areas, defining the manner in which supply chain and logistics support information is stored and organized within the relational database. The relational database, populated with this information, provides a retail enterprise with detailed tracking and analysis support for shipping orders, freight bills, shipping order claims, and invoices; and detailed support for fleet tracking of shipments in the areas of legs, lanes and associated routes traveled, mode of transport, and specific equipment utilized in handling of shipments; allowing for improved supply chain efficiency through better informed decision making. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125351 | System and Method for Establishing Communications with an Electronic Meter - A system, device, and method of using a power line communication device that is communicatively connected to a low voltage power line to establish communications with one or more electronic utility meters is provided. In one embodiment the method includes setting an encryption key parameter to a first encryption key used by the one or more electronic utility meters, establishing communications via one or more low voltage power lines with at least some of the utility meters using the first encryption key, assessing the quality of communications with at least some of the utility meters, transmitting communications quality data to a remote computer system; receiving information of one or more assigned meters from the remote computer system; and storing information of the assigned meters in memory. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125352 | PROGRESS STATUS MANAGEMENT METHOD, PROGRAM, AND PROGRESS STATUS MANAGEMENT DEVICE - A progress status management device and a method for managing a progress status are provided so that a progress status of respective processes in a project is visually and swiftly confirmed. By using the device and method, it is possible to prevent a delay of the project progress because the processing states of processes at an optional stage of the project are shared and easily grasped by managers and workers among departments and outside business partners in charge of the project. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125353 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MATCHING HUMAN RESOURCES TO HUMAN RESOURCE NEEDS - A system for matching entities having needs to entities having capability to meet the needs. A plurality of needs profiles are created, where each need profile comprises a data record specifying attributes about a need. A plurality of capability profiles are also created, where each capability profile comprises a data record specifying set of attributes of an entity having a capability of meeting a need. A matching engine is coupled to repetitively and automatically examine the needs profiles and capability profiles to identify matched profiles, wherein a match comprises a set of profiles judged to be substantially compatible based upon correspondence of the attributes specified therein. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125354 | FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method of performing financial management tracking comprising entering, on a mobile control device, data associated with a financial transaction; storing said entered financial transaction data in a database within said mobile control device; periodically synchronizing said mobile control device database with a base station database via a communications link such that budgetary and financial transaction data is update. In one embodiment of the invention, each member of a household utilizes a separate mobile control device, each of the mobile control devices is synchronized with the base device such that all mobile control devices are synchronized with each other. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125355 | System and Method for Optimization of Group Shipments to Reduce Shipping Costs - Described herein is a method and system to provide optimizing shipping costs that can help arbitrate between a precise solution at an unreasonable cost and a reasonable solution at a very reasonable cost. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125356 | Cellsite BudgetMaster - Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for cell site planning and for vendor selection. According to embodiments of this invention, a cell site planning information system receives initial cell site information, accesses historical cell site information and/or vendor information, and integrates the information to provide a proposed cell site design plan, to recommended vendors, to determine benchmark costs, and/or to provide billing records of the recommended vendors. | 05-14-2009 |
20090132302 | Computer implemented systems and methods for improving renewable energy systems performance guarantees - Systems and methods are provided for collecting, aggregating, and analyzing data associated with the installation and deployment of systems. Energy systems, ( | 05-21-2009 |
20090132303 | MARKETING ALLOCATION REQUEST SYSTEMS - A computerized method and a system for marketing planning and marketing program development are provided. In example embodiments, the method may include receiving a marketing program proposal including program information. The method may also include facilitating a strategic review process of the marketing program proposal. The method may further include facilitating of a capacity review process of the marketing program. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132304 | Determining a Value for an Indicator - Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method for determining a value for an indicator includes identifying an indicator for which a value is to be determined. The method includes identifying parameters to be used in determining a specific time interval for determining the value, the identified parameters including at least: (i) a first offset parameter; (ii) a second offset parameter; and (iii) a third offset parameter. The method includes determining the specific time interval using at least the identified parameters and the reference time point. The method includes determining the value for the indicator using at least the determined specific time interval. The method includes recording the determined value. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132305 | REGULATORY COMPLIANCE SYSTEM AND METHODOLOGY FOR PAYDAY LOANS - A computer-implemented method for deferred presentment transaction legal compliance includes creating a user account for a user; providing a source of law data applicable to deferred presentment transactions by the user; receiving deferred presentment transaction data for a transaction by the user; automatically comparing the deferred presentment transaction data for the transaction by the user with the law data applicable to the deferred presentment transaction by the user; and determining whether the deferred presentment transaction data for the transaction by the user complies with the law data applicable to the deferred presentment transaction by the user. A computer-implemented system for deferred presentment transaction legal compliance includes a module for creating a user account for a user; a module for providing a source of law data applicable to deferred presentment transactions by the user; a module for receiving deferred presentment transaction data for a transaction by the user; a module for automatically comparing the deferred presentment transaction data for the transaction by the user with the law data applicable to the deferred presentment transaction by the user; and a module for determining whether the deferred presentment transaction data for the transaction by the user complies with the law data applicable to the deferred presentment transaction by the user. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132306 | CONFIDENCE RATING SYSTEM - Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for matching employer job requirements. Job requirements are expressed as assertions, and candidate qualifications are expressed as proofs. A language syntax is provided that allows at least one assertion to be expressed. The language syntax has grammar for representing a skill, an object of the skill, and an environment in which the skill is performed. A process for generating and using a model of assertions and proofs is provided. Assertions are received from at least one employer. Proofs are received from at least one candidate. Assertions and proofs are brought together into a model using a bipartite graph. The model is used to calculate a confidence rating score for a candidate for a given job position. A feedback process is used to improve the model of assertions and proofs over time. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132307 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING VISIBILITY IN A TECHNICAL SUPPORT RESOLUTION PROCESS - An embodiment relates generally to a method of providing visibility in technical support. The method includes providing for a plurality of technical groups, each group specializing in a technical area and is comprised of a plurality of senior and junior members. The method also includes receiving a technical issue from a user to be resolved by a selected technical group of the plurality of technical groups and providing access to the user in a process of resolving the technical issue by the selected technical group. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132308 | Solution for Managed Personal Computing - Solutions for managed personal computing (SMPC) described herein involve providing multiple services to users in a bundled fashion. In one aspect, SMPC are implemented by a system including a service delivery platform configured to deliver a plurality of services provided by a plurality of entities to a client computer. Service logic running on the service delivery platform is provided to orchestrate a plurality of service adapters. The plurality of service adapters is configured to provide an interface between the service delivery platform and at least two servers associated with at least two of the entities. In this way, the service delivery platform provides a single interface for multiple different services. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132309 | GENERATION OF A THREE-DIMENSIONAL VIRTUAL REALITY ENVIRONMENT FROM A BUSINESS PROCESS MODEL - A method and computer program product for generating a three-dimensional virtual reality environment from a business process model in a computer system are provided. The method includes analyzing a business process model to identify a plurality of activities and at least one transition criterion between the plurality of activities, where the business process model is unbounded to a physical implementation. The method also includes transforming the business process model into a three-dimensional virtual reality environment with virtual physical constraints, including a plurality of virtual rooms representing the plurality of activities and one or more virtual access points to the virtual rooms representing the at least one transition criterion. The method further includes outputting the three-dimensional virtual reality environment. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132310 | System and Method for Online Content Licensing and Distribution - A system and method for online content licensing and distribution is provided. A central website is accessible by content providers and content licensees via the Internet, and allows content providers to upload content to the central website. Licenses can be associated with uploaded content, and one or more licensees for the content can be designated. Royalty distributions can be defined and distributed to one or more recipients, and can be expressed as percentages of collected royalties or dollar amounts. An e-mail is automatically transmitted to a designated licensee which allows the licensee to access the uploaded content, pay for the content, and download the content. Collected payments are automatically distributed to one or more recipients in accordance with the royalty distributions. Suggested license fees for uploaded content can be generated and provided to the content provider, and uploaded content can be published to a third-party publication website or service. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132311 | Method and System for Monetizing User-Generated Content - An e-commerce system includes software executing on a network-connected server and displayable promotional material provided by individual businesses, stored in a data repository accessible to the software. The software enables a first member of a virtual community to select promotional material from a specific business, and to incorporate that material as interactive in displayable content generated by the member, to be posted accessible by second members of the virtual community. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132312 | REGULATORY COMPLIANCE SYSTEM AND METHODOLOGY FOR PAYDAY LOANS TO MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS - A computer-implemented method for credit transaction legal compliance includes creating a user account for a user; providing a source of law data applicable to credit transactions by the user; receiving credit transaction data for a transaction by the user; automatically comparing the credit transaction data for the transaction by the user with the law data applicable to the credit transaction by the user; and determining whether the credit transaction data for the transaction by the user complies with the law data applicable to the credit transaction by the user. A computer-implemented system for credit transaction legal compliance includes a module for creating a user account for a user; a module for providing a source of law data applicable to credit transactions by the user; a module for receiving credit transaction data for a transaction by the user; a module for automatically comparing the credit transaction data for the transaction by the user with the law data applicable to the credit transaction by the user; and a module for determining whether the credit transaction data for the transaction by the user complies with the law data applicable to the credit transaction by the user. The system and method determine if a borrower is a covered member under laws and regulations protecting active military personnel and their spouses and dependents. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132313 | Human resource management system - This invention concerns a human resource management system, designed in particular, for recruitment selection, personnel management and career guidance. In a first aspect the invention is a computer system, in a second aspect a computer operated method, and in a third aspect software for performing the method. The invention involves a database to store descriptions of jobs each of which is defined by competencies. A database to store descriptions of candidates each of which is defined by competencies. A processor operable to automatically report a ranked match between a single job and many candidates based on matching competencies, or to automatically report a ranked match between a single candidate and many jobs based on matching competencies. And, a user interface to display the resulting report. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132314 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCREASING USAGE OF RECYCLING IN MANUFACTURING PROCESSES - A system and method for optimizing manufacturing processes to increase usage of recycling in a manufacturing process. In an embodiment, the method comprises: describing a manufacturing process using a plurality of nodes, each node representing a component or a process; connecting the plurality of nodes with directed edges to form a directed graph, the directed graph representing possible manufacturing process flows from a begin node to an end node; assigning to each edge a value representative of the benefit resulting from usage of recycling in a component or process; and determining a longest path from the begin node to the end node in the directed graph to identify a manufacturing process flow maximizing usage of recycling in the manufacturing process. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132315 | CREDIT CARD TRANSACTION TRACKING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A method of monitoring financial transactions includes periodically receiving a list of target account identifiers at a processing server and periodically transmitting the list to each of a plurality of platform servers. The platform servers are each configured to receive transaction information that includes transaction records of financial transactions. The transaction records include account identifiers used in the transactions. The platform servers are configured to search the transaction information for transaction records having a target account identifier from the list. The method also includes receiving at the processing server an alert that the platform server has identified a transaction record having a target account identifier. The alert including transaction data from the transaction record. The method further includes transmitting from the processing server a notification based on the alert that a target account identifier has been identified in a transaction record. Analogous systems are also provided. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132316 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSOCIATING AERIAL IMAGES, MAP FEATURES, AND INFORMATION - Systems and methods for creating a unified commercial real estate data model through collection, distribution and use of information in connection with commercial real estate and for creating a web-based marketplace that facilitates the efficient and secure buying, selling, and leasing of commercial properties. The invention facilitates a digital marketplace in which the members of the commercial real estate and related business community can continuously interact and facilitate transactions by efficiently exchanging accurate and standardized information. An embodiment provides systems and methods for researching and developing information on commercial real estate properties, including systems and methods for associating an aerial image with map features and information concerning objects appearing in the image. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132317 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING FUNCTIONS AND DATA WITH RESPECT TO A SERVICE AND A SUBSCRIBER AND SERVICE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM EMPLOYING THE SAME - Various systems and methods for identifying functions and data with respect to a service. One aspect provides a method of exposing a service-specific function associated with a subscriber. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1) determining services to which the subscriber has subscriptions, (2) retrieving service descriptions associated with the services and (3) retrieving at least one function associated with the service descriptions as a whole. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132318 | PROJECT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A program management structure that includes a plurality of projects, where each project is staffed with a project manager and wherein each project includes a plurality of tasks which can have multiple interdependencies and at least one position reporting up to the project manager. A plurality of organizations is also included, where each organization is provided with a plurality of departments, each of which has a department manager and at least one staffer reporting up to the department manager and filling at least part of the at least one position. Additionally, project exceptions are reported to the project manager and functional exceptions are reported to the functional manager. | 05-21-2009 |
20090138292 | DRIVING SOFTWARE PRODUCT CHANGES BASED ON USAGE PATTERNS GATHERED FROM USERS OF PREVIOUS PRODUCT RELEASES - The present invention discloses an end-to-end software development system that includes multiple computing devices, a network data store, and a usage reporting engine. Each of the computing devices can execute a software product that is configured to automatically log usage information on a feature-by-feature basis. The network data store can aggregate logged usage information obtained from the computing devices. The usage report engine can analyze data of the network data store and can generate feature-by-feature usage reports. These reports can be used to focus a software development effort on user desired features and/or upon previous software product shortcomings. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138293 | SOLUTION THAT AUTOMATICALLY RECOMMENDS DESIGN ASSETS WHEN MAKING ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN DECISIONS FOR INFORMATION SERVICES - The present invention discloses a system that provides automated guidance for making architectural decisions when designing information services in a service-oriented architecture (SOA). Such a system can include a requirements manager, a reusable asset repository, and an asset advisory tool. The requirements manager can be configured to capture non-functional requirements for information services. The reusable asset repository can be configured to store design assets. The design assets can be stored according to a unique data model that associates each design asset with a non-functional requirement. The asset advisory tool can be configured to determine a list of recommended design assets for a user-selected non-functional requirement and document the architectural decision made from the list of recommended design assets. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138294 | AUTOMATIC GENERATION OF EXECUTABLE COMPONENTS FROM BUSINESS PROCESS MODELS - Exemplary embodiments provide a computer implemented method, system and computer usable program code for automatically generating executable components from a process model. An input is received, wherein the input comprises a model that describes activities that needs to be performed as part of a business operation, a sequencing of the activities, and input and output data of the activities, forming a process model. A model of a set of connected business artifacts based on the process model, forming a business operation model, is generated. The business operation model is saved. The business operation model is displayed to a user. Executable components definitions based on the business operation model are generated. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138295 | Generating a Single Billing Record for Multiple Sessions in a Network Environment - In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a plurality of communication sessions of a transaction associated with a postpaid end user. The method includes associating the plurality of communication sessions with the transaction and extracting data from the plurality of communication sessions associated with the transaction. The method includes generating a single billing record after the transaction is completed, the single billing record comprising the extracted data from the plurality of communication sessions associated with the transaction. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138296 | CONTEXT-BASED REALTIME ADVERTISING - A method and a system for context-based real-time advertising are provided. In example embodiments, a document content that is displayed to a user may be analyzed and keywords may be identified. Selected listings from a publication system may be received; the selected listings may be selected using the keywords. The system may detect user events associated with the keywords and, in response to the detection of the user events, display information related to the listings while maintaining the displaying of the document content. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138297 | ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO FACILITATE CONSTRUCTIVE ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN VENDORS AND CUSTOMERS - Electronic systems for facilitating a vendor-customer association are described herein where contemplated systems comprise: a computer comprising a processor, an executable code, wherein the code is accessed and run on the processor and wherein the code comprises: an information-gathering function that processes information about the vendor and the customer, a security function that creates a unique identifier assigned to the vendor, customer or combination thereof and creates a profile for the vendor, customer or combination thereof, a sorting function, wherein the sorting function reviews the profile of the customer and the vendor, and a contact function, wherein the contact function contacts the vendor, customer or combination thereof depending on a set of contact settings for that individual or business vendor, customer or combination thereof. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138298 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING A FACT SHEET USED FOR MANAGING THE BUSINESS CONFIGURATION VIEWS - Disclosed is a system and a method for generating a fact sheet for managing the business configuration views. A business configuration view is the user interface for maintaining business configuration sets, the business configuration view which consists of one or more screens. The business configuration set is a set of reusable configuration parameters. The business configuration view can be modeled and provided as a business option. A fact sheet is generated based on this business option and the modeled business configuration view. The fact sheet may have one or more sections that are linked with one or more business configuration views. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138299 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING DYNAMIC PHONE ADVERTISEMENTS - A method of operating a communications service, including detecting that a user dials a phone number to initiate a current phone call, querying a dynamic advertising service which analyzes available data regarding the dialed phone number, receiving an advertisement from the dynamic advertising service that is selected based on the dialed phone number, the available data regarding the phone number and, optionally, other information, and playing the advertisement to the user. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138300 | OPTIMIZING MANAGED BUSINESS PROCESSES - The invention generally relates to systems and methods for optimizing managed business processes, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for optimizing vendor payroll services. A method for allocating outsourced business processes among a plurality of performing entities includes defining a hierarchy of goals from a subset of data input to an optimization tool embodied in a computer infrastructure, wherein the data includes constraints, and iteratively running the optimization tool based on the data and the hierarchy. The method also includes relaxing at least one of the constraints to generate a solution that satisfies the data and the hierarchy, and outputting the solution. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138301 | System And Method to Facilitate Inventory Forecasting for Network-Based Entities - A system and method to facilitate inventory forecasting of network traffic for a network-based entity are described. In one example, the method includes preprocessing historical data to obtain processed average data, applying modeling and forecasting techniques to the processed average data using a seasonal auto-regressive integrated moving average process, and combining the forecasting results to output combined forecasting data. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138302 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING, RECEIVING, AND TRANSFERRING TRANSACTION INFORMATION FOR USE BY A BONUS OR LOYALTY PROGRAM AND ELECTRONIC VOUCHERS - The present invention provides methods and systems for managing mobile virtual network operations. According to some embodiments, purchasing information, e.g., item, price, quantity, location, etc., may be collected using a mobile phone. The collected information may be used as part of a bonus or loyalty program. Collected information might be stored directly on a person's mobile phone. Alternatively, collected information might be stored by using the mobile phone to transfer the collected information to a server or servers. The system for tracking purchasing information may comprise a mobile communication device configured to connect to a transaction center via a mobile telephone network and to collect purchasing information for use by a loyalty program, a payment terminal device connected to a transaction center via a communication link, and a point of sale device, coupled to the payment terminal device and configured to provide items for purchase. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138303 | Activity Inference And Reactive Feedback - Disclosed herein is a method of processing physical information collected from a plurality of sensors and deducing object attributes and actions over a facility. RFID tags are applied to determine position coordinates. A plurality of sensors related to activities or objects are applied for capturing a plurality of physical variables representing the activities or object attributes. Position coordinates and the plurality of physical variables are correlated to infer or deduce the activities that have occurred. Predetermined rules are applied to recommend one or more actions based on the deduced activities. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138304 | Data Mining - Data mining techniques are described. In an implementation, one or more segments are extracted from a multivariate distribution, each of the segments describing intra-dependencies of a set of input variables. A list is output in a user interface referencing each of the one or more segments and a respective score indicating how interesting the segment is with respect to variable dependencies. In another implementation, a change is made to an observed distribution of data and an effect is calculated of the change. The change with the most desirable effect is chosen, the process being repeated until no more significant changes can be made or the overall change exceeds a limit. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138305 | MANAGEMENT OF A SERVICE PERFORMING STRUCTURE - In a method of managing a structure configured to perform a service a net power value for implementing the structure is determined. A structure available energy value is calculated from the net power value and a fuel available energy value is calculated from the structure available energy value. The fuel available energy value is a function of the structure available energy value and an environmental sustainability of the structure. In addition, the structure is managed based upon the calculated fuel available energy value. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138306 | FACILITY RISK ASSESSMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A method for evaluating risk associated with a facility includes determining environmental requirements necessary for successful achievement of a function of the facility and determining consequences for failing to maintain the environmental requirements. The method further includes identifying facility systems necessary to maintain the environmental requirements and calculating risk based on the identified facility systems and the determined consequences. The method yet further includes storing the risk in a memory device and/or displaying the risk on a display screen. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138307 | Automated financial scenario modeling and analysis tool having an intelligent graphical user interface - A financial scenario modeling and analysis tool, including a graphical user interface which enables a user of the tool to create a graphical model of a financial scenario, generally including at least one financial transaction, on a display screen, and an engine operable, in response to creation of the graphical model, to automatically generate information, such as financial or mathematical information, which at least partially models at least a part of the financial scenario using information collected by the engine during creation of the graphical model. The graphical user interface enables the user to create party graphics respectively representing parties to the financial deal, and to generate financial instrument graphics representing financial instruments, wherein each financial instrument graphic connects two of the party graphics. The engine generates, in response to the creation of a graphical model, an instrument information, such as an object or template, for each of the instruments in the graphical model. The tool includes a natural date language and a formula language for use in modeling a scenario. The tool enables optimization of optimizable parameters defined in the scenario, and includes a user-friendly, book-like and CAD-like user interface. A “Cockpit” comprising a number of modules is provided to the tool to enable a user to structure partnerships. Also, a number of partnership calculations can be performed and a number of reports generated for communicating and interpreting the effects and results of the assumptions and structural options provided in the Cockpit modules. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138308 | Technology benefits realization for public sector - The present invention provides a public sector technology expenditure benefits realization framework that offers an unparalleled approach for addressing the very specific needs of public sector organizations combining the development of the business case with technology implementation program and integrating a sustainable long-term benefits realizations program. Specifically, in one embodiment, the methodology of the present invention integrates three steps: (1) the visioning phase for creating the vision for the planned benefits; (2) the integration phase comprising the integrating the planned benefits from the technology expenditure; and (3) the realization phase during which the public entity incorporates a sustainable benefits realization and monitoring program. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138309 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING AND MANAGING OPERATIONAL RISK - According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of modeling operational risk comprising the steps of: defining one or more reporting hierarchies, wherein said reporting hierarchies are composed of operational units; associating operational risk data to one or more of said operational units, wherein said operational risk data includes data associated with a plurality of first loss events; and calibrating a plurality of loss processes and a plurality of loss process attributes using said plurality of first loss events, wherein a plurality of loss processes are generated for use in at least one of risk management, operations management, and financial management. | 05-28-2009 |
20090144097 | REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A real estate management system and method are provided. The system and method provide an integrated system that handles all of the aspects of a piece of property including identification, acquisition, development (design and construction), management, maintenance and disposal. The system may include a five year plan, a sign package, a lease wizard and a work orders module. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144098 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EXECUTING WORK ORDERS - What is described is a method and a system for executing work orders. A first request for receiving a progress information on a work order is generated. A degree of violation between the work order and the progress information is calculated by comparing the work order and the progress information. A tolerance violation status is determined based upon the degree of violation. A second request is generated for receiving a content for the work order to resolve the tolerance violation status. The work order is updated based the content. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144099 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NEGOTIATING A WORK ORDER - What is described is a method and system for negotiating work orders. A work order comprising delivery information is provided. A negotiation action is performed for the delivery information. A first input and output pair including a first transport phase input and a first transport phase output is detected in a transport phase for the delivery information. A second input and output pair including a second production phase input and a second production phase output linked to the first input and output pair is determined in a production phase. The negotiation action is applied to the second input and output pair. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144100 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DEVIATION ANALYSIS - Disclosed is a method and system for generating a deviation result for a work order. The generation of the deviation analysis results involves initiating a deviation analysis for a work order, determining a comparison group for deviation analysis based on an available data and a planned data, generating a deviation analysis result for the comparison group and updating a status of the work order with the deviation analysis result. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144101 | System and Method Determining Reference Values of Sensitivities and Client Strategies Based on Price Optimization - A computer implemented method for determining the reference values of sensitivities and strategies for price optimization demand models from a profit function and current product price. A total profit objective is expressed as the maximization of profit and volume, where a strategy parameter represents the relationship between profit and volume. From the total profit objective, the bounds of the strategy parameter are expressed as conditional inequalities relating the bounds to functions of the unit profit at the current rate and average volume. The strategy parameter is then set to the average of these bounds. The reference elasticity is expressed as a function of the unit profit function and average volume. The resulting reference values can be used in a price optimization system to generate recommended prices that relate to an industry's current pricing scheme. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144102 | Collection and Analysis of Multiple Data Sources - Communication data for an organization, such as call, email, and instant messaging activity data from different data sources is collected and analyzed together using a correlation and behavior analysis tool. A set of communication activity records and/or specific contact data information may be provided by the organization's data sources or by an external law enforcement entity. The organization data may be analyzed according to rules and policies of data analysis and correlation using the multiple data sources to identify and report related communication activity or contact data to the internal personnel or external law enforcement for continued investigation in tracking fraud rings and other illegal activities. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144103 | Method and System Incorporating Business Rules and Price Optimization for Financial System - A computer system for modeling a portfolio of products in a financial system to determine the rate of a target product. The products are defined by attribute values, an attribute being any criteria that impacts product rates. Linear associated product rules are used by the computer system to create an optimized scenario of total profit and overall volume of sales for the portfolio. From the optimized scenario a rate for the target product can be determined which maintains a financial institution's strategic and business objectives. The optimizing process includes applying the associated product rules to products actively contributing to key performance indicators. Densification is then used to infer the rate for all other products in the portfolio. Finally, if the starting rate of a product violates an associated product rule, the starting rate is relaxed to avoid the violation. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144104 | System and Method of Selectively Notifying Consumers of Product Recalls - Described herein is a system and method of using the system for notifying consumers regarding product recall comprising: assignment of a unique user account to a newly registered consumer by an internet-based product recall notification system, the user account comprising a database wherein all products registered by that consumer are listed and a web interface whereon the products the consumer has listed as owned are listed with product recall alert-level status shown, and the unique user account requiring a logon verification method that is selected from the group consisting of username-and-password match, username match, and password match; the product recall notification system collecting consumer contact information; the product recall notification system collecting product information from the consumer about one or more products that the consumer has acquired; the product recall notification system sending regular periodic email to the registered consumers; the product recall notification system responding to email returned undeliverable; the product recall notification system receiving information about a product recall; the product recall notification system comparing the information received about the product recall to the consumer's data; the product recall notification system generating an email alert at a level determined by the match between the consumer's registered product and a recalled product to the consumer notifying the consumer about the recall of the registered product; and the product recall notification system generating a flashing screen alert at a level determined by the match between the consumer's registered product and a previously recalled product when the consumer enters information about a product that has previously been recalled. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144105 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR DYNAMICALLY CHANGING ADVERTISING ON AN AVATAR AS VIEWED BY A VIEWING USER - A method, system and program product for brokering advertising of products and services in a virtual world. The method includes accepting subscriptions from advertisers willing to pay for advertising products and services on a persona associated with a virtual space belonging to a virtual world user, creating a user profile based on specified likes/dislikes and establishing whether a user is willing to display advertising on their persona in the virtual world in exchange for receiving a benefit. Further, the method includes displaying advertisements on the persona, such that, the one or more advertisements displayed on the persona dynamically changes based on a viewing user viewing the persona of the advertising user, the one or more advertisements displayed to the viewing user being based on a viewing user profile, such that, the advertisements displayed on the persona varies simultaneously in real time mode from one viewing user to another. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144106 | System and method for tracking communications - A system and method for monitoring operations within an organization may include a database configured to store information representative of communication history between first employees and service provider employees within the organization. The database may include at least one parameter indicative of a purpose for each communication between the employees. A computing system may be in communication with the database and be configured to execute software for enabling the service provider employees to enter information associated with the communications and for generating reports that include statistics associated with the at least one parameter indicative of a purpose for a communication. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144107 | Multi-level referral system method - A system and method are disclosed for referring, educating, and incentivizing sales personnel. An Internet (or intranet) website may be established to allow sales and/or retail associates to sign up with the website for product training or to receive pertinent information from the vendor. The website may test knowledge, convey educational information, and provide incentives to sales personnel to refer other sales personnel to the website where such incentives, such as achievement levels, discounts and free products, are only given to the referrer when the referees or such number of referees are signed up to the site. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144108 | System for commoditization of information through centralized communication between advertisers, internet service providers or similar entities, consumers, and financial institutions - A method for commodisizing information that utilizes market based or auction pricing to establish the value of both advertising and non-advertising content consumed by specific individuals. The integration of these two market values through centralized information providers, together with the use of a transactions instrument which contains biographical and financial information pertaining to a specific consumer, allows for specific market derived individual prices to be set for every piece of information consumed by an individual of whatever type. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144109 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING AN ORDER STATUS - A computerized system and method for monitoring an order placed by a customer for a product produced by a supplier to be delivered to a retail location. The method includes presenting an order-entry interface to collect order information about the order to be transmitted to the supplier and store the order information in a computer-accessible order database. Warehouse information authorized by the supplier and transmitted to the warehouse is also stored. A carrier database stores a shipping rate of carriers for transporting the product ordered by the customer to the retail location, and a report generation subsystem collects at least a portion of the order information, the warehouse information and the shipping rate and generates a report displaying the collected information in a single display to be substantially simultaneously reviewed by a supervisor. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144110 | Method and system for monitoring process performance in the production of products - A method for monitoring performance of an organization having a plurality of hierarchical levels is provided. The method includes defining a plurality of organizational principles that apply to the organization. The method also includes defining a plurality of practices to enable the plurality of organizational principles. Each of the practices is associated with one or more metrics for performance measurement. The method also includes monitoring the plurality of practices using the one or more metrics. The method also includes visually displaying a set of the one or more metrics at a first level of the organization. The method also includes visually displaying a subset of the set of the one or more metrics at a second level of the organization. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144111 | Method and system for enabling process improvement in the production of products - A method of enabling improvement in the production of products in an organization having at least one production practice is provided. The method includes defining a plurality of organizational principles that apply to the organization. The method also includes defining a plurality of practices to enable the plurality of organizational principles. Each of the practices is associated with at least one metric for performance measurement. The method also includes identifying a current state of a production practice. The production practice includes at least a portion of at least one of the practices to enable the plurality of organizational principles. The method also includes mapping the current state of the production practice. The mapping identifies wastes within the production practice. The method also includes mapping a future state of the production practice. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144112 | COMPUTER SYSTEM MANAGEMENT CENTRAL SCHEDULE FOR BUSINESS DOWNTIMES - A method and a system are described that involve a schedule for central downtime planning. In one embodiment, the method includes creating a plurality of entries in a downtime schedule, wherein the downtime schedule can be a central downtime schedule, residing on a managing system, or a local downtime schedule, residing on a managed system. The method further includes synchronizing the central downtime schedule with the local downtime schedule. Finally, the method includes querying the downtime schedule to retrieve downtimes of the managed system. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144113 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSISTING IN THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF PHYSICIAN PRACTICES - A computerized system and method for financial management of physician practices. In some embodiments, there are decision support tools to assist users in specified areas for physician practice, financial, and operational improvement. The decision support tools could provide help screens that provide assistance specific to financial reports or financial tools being viewed by the user. The decision support tools could be associated with a variety of financial tools and reports, including but not limited to monthly reports, year-to-date reports, benchmark tools, financial ratio reports, revenue cycle reports, Current Procedural Terminology (“CPT”) coding histograms/financial tables, and fee analyzer reporting tools. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144114 | OPERATIONS FOR PRODUCT PROCESSING - An operational process for product distribution includes grouping product into groups when the product is in a first sort level and sorting the groups of product, in a first pass operation, to a second level sort. The method further includes sequencing the second level sort product including late arriving product, in a second pass operation, into a sequence of product. A machine readable code can also be used to implement the functionality of the operational process. | 06-04-2009 |
20090150195 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING STRUCTURE FOR INTERNAL CONTROLS - A method and system for creating and managing a control structure for compliance with one or more compliance regimes by an entity is disclosed. The method is used for analyzing risks associated with deficiencies in compliance and for generating reports related to the compliance status. The method includes specifying one or more master structures for the entity, wherein specifying the master structure includes specifying one or more processes associated with the master structure, specifying one or more objectives for the processes, identifying one or more risks associated with the objective, and identifying one or more controls to mitigate the risks. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150196 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION OF BUSINESS PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - Systems, methods, and computer program products for business transformation of business performance indicators. Exemplary embodiments include a method for business transformation of business performance indicators, the method including building and refining a process model in a process modeler, defining metrics, key performance indicators and events, and creating metrics for capturing working duration and decision paths, specifying and preparing the process model for deployment, deploying the process model, calculating the working durations, the decision paths and the key performance indicators, measuring the process model real-time and feeding the working duration and decision percentage data into the process modeler. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150197 | System and method for managing the surety status reporting process - A method is described for monitoring, documenting, analyzing, and reporting the status of a project being performed by a Principal for an Obligee. The monitoring, documenting, analyzing, and reporting is communicated to a Surety, which has given a Surety bond to the Obligee. In one embodiment, the method is performed using a computing device via a communications network, such as the Internet or an Intranet. The method allows the Surety to monitor the status of the project, compares the Principal's pay applications with the Obligee's reporting of the project's status, and requests site inspections, or the coordination thereof by the entity practicing the method. The method can also alert the Surety of change orders and any premiums due to the Surety based on any change orders as well as alert the Surety of project problems and changes in the expected projection completion. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150198 | ESTIMATING TV AD IMPRESSIONS - The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes receiving cluster information comprising categories and total numbers of media receivers (e.g. television (TV) viewers) associated with the categories and receiving sample data comprising numbers of advertisements (ads) displayed to sampled receivers (e.g., TV viewers) that are classified within the categories. The method also includes calculating probabilities for numbers of ads displayed to the total numbers of receivers associated with the categories, wherein the calculation is based on the cluster information and the sample data, merging the calculated probabilities associated with two or more of the categories, and outputting an estimated number of ads displayed based on the merged probabilities. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150199 | Visual substitution options in media works - A classification method and system for possible content alteration of a media work may include criteria regarding content that is feasible for alteration. Such criteria may be maintained in records that are accessible to an interested party. Some embodiments may include a record of primary authorization rights applicable to a possible content alteration. A further embodiment feature may include a record of secondary authorization rights applicable to substitute altered content incorporated in a derivative version. Various exemplary techniques may be used to provide audio and/or visual substitution options in a derivative version of the media work in accordance with applicable alteration guidelines. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150200 | System and method for generating interpreted damage estimates information - A method and system for generating interpreted damage estimate information. The steps of generating an interpretation of repair operations consists of selecting a interpretation template from a plurality of interpretation templates, reading a damage estimate file, identifying one or more nomenclature in said damage estimate containing repair operations, determining the sections or groups' contained in said damage estimate file, identifying common section indices for the identified sections or groups, retrieving repair/refinish/replacement parts interpretations that consist of a common section index, related repair/refinish/replacement interpretation, interpreted section header, associated graphical images, and creating a displayable repair interpretation file. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150201 | System and method for capital budgeting - A system for generating a capital budgeting plan taking into consideration specific real property information and an objective List of Rules selected by a user(s) against which all projects are compared. The system generates a Ranked List of requirements based on the real property information and the List of Rules. The Ranked List is based on the objective criteria selected by the user to provide a transparent and defensible capital budget plan. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150202 | SYSTEM TO MONITOR IRREGULAR ACTIVITY - A computer-implemented method includes receiving item data at a network-based computer system, the item data related to an item categorized in at least a first category of a plurality of categories supported by the network-based computer system and including an item price-based value associated with the item. A category-specific threshold price-based value, for the first category of the plurality of categories supported by the network-based computer system, is automatically determined. The item data is automatically determined to the irregular, based on the item price-based value associated with the item and the category-specific threshold price-based value for the first category of the plurality of categories supported by the network-based computer system. Responsive to the determination that the item data is irregular, an entity associated with the item is restricted from using the network-based computer system. | 06-11-2009 |
20090157440 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF ANALYZING ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND SALES OUTSTANDING - Systems and methods are provided to perform an analysis of the accounts receivable of a business. Each component of the accounts receivable is reviewed individually and all factors related to that particular component are accounted for. A data tool is then implemented to analyze the data and to recognize the areas of all of the components that are susceptible to improvement. A strategy is then developed to maximize the efficiency of the accounts receivable. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157441 | AUTOMATED SLA PERFORMANCE TARGETING AND OPTIMIZATION - Methods relating to the generation of service level agreement (SLA) performance report include measuring, over a service period, at least one service level measurement related to a provision of service. A measurable SLA commitment may include service level goals, with each goal containing a performance criterion, a target, and a comparison technique. A performance report may be generated based on the measurable SLA commitment and the at least one service level measurement and may include a goal analysis for each service level goal of the measurable SLA commitment. A system including a database and a report processor may be configured to generating a performance report including determining an actual level of service provided, comparing the measurable SLA commitment to the actual level of service provided, and determining a missed goal based on the actual level of service provided not realizing the SLA goal. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157442 | System and Method for Improving the Performance of Digital Advertisements - Systems and methods for optimizing performance of an ad campaign are disclosed. Generally, an offer is extended to an advertiser to optimize an ad campaign of the advertiser. The offer provides that an optimized version of the ad campaign performs at least as well as an unoptimized version of the ad campaign. Upon acceptance of the offer, an ad campaign optimizer automatically creates an optimized version of an ad campaign and monitors a performance of the optimized version of the ad campaign and the unoptimized version of the ad campaign. The ad campaign optimizer then automatically adjusts a portion of ad campaign activations allocated to the optimized ad campaign and a portion of ad campaign activations allocated to the unoptimized ad campaign based on the monitored performance of the optimized ad campaign and the monitored performance of the unoptimized ad campaign. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157443 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING BANDWIDTH UTILIZATION - An approach is provided for managing bandwidth utilization. A networking device (e.g., router) corresponding to a customer is audited to determine utilization of a communication link serving the customer. A determination is made whether bandwidth, allocated to the customer, of the communication link is under-utilized. A notification is generated to inform the customer of the under-utilization based on the determination. Further, a determination can be made whether the allocated bandwidth of the communication link is over-utilized, in which case, the notification includes an indication of one or more sources of traffic through the networking device. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157444 | USING A DIRECTED GRAPH AS AN ADVERTISING SYSTEM TAXONOMY - Embodiments relate to generating and using a directed graph as an advertising network taxonomy. Individual delivery locations provided by publishers for presenting advertisements are identified. A directed graph is generated that includes specific advertising opportunities that each correspond with an individual delivery location. The directed graph also includes multiple general advertising opportunities that correspond with aggregations of delivery locations. Multiple aggregations may each include all or part of the same set of delivery locations. Advertisers may then use the directed graph to purchase advertising opportunities, and advertisements may be served to delivery locations based on the advertiser selections. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157445 | Automated Execution of Business Processes Using Two Stage State - Systems and methods for automating and increasing the efficiency of business processes using two-stage state. In one embodiment, an automated method for execution of a business process is provided, where the business process is an event-driven activity including first and secondary events. The method includes the computer-implemented automatic steps of initiating the first event in response to user input and the first event initiating one or more of the secondary events. Each of the secondary events has a plurality of states and each of the plurality of states has an associated status. The method further includes the first event monitoring the state and associated status of each of the secondary events and the first event executing one or more actions that are selected based on the state and associated status of each of the secondary events. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157446 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND SOFTWARE APPLICATION FOR CREATING AND MONITORING INTERNAL CONTROLS AND DOCUMENTATION OF COMPLIANCE - A software application enables a user to create and monitor internal controls for compliance with one or more compliance regimes by an entity. The software application is used for analyzing risks associated with deficiencies in compliance and for generating reports related to the compliance status. The software application enables the user to specify one or more master structures for the entity, wherein specifying the master structure includes specifying one or more processes associated with the master structure, specifying one or more objectives for the processes, identifying one or more risks associated with the objective, and identifying one or more controls to mitigate the risks. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157447 | Derived and Automated Key Performance Indicator Reports - In a computing system, a selection of a predefined key performance indicator that is associated with a plurality of predefined dimensions and with definitional data is received. A dimension value for at least one of the predefined dimensions, at least first and second attributes associated with the dimension value, and a condition that defines a relationship between the first and second attributes are also received. A first reporting format is determined using the dimension value, first and second attributes, and the condition, and second and third reporting formats are determined using the definitional data. A report view formatted according to the first, second, and third reporting formats is displayed on a display device. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157448 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR PROCESS ANALYSIS, SIMULATION, AND OPTIMIZATION BASED ON ACTIVITY-BASED COST INFORMATION - A computer-implemented method of analyzing a workflow is provided. The method can include generating a multi-stage workflow representation corresponding to a physical process, the representation defining for each stage of the workflow at least one activity performed during the process. The method also can include associating at least one activity-based cost with each activity performed during the process, and estimating a distribution of costs over the stages of the workflow based on cost data generated by repeated execution of the process. The method can further include determining, based upon the estimated distribution of costs, whether a cost imbalance is associated with at least one stage of the workflow. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157449 | INTELLIGENT CUSTOMER RETENTION AND OFFER/CUSTOMER MATCHING - A device receives offer information associated with one or more products or services, receives customer information, and matches the offer information with the customer information based on one or more of system defined rules or user defined rules. The device also generates matched offer and customer information based on the match, and conveys the matched offer and customer information to one or more customers. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157450 | ADPACK - A system for monetization of content includes a storage device for storage and retrieval of data, and a library of content and advertisements stored within the storage device. The library comprises an organizational structure for facilitating the storage and retrieval. The system also includes a monetization engine for identifying within the library a first content item having a first monetizable feature. The system is configured for selecting a second content item from several content items within the library, and associating the second content item to the first content item by using the first monetizable feature for presentation of the second content item in conjunction with the first content item. Further embodiments include various additional systems, methods, and computer readable media for implementation of the foregoing. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157451 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING MANIPULATION IN FINANCIAL MARKETS - A technique is presented for detecting manipulation in a market. The technique may be used with a web-based market that enables a plurality of traders to transact or to speculate in an item. A record of each transaction between the traders of the market is stored. The transaction records are accessed and processed to identify transactions representative of a potential manipulation of the market. To identify a potential manipulation of the market, the transaction records are processed to identify transactions between a first trading account established by a trader and a second trading account established as an alias trading account. In addition, the transaction records are processed to identify transaction executed as part of a plan of collusion between two or more traders. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157452 | POLICY AND CONTRACT COMPLIANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD - An integrated tool captures institutional and expert knowledge, then stores policy exclusion rules used to evaluate and enforce legal, regulatory, business and contract policy. Rules driven intelligent user interfaces enable efficient, validated and standardized entry of both policy exclusion rules and business operations plans to increase time and cost efficiency and lower risk. A rules engine evaluates business operation plans and identifies policy exclusions that should be enforced. A management information system automates methods and integrates tools to provide a tangible, integrated system. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157453 | PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS SUPPORTING SYSTEM AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS SUPPORTING METHOD - Wasteful repetitive tasks are easily reduced in processes to develop complex products. A product development process support system is a system which analyzes dependencies between a plurality of requirements in product development processes belonging to a plurality of layers, and comprises an input reception portion for receiving input of information indicating the dependency between two requirements belonging to adjacent layers and of information indicating the degree of influence of requirements on product development, and dependency derivation portion for deriving the dependency between two arbitrary requirements belonging to the same layer from information indicating the dependencies between the two requirements in question and other requirements received by the input reception portion and from information indicating the degree of influence of the two requirements in question, based on dependency derivation rules established in advance. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157454 | TRANSACTION CONTROL METHODS FOR USE IN FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS AND INFORMATION BANKING - A method for conducting a financial transaction involves a person using a mobile device. The mobile device accesses information regarding the proposed financial transaction and determines, based on that information, whether the proposed transaction is permissible according to pre-set preferences associated with the person. Some of these preferences may be controllable by the person, and other preferences may be only partially controllable or not controllable by the person. The proposed transaction is denied if it is determined not to be permissible, and the proposed transaction is allowed if it is determined to be permissible. If the transaction is denied, the person may be presented with the option of changing the preferences, and authentication may be necessary to do so. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157455 | INSTRUCTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EQUIPMENT PROBLEM SOLVING - A method and system of providing instructions in addressing an equipment problem are provided. An indication of an equipment problem is checked against a solution database to identify at least one suggested solution to the equipment problem. A suggested solution from the at least one suggested solution is provided. An actual fix solution implemented in association with the equipment problem is recorded. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157456 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING FORMS AND DISCLOSURES ADVICE - A system and a method for providing advice on selecting and completing different forms and disclosures are provided. Applicable information is collected. Forms and disclosures are determined based on the information collected. The forms and disclosures are selected from collections of forms and disclosures provided by the federal government, state governments, local municipalities, and/or other sources. Various different types of advice associated with the selected forms and disclosures are also provided. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157457 | PROVISIONING AND ACTIVATION USING A SERVICE CATALOG - A service provisioning and activation method and system for telecommunications networks. The system operates in between a business support system ( | 06-18-2009 |
20090157458 | SUPPLY CHAIN EVALUATION SYSTEM, METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Provided is a supply chain evaluation system, in which supply chain planning is formulated according to a simulation time control, and a flow of physical distribution from procurement via production and shipment through a client is simulated based on the supply chain planning, which are repeated during a simulation time. In the supply chain evaluation system, after the supply chain planning and after a physical distribution calculation processing, an inventory volume is calculated for each problem, and presented along with inventory transition. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain effects of SCM measures through a simulation not only in a form of an inventory waveform but also by outputting an inventory volume after calculating the inventory volume for each inventory occurrence factor (problem structure). | 06-18-2009 |
20090164262 | METHOD AND STRUCTURE FOR RISK-BASED RESOURCE PLANNING FOR CONFIGURABLE PRODUCTS - A method for planning under uncertainty is disclosed. The method includes steps of processing a stochastic programming formulation based on forecast values of at least one of product and service configurations, and determining a resource requirements plan for one or more planning periods in a non-deterministic bill of resources of at least two levels. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164263 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING TRUSTED RECOMMENDATIONS - A system and method for matching candidates and placement providers through trusted recommenders without the need for the recommenders' direct engagement. The method includes receiving input from a provider regarding a recommender of candidates and from a candidate regarding a recommendation for that candidate by the recommender. A first trust score for the recommender is calculated, in accordance with a number of providers having a trust relationship with the recommender. A second trust score is calculated for the candidate with respect to a given provider, in accordance with the first trust score for the recommender, a trust relationship between the provider and the recommender, and a trust relationship between the candidate and the recommender. An ordered list of candidates is generated for the provider, in accordance with the second trust score. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164264 | Method Of Communicating The Carbon Footprint For A Particular Product To Consumers - A method of communication the carbon footprint of a product to consumers. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164265 | AUCTION PROFIT OPTIMIZATION - In one example embodiment, a system and method is shown that includes receiving a selected feature wherein the selected feature includes a feature to be included on a webpage. Further, the system and method includes retrieving coefficient data to be used in determining a profit value generated by including the selected feature on the webpage. Additionally, the system and method includes transmitting optimized suggestion data that includes the profit value generated by including the selected feature on the webpage. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164266 | CATEGORY AGGREGATED OPINION DATA - Embodiments of the present invention relate to aggregating opinion data and providing aggregated opinion data to a user. More specifically, opinion data may be aggregated by one or more categories, or by entity. Opinion data may be received from various sources and includes sentiment information (e.g., positive and negative comments) on a specific entity. The opinion data may be further aggregated by feature for each category. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164267 | Employing Organizational Context within a Collaborative Tagging System - A computer-implemented method of employing organizational context within a collaborative tagging system can include receiving at least one tag for an artifact from a user, determining at least one attribute of the user, and storing a tag record including the tag, the attribute of the user, and an association of the tag with the artifact. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164268 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADVERTISER RESPONSE ASSESSMENT - Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods and computer program products for assessing advertiser response based upon change in click traffic and value. One embodiment of a method for assessing advertiser response includes determining one or more keyword markets impacted by a traffic quality action, setting a baseline cost per acquisition for the one or more keyword markets impacted by the traffic quality action, determining one or more advertising metrics for the one or more keyword markets impacted by the traffic quality action having a certain network market value, fitting the one or more advertising metrics into a probabilistic model and determining the probability of reaction of the one or more keyword markets to changes in the one or more advertising metrics. The present invention provides systematic model to assess advertiser response that addresses all of the limitations of today's advertiser response assessment. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164269 | MOBILE CLICK FRAUD PREVENTION - A system is disclosed for detecting and handling click fraud in a mobile environment. The system may identify a source of a request. The request may be handled differently based on whether the source of the request originated from mobile traffic or web traffic. The source of the request may be used to determine whether a request is valid or invalid. The request may be flagged if the request is invalid. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164270 | CALCULATING IN-FLIGHT METRICS FOR NON-INTERRUPTIBLE BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS - Metrics are calculated from information acquired during execution of transactions for transactions that cannot be identified during execution. In-flight or execution related metrics are grouped by transaction type and time period. The transaction name is associated with the metrics once the transaction has completed, and data is reported for the time period once all transactions executing in that time period have completed. When a transaction has completed execution, in-flight metrics may be determined for the transaction for each time period in which other transactions executing in that time period have completed. When all transactions executing during a particular time period are complete, the in-flight metrics for transactions executing during that time period are determined and stored. The in-flight metrics may include concurrency, stalls and other data. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164271 | System and Method for Tracking Syndication of Internet Content - A method and system for syndicating content via a plurality of publication venues is provided. In one embodiment the method includes storing in a memory a plurality of videos; storing a content identifier (ID) for each of the plurality of videos; storing a syndication ID for each of the plurality of publication venues, wherein at least some of the plurality of publications venues act as a referring venue for other publication venues; and storing information sufficient to identify the referring venue for the other publication venues. The method may further comprise receiving a syndication request for a first video from a requester, wherein the request includes a first content ID for the first video and a first syndication ID; generating code that includes the first content ID and a second syndication ID; associating the first content ID, the first syndication ID and the second syndication ID in a memory; and providing the code to the requester. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164272 | Simulator - There can be provided a method for simulating a commercial entity. The method can comprise modelling the behaviour of a financial framework which describes the commercial entity, and displaying the results of the modelling to a user via a graphical interface which expresses value amount and value transfer as quantities within interconnected value volumes within a real-time display. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164273 | PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - A system and method for distributing a product purchased on the internet According to one embodiment, information associated with a plurality of sellers is stored in a database. This information includes the address of each seller and the dimensions and weight associated with a product to be sold by the seller. Buyer information is also stored in a database. Upon receiving a purchase order from a buyer, which includes at least one product to be purchased, an appropriate mailer is automatically determined based upon the dimensions and weight of the product. Moreover, an optimum mail class is automatically determined based on the geographic location of the buyer and seller, and the size and weight of the product. The mailer is pre-addressed, pre-stamped, and then sent to the seller for the seller to prepare the product for final delivery to the buyer. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164274 | VARIABLE LEARNING RATE AUTOMATED DECISIONING - Methods and related system are described for making decisions. A described method includes selecting a choice from the available choices, receiving an outcome relating to the selected choice, and automatically learning from the received outcome by incorporating the received outcome into subsequent steps of selecting a choice. The method may also include calculating estimated probabilities associated with the each choice using Bayesian networks. The automated learning can be based on a learning rate which is variable with time, and influences the degree on which prior outcomes are relied upon when calculating an estimated probability associated with a choice. The learning rate can be a function of time and an estimate of drift of the probability associated with the selected choice. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164275 | REVENUE-SHARING TO INCENTIVIZE USERS TO REVEAL ONLINE PURCHASING INTERESTS - The various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods to incentivize online users to reveal their online purchasing interests so that advertisements matches their online purchasing interests can be displayed to the users. When users follow the displayed advertisements that match their online purchasing interests to make purchases, users are rewarded by sharing a portion of the advertising (or advertisement) revenue that are related to their online purchases and are collected by the web site(s) that displays the advertisements. The payout for the advertisements by the advertisers to the web site(s) is based on click-per-action (CPA) model, which generally pays more substantially per purchase action. Therefore, the users, who share a portion of the advertisement revenue directly related to their online purchases, can receive more substantial rewards. The reward is mainly monetary (or financial gain) and can come in various forms, such as discount, or credit. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164276 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INFORMING BUSINESS MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL OF BUSINESS RISK - A system and method are provided for informing business management personnel of business risk. The method can include the operation of defining a plurality of business risk rules that are tied to specific risk events and information. The plurality of business risk rules can be stored in encapsulated data points. Another operation is defining predicate risk rules and core risk rules for the business risk rules in the data points. A query can be made of whether predicate risk rules in a section of data points are satisfied using the predicate risk rule in a core data point. The core risk rules for the core data points can be applied after predicate risk rules for the core risk rule have been satisfied. A further operation is displaying a graphic icon to an end user for core risk rule status representing whether a core risk rule has been satisfied. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164277 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGEMENT OF DELIVERY OF GOODS AND SERVICES TO UNATTENDED PREMISES - A system and method provides delivery of services by a service provider to an unattended customer premise. The service provider is connected to the customer via a communication link. The method includes receiving through the service provider's web site a request for a service from the customer. The request for the service includes a description of the requested service. The method further includes receiving customer information including customer identity and the address of the premise where service is requested. The method further includes receiving an access code from the customer, the access code being used to access the customer premise, and providing a service confirmation. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164278 | System for reducing risk of maintaining intellectual property - A system and method that reduces risks for law firms that are handle docketing and payment of renewals (also known as “annuity” or “maintenance”) fees on intellectual property such as patents and trademarks. The risk-reduction system is able to provide law firms an ability to exit the intellectual property annuities service business while mitigating risk to the firm. The structured program presents law firms with a process for seamlessly transitioning its clients (e.g., the patent-holders) from their firm to a service provider quickly and efficiently. The risk-reduction system has advantages of safely and efficiently assisting law firms with exiting the renewals business, mitigating the firm's risk, minimal or no disruption in service to the firm's clients, project planning with benchmarks for deliverables within a timeframe, and high service level service agreements signed directly between the firm's clients and a service provider. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164279 | Service testing method - Method and systems for testing services are described which use a virtual world. Observational data is extracted from the virtual world and input to the service. The output of the service is observed and/or may be fed back into the virtual world and its effects observed in the virtual world. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164280 | Franchise Administration System With Automatic Compliance Monitoring and Reporting Features - A franchise administration system having automatic compliance monitoring and reporting features is provided. Information about an entire franchise lifecycle, from initiation to termination, can be captured and managed in a central, web-based system. A user can define stipulations associated with a franchise agreement, as well as other milestones which must occur in accordance with the terms and conditions of the franchise agreement. The system monitors a franchisee's performance over time to determine whether the pre-defined stipulations are met. Defaults by the franchisee are automatically detected, classified according to severity, and processed by the present invention. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164281 | Method for selecting crop varieties - A process of recommending crop varieties based on management categories. The management categories are determined by utilizing indices, which measure the economic implication of physical and chemical properties of a specific soil type in a region. The management categories may then be indicated graphically by indicia overlaying digitized soil maps, each of the indicia grouping soil types within a management category. Each crop variety is characterized by how the crop variety performs in each of the management categories. Each of the crop varieties may then be assigned an indicium of the management category for which it is adapted. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164282 | Hiring decisions through validation of job seeker information - The present methods and systems relate to means for job seekers to provide more detailed information to prospective employers to aid in job hiring decisions. The means comprises validation of job history, education, and skills information provided by the job seeker, which can comprise third party support and feedback. The means further comprises a display of information that comprises the relative strength of the validation, as well as possible means of further validation for the prospective employer to use. The means further comprises a skills assessment that is taken by the job seeker at a time of the seekers time and place convenience, but that can be validated at the place of employment. The means also provides the job seeker with information about how they could improve their employment prospects. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164283 | System and method for reception time zone presentation of time sensitive scheduling data - Presenting time frame elements of time sensitive scheduling data to an entity based on a reception time zone related to a passive delivery via a time sensitive scheduling data delivery network is described. A communications network passive delivery of time zone adjusted time sensitive scheduling data is accommodated to an entity. Specific time zone adjusted time sensitive scheduling data from originating organizations, affiliated groups of individuals, and individuals are aggregated into time sensitive scheduling data streams. Then the specific time zone adjusted time sensitive scheduling data streams aggregated from multiple originating organizations, affiliated groups of individuals, and individuals are transmitted via the communications network to the entity. Finally, the time sensitive scheduling data is presented in a manner affording the time zone adjustment based on a reception time zone in which the time sensitive scheduling data is being presented. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164284 | CUSTOMER SHOPPING PATTERN ANALYSIS APPARATUS, METHOD AND PROGRAM - A customer shopping pattern analysis apparatus includes a correlating information storage section, and a sub-area information storage section. Upon receiving specifications of a particular sub-area as analysis conditions, flow line data of customers who passed through the particular sub-area are extracted based on information specifying the particular sub-area in the sub-area information storage section and based on the flow line data of each of the customers. In addition, transaction data correlated with the flow line data extracted is specified with reference to data in the correlating information storage section. Then, information about correlations between the flow line data extracted and the transaction data is created. From the thus created information, the apparatus analyzes the shopping patterns of the customers in the shop. | 06-25-2009 |
20090171702 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAINTENANCE OF RESIDENCES - An application for a computer-based method for managing a property includes providing a server computer system and a client computer system. A list of maintainable inventory items is accepted at the client computer system and sent from the client computer system to the server computer system where the list of the maintainable inventory items is processed. The processing includes generating maintenance tasks relating to the list of the maintainable inventory items based upon a set of maintenance procedures. The maintenance tasks are then tracked at the server computer system. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171703 | USE OF MULTI-LEVEL STATE ASSESSMENT IN COMPUTER BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTS - Management of a business environment is facilitated by enabling customers to determine the sensitivity of events on resources, dynamically evaluate composed state of those resources, based on the sensitivity, and use that state in management of the environment. Management is further facilitated by the dynamic evaluation of aggregated state of business applications, which may also be used in management. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171704 | MANAGEMENT BASED ON COMPUTER DYNAMICALLY ADJUSTED DISCRETE PHASES OF EVENT CORRELATION - Management of a customer's IT environment is facilitated by correlating events that occur within the environment, obtaining information relating to those events, and performing actions, such as environment tuning or recovery actions, based on the information. Discrete phases of processing are used to obtain the information and/or perform the actions. One or more of these discrete processing phases have tunable time intervals associated therewith. That is, at least one time interval is dynamically adjusted based on the runtime state of the environment. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171705 | DEFINING AND USING TEMPLATES IN CONFIGURING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENTS - Templates are provided and used in an Information Technology (IT) environment. A template represents a pattern of resources and resource relationships of the IT environment. Templates are applied to automatically generate recommendations of programmatic representations of artifacts of the IT environment. The artifacts include Recovery Segments, Redundancy Groups, Business Resilience Manager deployment configurations and/or resource pairing represented by relationship data stores, as examples. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171706 | COMPUTER PATTERN SYSTEM ENVIRONMENT SUPPORTING BUSINESS RESILIENCY - A Pattern System Environment is formed. The Pattern System Environment is a representation of information technology (IT) resources of a customer's business environment. The Pattern System Environment is based on information associated with the IT resources of the customer, and that information indicates how the IT resources are utilized during a business cycle of the customer. Pattern System Environments are usable in many environments, including those that support business resiliency. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171707 | RECOVERY SEGMENTS FOR COMPUTER BUSINESS APPLICATIONS - Recovery Segments are defined and employed to facilitate management of a customer's environment. A Recovery Segment is a runtime usable representation of resources and relationships between those resources associated with a business application. That representation is usable in managing the business application. Associated with the representation is one or more goals to be met by resources of the representation. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171708 | USING TEMPLATES IN A COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT - Templates are used to programmatically create workflows used in managing an Information Technology environment. The templates include conditional processing that enable the workflows to be created based on the current state of the environment. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171709 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ASSESSING SALES ACTIVITY OF A MERCHANT - A method for assessing sales activity of a merchant using a computer system coupled to a database is provided. The sales activity includes purchases made by a customer using a financial transaction card over a financial transaction card network. The method includes storing within the database a plurality of merchant profiles wherein each merchant profile describes a customer community of the corresponding merchant utilizing the financial transaction card network, determining a violator merchant profile based on a customer community associated with a violator merchant wherein the violator merchant uses the financial transaction card network to engage in at least one of illegal, potentially illegal and undesirable sales activities with at least a portion of the associated customer community, comparing the violator merchant profile to each merchant profile stored within the database, and identifying at least one potential violator merchant for further investigation based on the comparison. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171710 | Mobile Advertisement System With Advertisement Status - A method of operating a mobile advertisement system includes receiving an advertisement parameter by a client from a server to be shown on a display of the client; detecting an advertisement control parameter with the advertisement parameter in the client; operating the client based on the advertisement control parameter and the advertisement parameter; creating an advertisement status parameter based on the advertisement parameter in the client; and sending the advertisement status parameter from the client to the server. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171711 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF MANAGING TRANSACTIONS - Method and system of managing transactions. The transactions may be executed over different networks, such as but not limited to networks associated with different cable television service providers. The transactions may be monitored so that product purchases may be facilitated without requiring product vendors to support electronic communications with each of the networks. The transactions may also be monitored to tabulate metrics and other measurables reported from the different networks in such a manner that the vendors can receive a report without having to understand the reporting and tabulating means used by the different networks to measure the same metrics. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171712 | Architectural Design for Ad-Hoc Goods Movement Software - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing ad-hoc goods movement. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include an Accounting process component that records the relevant business transactions for valuation and profitability analysis; an Inventory Processing process component that handles the management of inventory and the recording of inventory changes and may provide services to maintain current stock, handling unit content, logistics operating unit content, and allocation content; a Site Logistics Processing process component that handles the preparation, physical execution, and confirmation of logistics processes within a site; and a Supply and Demand Matching process component that combines the tasks necessary to ensure that sufficient material receipt elements exist to cover material demand while taking available capacity into account. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171713 | Architectural Design for Self-Service Procurement Application Software - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing service procurement. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include an Accounting process component, an Internal Request Processing process component, a Purchase Request Processing process component, a Purchase Order Processing process component, a Goods and Service Acknowledgement process component, a Supplier Invoice Processing process component, a Payment Processing process component, an RFQ Processing process component, a Project Processing process component, a Source of Supply Determination process component, a Due Item Processing process component, a Balance Of Foreign Payment Management process component, a Pricing Engine process component, and an Accounting Coding Block Distribution Processing process component. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171714 | LIVE INTENTION MANAGEMENT - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to service dispatch and provide a method, system and computer program product for live intention management in a computer communications network. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for live intention management can be provided. The method can include selecting a serviceable object in a service area, changing live intention metadata data for the selected serviceable object to reflect an awareness state of the serviceable object indicating that an actor intends to service but has not yet serviced the serviceable object, and displaying the serviceable object and the awareness state in a map in a graphical user interface. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171715 | Powerfully simple digital media player and methods for use therewith - A powerfully simple digital media player and methods for use therewith are disclosed. In one embodiment, a digital media player with a simplified user interface is disclosed that, like an FM radio, allows a user to easily select a category of digital media for playback. In another embodiment, to make the experience more FM-radio-like for a user, instead of charging the user for the digital audio files, digital media files can be distributed for free (or at a reduced charge) by playing advertisements before, during, or after the playback of a digital audio file. In yet another embodiment, an exemplary network infrastructure is provided. In another embodiment, a generic streaming content file interface is presented. Other embodiments are disclosed, and any of these embodiments can be used alone or in combination with one another. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171716 | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN FOR PERSONNEL EVENTS APPLICATION SOFTWARE - Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing personnel events functionality. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include a personnel administration process component, a payroll processing process component, an expense and reimbursement management process component, a time and labor process component, a compensation management process component, an employee payroll administration process component, and numerous country-specific employer regulatory compliance process components. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171717 | APPLICATIONS OF CLUSTER ANALYSIS FOR CELLULAR OPERATORS - Subscriber travel behavior is defined using cellular call location data. The defined travel behavior is used to segment the customer population. In a further aspect of the disclosed principles, a method to consolidate numerous of price plans is disclosed wherein price plans are grouped using cluster analysis. In the context of this disclosure, the term “cluster analysis” encompasses a number of different algorithms and methods for grouping objects of similar kind into respective categories to thus organize observed data into meaningful structures. In this context, cluster analysis is a data analysis process for sorting different objects into groups in a way that the degree of association between two objects is maximal if they belong to the same group and minimal otherwise. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171718 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING WORKFORCE AND WORKLOAD MODELING - Workforce and workload prediction is provided. A portal is configured to receive input from a user, wherein the input relates to forecasting workload and workforce for providing a communication service. The workload includes ticket loads relating to repair and provisioning, and the workforce includes human resources and equipment. A load prediction is output in response to the input, wherein the load prediction is generated by a forecast model that utilizes regression analysis of historical data and real-time information that includes workforce availability data and one or more factors impacting the workload. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171719 | Interactive system and method for displaying support and support-related processes - An interactive system for displaying support and support-related processes includes a memory arrangement, a processor, a display and an interactive user interface. The memory arrangement is configured to store support and support-related processes across multiple entities for a lifecycle of a system and/or project. The processor is configured to generate relationships between the support and support-related processes. The system also includes a display and an interactive graphical user interface displayable on the display, wherein the interactive graphical user interface illustrates the support and support-related processes across the lifecycle of the system and/or project in a hierarchical structure. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171720 | Systems and/or methods for managing transformations in enterprise application integration and/or business processing management environments - In certain example embodiments of this invention, systems and/or methods for managing transformations in Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) and/or Business Process Management (BPM) Environments are provided. In certain example embodiments of this invention, when a process and/or transform is defined, design-time encoding data is extracted and stored as metadata. When the process or transform is implemented, runtime data is captured and/or managed, and also stored as metadata. When new processes and/or transforms are defined, and/or when an already-defined process and/or a transform is executed, heuristics may be applied so as to suggest one or more already-existing transformation chains for use in accomplishing at least a part of the same and/or a similar process or transform. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171721 | Bidding system for search engine marketing - A method for search engine keyword bidding, including providing a search engine that is used by shoppers to search for products and services, maintaining by an advertiser a keyword database used by the search engine, collecting by the advertiser statistics for revenue generated during each Internet session on the advertiser's website that begins when a shopper visits the advertiser's landing page in response to the shopper clicking on an advertiser's sponsored ad, maintaining by the advertiser a tracking database comprising records of Internet sessions for a plurality of shoppers, and periodically revising by the advertiser a bid amount for a keyword in the keyword database, based on total revenue in the tracking database corresponding to the keyword over a given time period. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171722 | Green Rating System and Associated Marketing Methods - A method and system for assigning a rating to an entity based on a plurality of metrics, for example, assigning a rating to an entity which reflects that entity's level of environmental performance, and then assigning an indicia to the entity which reflects the rating relative to other like entities. The system includes ways to generate revenue based on the entity's use of the indicia, such as integrating the display of the indicia with search engines such that the indicia is displayed when the entity's link appears on a search results list and charging a per impression and/or a per click through microfee. The invention also comprises a filtered search facility which only features rated member entities on its search results list. A website is also provided which contains landing pages for each rated entity which may be accessed by clicking on the displayed indicia in the search results list. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171723 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRONIC ACCOUNT CERTIFICATION AND ENHANCED CREDIT REPORTING - Systems and methods are provided for electronically certifying financial account data and providing enhanced credit reporting capabilities. The systems and methods may include electronically receiving a certification request from a requesting computer, wherein the request is associated with a financial account requiring certification, collecting financial data from at least one financial data provider, where the financial data provider is associated with at least one financial account requiring certification. The systems and methods may further include routing at least a portion of the financial data to a certification engine for electronically certifying at least a portion of the collected financial data and electronically generating an electronic account certification for at least a portion of the collected financial data. Authorized recipients may be electronically transmitted information contained in a report which may provide indication that at least a portion of the account has been certified or indication that at least a portion can not be certified. Further electronic processes include electronically determining if at least a portion of the certification data is acceptable for total financial reporting and directing communication to authorized recipients at least a notice of availability of the total financial reports. Enhanced credit reports may spawn with electronically certified financial asset data consolidated with historical debt data reported by a credit bureau. Credit interest matching and interactive credit accounts may also spawn as a function of receiving the electronically certified financial data. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171724 | CONSTRUCTION PAYMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH SUB-TIER DOCUMENT EXCHANGE AND APPROVAL FEATURES - Systems and methods for managing a construction payment process wherein a higher degree of functionality is provided to primary users and only a limited subset of functionality is provided to sub-tier contractors. One construction of the system is configured to receive an electronically signed document and a request for payment from the sub-tier contractor. The request for payment is presented to a first primary user who is a contractual parent of the sub-tier contractor. When approval of the request for payment is received, a payment is initiated from a project payor to the sub-tier contractor. In some embodiments, the project payor is a contractual grandparent of the sub-tier contractor and a contractual parent of the first primary user. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171725 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR SELLER CREDIBILITY VERIFICATION IN TRADING OF FACTUAL OR OPINIONATIVE INFORMATION - A process and an apparatus that perform seller credibility verification in trading of factual or opinionative information are disclosed. When buying information, buyers already have some prior information about the subject of the purchase. The present invention facilitates comparison of said prior information known by buyers with information known by sellers without revealing the content of the sellers' information to buyers before the sale completion. A buyer submits to a network server for the selected seller a verification request comprising the data the buyer expects the seller to know. The network server interacts with the seller and other data sources to obtain seller's verification data representing the seller's knowledge. The network server uses the seller's verification data for comparison against the data expected by the buyer. The comparison report not revealing the content of the seller's verification data is provided to the buyer. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171726 | ENTERPRISE PROPOSAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A system and method for managing an enterprise is provided. The system and method may be based on a layered architecture including a data center that may store all documents and data abstractions for an enterprise. One or more services may interact with an enterprise resource planning system and/or a customer relationship manager to facilitate interaction with the documents and data abstractions. A client access point of the system may include a graphical user interface that includes one or more enterprise management functions for managing the enterprise documents and/or data abstractions. The enterprise management functions may include a user proposal manager, an enterprise proposal manager, a proposal library, a content health manager, an archive library, a bid center, a contracts manager, a resume manager, a debriefing center and/or a projects manager. The enterprise management functions man re-engineer business processes and enable users to manage all aspects of an enterprise using a single unified interface. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171727 | PROCESSING AND MANAGEMENT OF TRANSACTION TIMING CHARACTERISTICS - A transaction management and processing approach involves using timing-related aspects of transaction events to manage and process transaction-type information. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a transaction management approach involves using a transaction processor arrangement to track transaction events with or as a function of timing characteristics. In one implementation, the timing between related transaction events for a particular transaction is tracked such that parties to the transaction can identify and monitor the timing. In another implementation, the timing between pickup and delivery events for a shipping transaction is identified and processed for use by parties to the transaction. With these and other approaches, the management, monitoring and processing of transactions is facilitated. | 07-02-2009 |
20090177505 | Supply and Distribution Method and System Which Considers Environmental or "Green" Practices - The carbon footprint of a supply and distribution chain is modeled as a carbon dioxide (CO | 07-09-2009 |
20090177506 | APPLICATION OF DISCRETE CHOICE THEORY TO FORECASTING AIRCRAFT RETIREMENTS AND FLEET COMPOSITION - An apparatus and method for forecasting aircraft fleet composition, aircraft retirements and fleet spares requirements, includes obtaining aircraft fleet data, obtaining data on independent variables, determining a cycle indicator, determining the operation type of the aircraft, estimating the model using certain estimation steps using the aircraft fleet data, examining and updating the model based on changes in the independent variables, and forecasting on a year-to-year basis by age and operation cohort. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177507 | Automated Derivation of Response Time Service Level Objectives - A method for maximizing a utility of a service contract by optimizing target response time for a performance service level objective is provided. A set of criteria are provided to ensure that performance requirements for the service are met. The method comprises determining one or more usage windows for providing a service, wherein each usage window is associated with a performance requirement and a time period; extracting usage patterns for each usage window based on historical data provided from monitoring requests for service in each usage window; extracting response time per transaction associated with said requests based on historical data provided from monitoring responses provided to said requests in each usage window; and calculating optimal probability for breach in each usage window (Pi) and determining the associated target response time, based on the usage pattern for each window and the response time per transaction. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177508 | VALIDATION FRAMEWORK FOR SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE (SOA) APPLICATION ADOPTION - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to business process model validation and provide a method, system and computer program product for validating a service oriented architecture (SOA) oriented application. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for validating an SOA oriented application can be provided. The method can include transforming a business process model for an SOA oriented application into a directed and connected, acyclic graph, further transforming service groupings for the business process model into corresponding directed and connected, acyclic graphs, computing all paths from root node to leaf node in the graph for the business process model, and validating the business process model by ensuring no loops or cycles in the graph for the business process model, and further validating the business process model by ensuring no shared vertices amongst the graphs for the service groupings. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177509 | Business Service Management Dashboard - A system for presenting a visual dashboard which presents real time information regarding health of business processes through the health of the underlying IT systems. Visual representation of the relationships of the underlying application architecture are also presented via the system. In certain embodiments, the system develops a visual hierarchy which represents the relationship of business processes and the underlying IT infrastructure, thus enabling presentation of information both about the health of the components, as well as the relationship between the components. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177510 | System and method of generating a business plan - Exemplary systems and methods are disclosed for generating a business plan on a network. An exemplary system comprises a first interface that generates business data associated with a client, a second interface that generates review data based on a review of the business data, and a processor connected to the first and second interfaces, wherein the processor generates the business plan based on the business data and review data of the first and second interfaces, respectively. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177511 | RECRUITING AND APPLICANT QUALIFICATION SYSTEM - A recruiting system comprises a server that stores applicant guidelines, an administration module that updates the applicant guidelines in the server, and a recruiting module. The recruiting module receives characteristics of an applicant, and the characteristics are compared to the applicant guidelines. The recruiting module displays a recruiting disposition for the applicant. The characteristics are stored when the applicant is unqualified, and the characteristics are compared to applicant guidelines after the administration module updates the applicant guidelines. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177512 | Determining A Policy Parameter For An Entity Of A Supply Chain - Determining a policy parameter for an entity of a supply chain includes establishing attributes of the entities of the supply chain. Attribute segments are established for each attribute, where an attribute segment includes one or more values of the corresponding attribute. Rules are formulated using the attribute segments to define policy groups, and policy parameters are assigned to each policy group. A policy group corresponding to an entity is identified in accordance with the rules. The policy parameters assigned to the identified policy group are determined and selected for the entity. | 07-09-2009 |
20090182591 | Method and Apparatus for Determining Optimized Resolutions for Infrastructures - An exemplary method of providing an optimized resolution to a problem in an infrastructure includes a step of determining at least one target configuration of the infrastructure wherein the target configuration is aligned with at least one template. The exemplary method also includes determining at least one resolution to the problem suitable for the at least one target configuration. The exemplary method also includes calculating at least one metric associated with at least one combination of at least one determined target configuration and at least one determined resolution. The exemplary method also includes selecting at least one combination of at least one determined transformation and at least one determined resolution based at least in part on the at least one calculated metric. | 07-16-2009 |
20090182592 | Procurement system and method over a network using a single instance multi-tenant architecture - A single instance, multi-tenant procurement system, includes an access module to provide access to a plurality of end users associated with an organization to their respective accounts, each account being customized by a super user of the organization, a search engine to execute searches for products offered by one or more suppliers, a transaction module to process and track one or more requisitions generated by the plurality of end users, a business rules module to apply business rules established between the organization and the one or more suppliers to process the requisitions, and a data repository to store data generated on the system. | 07-16-2009 |
20090182593 | AUTOMATED RISK ASSESSMENTS USING A CONTEXTUAL DATA MODEL THAT CORRELATES PHYSICAL AND LOGICAL ASSETS - An automated method, system, device, and/or computer program for performing risk assessment for an information system. A risk assessment tool can receive a scenario for which to perform a risk assessment. A contextual data model and a set of data instances for the information system can be accessed. The contextual data model can define relationships between physical and logical assets of the information system. The contextual data model and set of data instances can be analyzed in relation to the scenario. An action plan can be generated that addresses the scenario. | 07-16-2009 |
20090182594 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO MANAGE ASSETS OF HEALTHCARE FACILITY - A system to manage utilization of a plurality of types of assets by a plurality of independent entities is provided. The system comprises a controller including a processor operable to execute a plurality of program instructions generally representative of the steps of receiving a plurality of parameters from each of the plurality of independent entities; segmenting the plurality the independent entities into more than one cluster dependent on identified similarities in at least one of the plurality of parameters of the one or more of the plurality of entities; and generating a display of a comparison of the plurality of parameters of each of the independent entities relative to another in each of the plurality of clusters. | 07-16-2009 |
20090182595 | Operational Transformation for Analyzing Business Processes - An operational level process diagram depicts the execution linkage between a process, organization and technology at the operational level. Business objectives, issues, and requirements are effectively linked to technology and organization through critical process elements, thus providing a perspective that ensures an effective transformation of process, organization, and technology. | 07-16-2009 |
20090182596 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF ANALYZING CHOICES IN A VALUE NETWORK - A method and system of analyzing choices in a value network, includes applying real options analysis to one or more choices. The real options include a present cost and a call value. | 07-16-2009 |
20090182597 | Monitoring Capabilities for Mobile Electronic Devices - Improved computer-implemented techniques for providing relevant information to mobile electronic devices are disclosed. According to one aspect, usage of mobile electronic devices can be monitored and usage data can be formed. The usage data can then be used to perform an action. The action can operate to provide more relevant information, such as digital (e.g., online) information or rewards, to the user. In one embodiment, usage of mobile electronic devices can be monitored and users of such mobile electronic devices can be provided with rewards based on their usage. Another aspect pertains to monitoring locations of a mobile electronic device for a duration of time and then providing location-specific information based on the locations of the device. | 07-16-2009 |
20090182598 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PLANNING OF SERVICES WORKFORCE STAFFING USING HIRING, CONTRACTING AND CROSS-TRAINING - A method and system for workforce planning in one aspect provide an optimization model that produce, based on the availability profile and the demand profile of skill types, a workforce plan recommending a combination of actions. The combination of actions may include hiring, contracting and cross-training. The optimization model considers constraints such as minimum residence time that a resource unit needs to spend in a skill-type that it gets cross-trained into or hired into, minimum acceptable contracting duration for a contracted skill type, first order and higher orders of cross-training for a skill type, with lead-time for training, one or more system rules associated with transfer sequences, or targets on service levels and resource utilization, or combinations thereof in determining the workforce plan. | 07-16-2009 |
20090182599 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE BUNDLING AND PRICING OF WIRELESS HOTSPOTS - A method (and structure) for providing services for wireless hotspots. The services are offered to selectively include bundled hotspots as well as single hotspots. | 07-16-2009 |
20090182600 | System and Method of Real-Time Homebuilding Scheduling - The invention consists of a method of real-time tracking of production schedules and timetables for one or more homebuilding developments, comprising: a) assigning one or more mobile devices to one or more users associated with projects and lots, the mobile devices providing access to project and lot information, including: lots for completion for each project, tasks for completion for each lot, assignment of suppliers and material to specific tasks, projected and actual times for completion of tasks, contact information for suppliers and invoicing information for payment of purchase orders upon task completion; and each mobile device capable of operating independently without a continuous connection to a central system; b) tracking performance of production tasks for each project via real-time monitoring by the users; c) reporting task performance data to a central ERP system and comparing real-time performance of the production tasks to scheduled timetables for the production tasks; d) enabling modification and updating of scheduled timetables for production tasks based on performance data for the production tasks and additional real-time input from the individuals; e) coordinating compensation for production activities with the performance data, including enabling payment for completed tasks from the mobile devices via purchase orders; f) synchronizing, on a sequential basis, updates to scheduled timetables and other information between the mobile devices and the ERP system. | 07-16-2009 |
20090182601 | Alerts Realtime Delivery Broker - All messaging vendors today receive “jobs” (SMS, Voice or eMail) from their customers and attempt to deliver through their delivery infrastructure. Being that all vendors have a limited capital investment in delivery infrastructure, their customers “jobs” will deliver (first in first out) over time which can range from in minutes to hours. This model is critically flawed for the emergency alert industry which requires a large pool of capacity at a moment's notice. | 07-16-2009 |
20090182602 | HUMAN RESOURCES METHOD FOR EMPLOYEE DEMOGRAPHICS REPORTING COMPLIANCE - In one example embodiment, a human resources method for employee demographics reporting compliance includes various acts. First, a server system sends, to a client system, one or more employee demographics reporting criteria. Next, the server system receives, from the client system, an indication that one or more employee demographics reporting criteria are satisfied. Then, the server system automatically determines that a report coordinator is not yet designated. Finally, the server system sends, to the client system, an indication that a report coordinator must be designated before an employee demographics report can be generated. | 07-16-2009 |
20090187437 | Method and system for auditing internal controls - The present invention provides a computer-implemented method and system for assessing internal controls. The method includes: presenting internal control items; processing an input set associated with at least some of the internal control items; and (c) generating a set of assessment information based on the processed input set. The method may further include one or more of: (d) prior to presenting, automatically grouping and presenting a subset of the plurality of internal financial control items based on a user input related to an assessment of risk; (e) prior to presenting, automatically presenting a previously identified risk associated with one or both of an audit area and a transaction class associated with a subset of the plurality of internal financial control items; (g) receiving a user test input designating an internal financial control item for testing and presenting a set of test procedures associated with the designated internal financial control item; (h) documenting assessments with the set of test procedures; and (i) receiving from a user a plurality of inputs representing user assessment of the effectiveness of internal financial control items and presenting a summary of the effectiveness assessments. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187438 | Method for review appraisals - A system and method for reviewing property appraisals which provides reviewers with assessment parameters on a point by point basis for each input on a standard appraisal form and regulations via a computer network to input information regarding the review. The system automatically associates regulatory citations and language with negative assessment parameters identified by a reviewer. The reviewers upload the review information to a database via computer network where an administrator can access the review information, compiling the review information by various criteria to analyze trends and identify problems. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187439 | COMMISSION TRACKING WEB SERVICES - Web services allow a real estate professional to create tracking services to monitor commission transactions, expense transactions, performance goals, taxes, and so on. Using an Internet client, the real estate professional creates a tracking service by accessing a server across a network. The tracking service allows the real estate professional to add, edit, and delete commission transactions associated with clients and various pieces of property. Expenses can also be tracked to allow the real estate professional to better understand revenue and costs connected with the revenue. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187440 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING SECURITY MANAGEMENT IN AN ELECTRONIC NETWORK - A method and system for facilitating security management in an electronic network is provided. The method comprising obtaining a set of criteria corresponding to a security requirement of an enterprise. The method further comprising a set of entitlements verification components based on the set of criteria to obtain a customized set of entitlements verification components. The customized set of entitlements verification components comprises one or more entitlements verification components from the set of entitlements verification components. The method further comprising deploying the customized set of entitlements verification components in the electronic network. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187441 | System and Method for Vendor Management - A system and method are provided for vendor management during a procurement process. Vendor qualification data is stored and compared relative to a procurement request. Based upon statistical data in relation to previous bidding information and vendor relevance a list of recommended Vendors for invitation can be generated. The recommended list ensures fairness in the selection of Vendors and statistics are automatically updated. Data in relation to the selection process is maintained to provide an audit trail through the procurement process. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187442 | FEEDBACK AUGMENTED OBJECT REPUTATION SERVICE - Described herein is technology for, among other things, implementing a feedback augmented optic reputation service. A request for an object reputation is received from a user, and in response to the request, a reputation generation service is accessed to determine a value for the object reputation. The value for the object reputation is returned to the user. Feedback is solicited from the user when displaying information regarding the object reputation. Feedback regarding the returned object reputation is received from the user, and a knowledge base describing the object reputation is updated in consideration of the feedback. An updated object reputation is returned in response to a subsequent request. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187443 | VISUAL METAPHOR FOR ELAPSED TIME SPENT - An embodiment provides a system that visually indicates time spent on applications. During operation, the system can measure time spent on applications to obtain time spent data. The user can provide rules which specify when to start and when stop measuring time for an application. Next, the system can generate visual indicators based on the time spent data. A visual indicator can indicate an amount of time spent on an application by conveying the information in a non-textual manner. The system can then display the visual indicator to the user. The time spent data can be used to generate bills for clients by associating time spent records with client matters. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187444 | Service knowledge map - The Service Knowledge Map or Service Knowledge Bus will help developers and subject matter experts (SME) describe, find, assemble, and execute software services. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187445 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING ENERGY SAVINGS BY USING A BASELINE ENERGY USE MODEL THAT INCORPORATES AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ALGORITHM - A computer-based system, computer-implemented method and computer program product facilitate determining energy cost savings in an energy-consuming facility, such as a commercial building, using an artificial intelligence model, for example a neural network model, that projects or estimates the amount of energy that would have been consumed by the facility but for the implementation of energy efficiency or conservation measures. Energy savings are represented by the difference between the estimate of energy that would have been consumed but for the measures and the actual amount of energy consumed by the facility under actual conditions during a time interval after the measures have been implemented. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187446 | COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED SYSTEM FOR HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT - A system and method for testing and/or evaluating employees or potential employees is disclosed. An applicant terminal presents a first set of a plurality of questions to an individual, the answers to which are stored by an applicant screening server. An electronic predictor system is configured to predict at least one business outcome for at least one job performance criterion if the individual were to be employed by the employer based upon correlations of the stored answers with answers to sets of questions by other individuals for which post-hire information has been collected. A viewing system can provide an output indicative of the prediction and can determine a score for the individual and identify the individual as a favorable candidate if the score is over a norm. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187447 | CHECKING THE CORRECTNESS OF GIS DATA - A method and apparatus for checking the correctness of GIS data. The method includes the steps of: receiving GIS data; receiving business data of each branch; determining the geographic area to which each branch belongs, wherein the GIS data in the geographic area will be checked; and, checking whether the GIS data of the geographic area to which each branch belongs are correct based on the business data of each branch. The method and apparatus can automatically check geographic and demographic data of a given city or region. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187448 | Alerts Realtime LLC - Today, the average Emergency Alert Vendor is limited by their business model and infrastructure capabilities. This market is built around vendors who build capacity for delivery and whose business model is built on recouping their capital investment through charging customers for transactions on their platforms. This model works for consistent monthly recurring revenue but breaks down for large scale emergency users who need a large amount of capacity for a short period of time. | 07-23-2009 |
20090192834 | Revenue generation method for monitoring of fluid dispensing system - A method of generating revenue for monitoring of a fluid dispensing system is provided. The method comprises providing a manually initiated cleaning system that cleans the fluid dispensing system. The cleaning system is manually initiated by a user of the cleaning system in response to the user of the cleaning system or a user of a monitoring system receiving a notification transmitted by the monitoring system. The method also comprises receiving fees on a periodic basis from the user of the monitoring system thereby generating revenue. The generated revenue is dependent on detected various conditions within the fluid dispensing system thereby providing sufficient and ongoing incentive for users to maintain cleaner lines in order to avoid higher monitoring costs resulting in safer fluid consumption. Alternatively, the manually initiated cleaning system may be replaced with an automated cleaning system. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192835 | System for Managing a License Associated with a Molding Structure - Disclosed, amongst other things, is a method executable in an asset management entity associated with a proprietor of the molding structure, a method executable in a supervisory entity associated with the molding structure, the asset management entity, and the supervisory entity, amongst other things. The asset management entity includes a computing apparatus. A license management module is associated with the computing apparatus. The supervisory entity includes a computing device. The computing apparatus is configured to execute, in use, a receiving operation, over a communication network, to receive an indication of a parameter of a license associated with the molding structure from the supervisory entity. The license management module is configured to execute, in use, a generating operation, to generate a command signal in accordance with the indication. The command signal is for causing the supervisory entity to execute an operation in accordance with the license. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192836 | AUTOMATED TEST SYSTEM PROJECT MANAGEMENT - Test system project management processes, algorithms and software are described. The combination of the processes, algorithms and software provides a means to effectively management new the testing procedures for new product introductions from initial specification of the testing requirements all the way through implementation. The automated system allows the work to be broken down into defined sub-projects such that individual experts will have defined and documented tasks contributing to the completion of the testing regime. Tracking and evaluation algorithms are also presented. The system has been found to reduce the risk of new product introductions through thorough documentation and monitored implementation. The system also includes negotiation schema that provide optimized supplier selection to design and complete the testing system at an effective cost. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192837 | Dispensing Consumer Products - A system for dispensing consumer products includes a product bin unit; a product ejector; a product trigger; and a controller. The product bin unit includes a product bin; an ejector aperture; and a trigger aperture. The product ejector is coupled to the product bin unit through the ejector aperture and adapted to drive the product package from the product bin upon receipt of a dispensing signal. The product trigger is coupled to the product bin unit through the trigger aperture. The controller is in communication with the product ejector and the product trigger and includes at least one memory and a processor. The memory stores a dispensing module. The processor is adapted to execute the dispensing module, and the dispensing module is operable when executed to receive a dispensing instruction and transmit the dispensing signal to the product ejector based, at least in part, on the dispensing instruction. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192838 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING RESPONSE HANDLING TIME AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SCORES - A system and method disclosed for using and updating a database of template responses for a live agent in response to user communications. The method includes computing an average string distance between each response from a live agent and a template, use to generate the response, modifying the computed average string distance based on a customer satisfaction score associated with each response and selecting a response that minimizes the computed average string distance and maximizes customer satisfaction. Upon receiving a further communication on a certain issue, the system presents a prototype response that has been added to the template database to the live agent for use in generating a response to the further communication that reduces handling time and increases customer satisfaction. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192839 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING CONTROLLED PROCESS EXECUTION - Systems and methods are disclosed to provide a controlled process execution in enterprise software by receiving one or more rules specifying the controlled process execution; capturing one or more activities performed by the enterprise software; determining whether the activities performed violates the one or more rules; and notifying the user of violations or exceptions caused by the activities. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192840 | RECYCLING PROGRAM AND METHOD OF ENCOURAGING RECYCLING OF TARGET WASTE MATERIALS BY USE OF PRECIOUS METALS - A recycling program provides a monetary incentive to encourage recycling of target waste materials, such as paper, glass and plastic products. A precious metal, such as gold, silver, platinum or palladium, is incorporated into the target waste material during manufacturing to provide an incentive for recycling the target material. A visual marking is placed on the target material to distinguish from other waste items that do not contain a precious metal. A deposit is collected from consumers when purchasing the target material, and the deposit is paid back when the target material is delivered to a recycling collection point. Recycling of the target material is encouraged by efforts to reclaim the precious metal. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192841 | Managing Operational Activities When Contingent Performance Deliverables Are In Place - When uncertainty is present, operational activities and counterparty relationships related to such operational activities are evaluated and appropriate management actions determined by utilizing data records comprising Contingent Performance Deliverables (CPDs), where a CPD specifies a set of rights and obligations for two or more counterparties to the CPD with respect to operational activities of the counterparties, wherein the rights and obligations are defined over a set of uncertain potential future events (SPFE). Analysis is conducted to assess relevant sources of uncertainty, and to determine appropriate actions under the operational activities, counterparty relationships, and CPD rights and obligations across such sources of uncertainty. After the actions are determined, their impact on the operational activities and counterparty relationships, and on associated performance measures, is determined across the sources of uncertainty. Management of the operational activities and counterparty relationships is improved by utilizing the actions determined and the data generated on the future impact of such actions on operational activities and counterparty relationships subject to uncertainty. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192842 | Computer Programs, Methods, Apparatus and Systems Providing Improved Evaluation of Business Processes - The exemplary embodiments of the invention provide computer programs, methods, apparatus and systems that describe techniques providing improved evaluation of business processes based on considerations such as throughput and/or parallelization. As a non-limiting example, such techniques may be useful for evaluating agreements between entities, such as SLAs between a service provider and another entity (e.g., a supplier or customer of the service provider), for example. In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method includes: obtaining a workflow model having a plurality of atomic processes, each atomic process having a distribution of throughput; determining an overall distribution of throughput for the workflow model using the distributions of throughput of the atomic processes; and outputting a determination of whether an agreement relating to the workflow model is fit based on the determined overall distribution of throughput. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192843 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TIME-STANDARD DEVELOPMENT - A performance-standard-computation method. The method includes selecting a task including a series of component steps, filming a worker performing each of the component steps of the task, reviewing the output of the filming step, using a data-acquisition device to record a plurality of process data wherein the step of using the data-acquisition device overlaps, at least in part, with the reviewing step, transferring the process data to a data-assessment tool, and using the data-assessment tool to calculate a plurality of performance standards relating to the task. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192844 | AUTONOMIC BUSINESS PROCESS PLATFORM AND METHOD - An automatic business process platform and method is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes monitoring systems, resources, persons, and/or processes, and controlling the systems, the resources, the persons, and/or the processes. The method may include diagnosing, an issue associated with the systems, the resources, the persons, and/or the processes, and providing advice to change at least one state of the systems, the resources, the persons, and/or the processes. The method may also include predicting at least one future state of the systems, the resources, the persons, and/or the processes. The method may further include learning to determine an association of at least one state of the systems, the resources, the persons, and the processes with at least one state of the systems, the resources, the persons, and the processes. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192845 | INTEGRATED REAL TIME COLLABORATION EXPERIENCES WITH ONLINE WORKSPACE - Online meeting experience is integrated with online and/or offline collaborative workspace(s). Documents and other content generated through team collaboration and managed by a content management system are automatically made available during the meeting, updated, and stored in collaborative workspace linked to a particular meeting. Newly generated content during the meeting is also added to the workspace. As a result, online meetings become part of the collaborative workspace rendering reusable and searchable data through meeting content and updates to associated documents. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192846 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WEIGHT AND BALANCE MANAGEMENT IN AIRCRAFT - A method and apparatus for weight and balance management for aircraft is disclosed. The method may include receiving specific aircraft weight and balance data, the specific aircraft weight and balance data including aircraft identification information, passenger and crew information, aircraft destination information, container and cargo destination information, cargo and container origin information, fuel information, container identification information, container weight information, cargo weight information, cargo storage area identification information, cargo storage area configuration information, and container storage area configuration information, computing weight and balance information based on the received specific aircraft weight and balance data, wherein if the computed weight and balance information does not meet predetermined parameters, sending a signal to alert a user that the computed weight and balance information does not meet predetermined parameters, and sending computed weight and balance information and specific aircraft weight and balance data to a weight and balance management server for at least one of processing and storage. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192847 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN IMPROVED SECURITY SYSTEM MECHANISM IN A BUSINESS APPLICATIONS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PLATFORM - The present invention provides a solution to the needs described above through an improved method and apparatus for an improved security system mechanism in a business applications management system platform. The security management system partitions a number of business objects into a number of hierarchical domains. A security list is then created and configured to grant a member the right to perform a security operation on the business object located within the hierarchical domain. The security list is created by adding the security operation to the security list, applying the security operation to one of the multiple domains, and adding members to the security list. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192848 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WORKFORCE ASSESSMENT - A method and system is disclosed to assess the potential workforce for a region. The potential workforce may include an actual workforce of the region and/or a reserve workforce of the region. Members of the reserve workforce may by individuals that are spaced apart from a region and have expressed a willingness to relocate to the region. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192849 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT - In general, in one aspect, a method for developing software by contest includes hosting a series of contests for the agile development of a software application by contest. In one embodiment, the method includes holding a contest for the development of a wireframe, holding a contest for the development of a static prototype, and holding a contest for the development of a working prototype. In some embodiments, the contests are repeated so as to iteratively modify the software application to better meet the customer's needs. In some embodiments, the working prototype is the final implementation of the software application. In some embodiments, a competition is held for the development of an application specification based on the working prototype. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192850 | METHOD FOR SELECTING POSTAL PRODUCTS USING FORMAL POSTAL PRODUCT DEFINITIONS - A computerized method that allows the posts to determine what new products and services their customers want. The foregoing is accomplished by creating an automated process that: collects from mailers a description of new products and services the mailers would like to have and summarizes the description of new products and services in terms of postal products and services that would have a broad appeal. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192851 | Location-Based Transportation Management - Various implementations of a location based transportation management system and methods are disclosed, including a device for visually communicating with drivers in a variety of environments. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192852 | METHOD OF TRACKING THE LIFECYCLE OF A PRODUCT - A method of tracking a lifecycle of a product includes creating a template of a lifecycle of a product. The template includes steps in the lifecycle of the product between a supplier and a customer. The steps include steps of a manufacturing and delivery process. The template and the status of each step is stored in an electronic device that is accessible to the supplier and to the customer. The supplier accesses the template and modifies the status of each step in the manufacturing and delivery process as completed as the lifecycle progresses. The customer accesses the template to monitor the progress of the lifecycle. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192853 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING COMMUNICATION SERVICES - Online communities often do not include the same level of trust or accountability as face-to-face communities. A system is disclosed wherein a member of an online community is able to increase their contact ration. A system is disclosed wherein a member of an online community is held accountable to the actions of other community members with which the member is associated. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192854 | Method and apparatus for facilitating electronic acquisition and maintenence of goods and services via the internet - Internet acquisition of goods and services from multiple service providers is facilitated in a uniform, automated manner. Online service account facilitation systems and methods are contemplated that allow for intuitive, uniformly-structured representations of service offerings; straightforward, yet flexible, definition of service product markets; advantageous status designations for market offerings; flexible start date restriction rules; context sensitive information request forms, dynamic price determination on interactive comparison forms; flexible restriction rules for selection combinations of plans, packages, and features; creation of customized data elements; a powerfully advantageous ordering process; a discontinuation process; an inter-dependent order resolution feature; a hierarchical customization scheme; and/or centralized two-way communication between customers and service providers. In one embodiment, tenants of business or residential properties, may connect and disconnect utilities and/or purchase other goods and services electronically via the Internet from various service providers when moving into the property. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192855 | Computer-Implemented Data Storage Systems And Methods For Use With Predictive Model Systems - Systems and methods for performing fraud detection. As an example, a system and method can be configured to contain a raw data repository for storing raw data related to financial transactions. A data store contains rules to indicate how many generations or to indicate a time period within which data items are to be stored in the raw data repository. Data items stored in the raw data repository are then accessed by a predictive model in order to perform fraud detection. | 07-30-2009 |
20090198529 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATING POINT OF SALE AND ELECTRONIC ARTICLE SURVEILLANCE - System and method for integrating information concerning point of sale (POS) transactions and electronic article surveillance deactivations are disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a POS station configured to collect and transmit first data pertaining to purchased merchandise having at least one EAS tag, the POS station further configured to transmit a deactivation signal, receiving the deactivation signal at the EAS deactivator, the EAS deactivator configured to deactivate at least one EAS tag, collect second data pertaining to deactivation of at least one EAS tag, and transmit the first and second data, transmitting the first and second data to an alarm management unit, the alarm management unit adapted for collecting and relaying the first and second data, and processing the first and second data at a data processing unit, the data processing unit configured to analyze the first and second data and generate third data pertaining to the first and second data. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198530 | AUTOMATED SOLUTION FOR MANAGING ANCILLARY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS IN AN ORGANIZATION - The present invention discloses a method, system, device, and/or computer program for managing ancillary relationships in an organization. The invention can include a social network graph, a directory services data store, and an ancillary relationship coordinator. The social network graph can graphically illustrate the relationships, both direct and ancillary, between members of the organization. The directory services data store can be configured to contain a directory services tree corresponding to the social network graph. The ancillary relationship coordinator can be configured to automatically identify and manage the ancillary relationships between the members of the organization. The ancillary relationship coordinator can incorporate information pertaining to the ancillary relationships into the social network graph and the directory services data store. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198531 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISCOVERING DEPENDENCIES IN PROJECT PLANS OF DISTRIBUTED SYSTEM - A method and system for discovering dependencies in project plans of a distributed system. Project plans are located by a project plan path. A project plan contains dependency information of a task to be performed, a resource necessary to perform the task, and a prerequisite task to perform the task. The method generates a master project plan containing all dependency information in all project plans in the distributed system, which dictates an order of tasks or task-resource maps in all project plans pursuant to the dependency information in project plans. The method utilizes project plan files in diverse formats in generating the master project plan for the distributed system. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198532 | METHOD AND TOOL FOR BUSINESS PROCESS ADAPTATION USING GOAL MODELING AND ANALYSIS - A business process (BP) adaptation system ( | 08-06-2009 |
20090198533 | BUSINESS PROCESS EXTRACTOR - A system and method for extracting information from business applications in real time is provided. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a message from the business applications, identifying and categorizing a business process context of the message, storing the business process context of said message, correlating the message based on said business process context with stored business process contexts to create a life cycle, and publishing the life cycle as processed data. The message can be pre-processed and data can be extracted from the message. A plug-in, a message sniffer, and a subscription for specific categories published by business applications can be used to get the message from the business applications. The message can be identifying and categorizing using configurable rules, and a correlation engine having pre-defined algorithms can be used to correlate the message with other messages. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198534 | Governing A Service Oriented Architecture - Methods and systems for governing a service oriented architecture (‘SOA’) are disclosed that include planning for implementation of an SOA governance model for governing a business's SOA including identifying compliance requirements for the SOA; defining the SOA governance model in accordance with the identified compliance requirements; enabling the defined SOA governance model; and measuring effectiveness of the enabled SOA governance model. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198535 | Defining Service Funding For A Service Oriented Architecture - Methods and systems for defining service funding for a Service Oriented Architecture (‘SOA’) are described that include, in response to an event requiring a change in service funding, identifying a potential SOA funding model for a business's SOA, the potential SOA funding model governing funding of services implemented in the business's SOA; reviewing for approval the potential SOA funding model by relevant stakeholders of the business; and upon approval of the potential SOA funding model by relevant stakeholders of the business, implementing the approved SOA funding model. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198536 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VENDOR-NEUTRAL SUBCONTRACTOR ENABLEMENT - A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code, includes receiving information in support of a bid and determining if value-add eligibility criteria is met. Additionally, the method includes calculating a bid price based on the information if the value-add eligibility criteria is met, updating a record indicating the bid price and tracking additions and changes to the record. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198537 | Defining An SOA Strategy For A Service Oriented Architecture - Methods and systems for defining SOA strategy for a Service Oriented Architecture (‘SOA’) are described that include identifying, in dependence upon a business's SOA vision and one or more artifacts describing a current state of a business's SOA, one or more SOA opportunity areas for the business; assessing a current service maturity level of the business's SOA; determining a target service maturity level for the business's SOA; and developing an SOA strategic plan to reach the target service maturity level for the business's SOA, the SOA strategic plan including an identification of the one or more SOA opportunity areas for the business. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198538 | MOBILE ADVERTISEMENT FILTERING - Disclosed is a method for filtering mobile ads, including sensing an editorial event from an advertiser user interface, wherein the editorial event comprises an advertiser creating or editing a mobile advertisement listing; enabling submission of the mobile listing multiple channel and carrier attributes; automatically checking the mobile listing with at least one mobile carrier-specific automatic check service in response to the sensed editorial event; determining whether the advertisement listing is flagged for manual review; and sending the mobile listing to a mobile publisher for publishing in response to a determination that the mobile listing is not flagged for manual review. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198539 | Onscreen takeoff incorporating typical areas system, method and computer product - A system, method, and computer product for taking installation information off areas of digital plans for estimating and evaluating with predetermined material, labor rates, and costs. The system incorporates typical areas and typical groups for repeating objects in applications such as office buildings and hotels. The system automatically sums individual inputs and facilitates sharing, bidding, and evaluation of areas. Drawings are color coded to communicate to the operator what status is. Areas and conditions can be duplicated, manipulated, copied, pasted, grouped, reassigned, and adjusted to reuse in other parts or plans. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198540 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING AN EXECUTION SEQUENCE OF A SET OF SALES ORDERS - Disclosed is a method and system for receiving a work order having a set of sales orders and determining sales order parameters such as a due date of a sales order and a restriction on the sales order. The method also includes determining a work station to execute the work order based on the sales order parameters, determining a work load of the work station executing the work order and generating an execution sequence of the set of sales orders based on the work load. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198541 | Enhanced Brand Label Validation - Enhanced brand label validation, in which identification information uniquely identifying items that have moved through one or more nodes of a supply chain is received, and event data associated with the uniquely identified items is received from the one or more nodes, based on the received identification information. The process also includes performing a validation of a characteristic of the uniquely identified items based on applying the received event data to multiple discrete evaluation frameworks, and providing a result of the validation for each of the multiple discrete evaluation frameworks. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198542 | DISTRIBUTING PREMIUM CONTENT WITH ADVERTISING SPONSORSHIP - Distribution of rights protected content as a function of advertisement based sponsorship is provided. Rights protected content can be obtained by a user for no cost or for a reduced cost in exchange for acceptance of advertisements. The advertisements can be provided as a condition that should be satisfied before the rights protected content is presented. The advertisement can be distributed as a single delivery or as a bundled delivery. The premium content and associated advertising rules can be shared between devices in a peer-to-peer manner. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198543 | License Compliance Management - Methods, computer program products and systems for determining the level of use of a program associated with a license, by one or more agents, for comparison with a predetermined licensed level of use. In one embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the steps of collecting initial data from the one or more agents associated with a metric indicative of use of the program during a first predetermined time period, calculating the metric to determine a level use of the program for the first predetermined time period, receiving new data from one or more agents associated with the metric of usage of the program, where the new data arrives after the first predetermined time period, estimating a new value of the metric to determine a approximate level of use for a second predetermined time period from the original data, the metric and the new data and in response to a trigger event, recalculating the metric to produce a final value of the metric based on the original data and the new data to provide an indication of the level of use of the program. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198544 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING DATA TRANSACTIONS IN TIME RECORDING SYSTEMS - Systems and methods for facilitating data transactions in time recording systems may include receiving, at a client application from a timekeeper, a timekeeper identification. The received timekeeper identification and a request for time entry data associated with the timekeeper may be communicated to a middle-tier application that accesses at least one database to retrieve the requested time entry data and communicated the retrieved time entry data to the client application. The client application may receive the time entry data and store the received data in at least one local memory accessible by the client application. Upon the generation of a new time entry or the modification of an existing time entry at the client application, the time entry data stored in the at least one local memory may be updated. The updated time entry data may be communicated to the middle-tier application to facilitate updating the at least one database. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198545 | METHOD OF QUALIFYING SMALL BUSINESS OWNERSHIP FOR FIRST-TIME BUYERS - A business brokerage process is provided for identifying key issues for locating appropriate buyers and sellers for a successful business purchase. The method includes the steps of psychological testing, process awareness through coaching and education, spousal support through involvement, and access to financing through introduction to providers of capital. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198546 | System and Method for Dynamic Management of Business Processes - The present invention provides a computerized system for modeling a business process, comprising a web server and a database server. The web server implements a user interface to the system. The database server is in operable communication with the web server and comprises a data architecture representing the business process. The data architecture comprises an entity model representing an entity responsible for implementing at least a portion of the business process, a transaction model comprising at least one step defining a business process, a list model representing at least one step in the transaction, the list model comprising a list of at least one entity associated with the transaction; and a task model associated with the list, the task model defining at least one task associated with the at least one step in the transaction. | 08-06-2009 |
20090204452 | MANAGING A MULTI-SUPPLIER ENVIRONMENT - The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for managing multi-supplier environment. In some implementations, a method includes identifying a supplier model configured to identify information for executing different aspects of the transaction associated with different enterprise departments and a primary supplier from a plurality of selectable third-party suppliers in response to at least a request for a enterprise transaction. The model is configured to identify methodologies for executing the different aspects of a transaction. A plurality of requests for the different enterprise departments and the primary supplier are generated based, at least in part, on the supplier model and the transaction request. Each of the different enterprise departments and the primary supplier are associated with at least one of the plurality of requests. Each of the plurality of requests are automatically transmitted to at least one of the associated enterprise departments or the primary supplier in accordance with the supplier model. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204453 | AIRCRAFT FLIGHT PLAN OPTIMIZATION FOR MINIMIZING EMISSIONS - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for performing flight planning to reduce an effect of emissions. A method is present for performing flight planning. A set of emissions data is identified for an aircraft for a plurality of route segments in a route as a function of parameters for the aircraft including the route, a weight, an altitude, and engine data. A flight plan is generated for the aircraft based on a total of each type of emission in the set of emissions data from the plurality of route segments. A portion of the parameters for the aircraft is modified to reduce the effect of the emissions and meet a set of objects for the flight plan until the flight plan meets an objective. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204454 | ONLINE HOSTED CUSTOMISABLE MERCHANT DIRECTORY WITH SEARCH FUNCTION | 08-13-2009 |
20090204455 | Methods for directly connecting people/jobs within a business for establishing performance-based compensation - Systems and methods for providing an automated system for directly connecting people, jobs, and/or departments within a business with business operational elements for establishing performance-based compensation to align compensation with activities that improve business efficiencies and profitability, including identifying areas of a business for implementing changes in processes, human resources, metrics, and systems, wherein the identification is provided based upon generating a visual representation of a business based on the energy and information systems of the business, and by making those changes to improve the operating efficiency of the business. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204456 | Methods for identifying areas for business change and prioritization based upon impact using diagrammatic representations of business systems - Systems and methods for providing an automated system for identifying areas of a business for implementing changes in processes, human resources, metrics, and systems, wherein the identification is provided based upon generating a visual representation of a business based on the energy and information systems of the business, and by making those changes to improve the operating efficiency of the business. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204457 | System and method for authenticating a user of multiple computer applications, networks or devices using a wireless device - An automated system and method for authenticating entities or individuals engaging in automated or electronic transactions or activities such as financial transactions, accessing computer applications, computer software, data networks or other automated or electronic devices requiring identity verification is provided. A unique Personal Identity Value is computed and stored in an Identity Register for the entity or individual and may be used for a variety of applications including recognizing incidents of identity theft. This Personal Identity Value is based on one or more computer logic resources that incorporate the relationship among a variety of identification information elements and parameters associated with the entity or individual, such as the entity's or individual's wireless device location, the entity's or individual's home location, other associated locations, automated activities engaged in and applications accessed. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204458 | Life Cycle Management System for Intelligent Electronic Devices - This invention relates to the Life Cycle Management System for distributed Intelligent Electronic Devices (IED) starting from the design phase to the end of service phase. Hence, it caters to the needs from installation via engineering, installation/commissioning phases, until asset management and remote service support of the devices during the operational phase The increasing decentralization of the involved components via networks, especially via the Internet, is a key criterion and needs to be addressed by the life cycle management. The added value for the customer grows disproportionately with the degree of integration of multiple independent software components into a complex and often highly distributed control system. The architecture of today's control systems must be sufficiently flexible to allow customers to regard their plant components from various locations. Additionally, the stability, security and maintainability of such a system is strongly dependent on the homogeneity and interoperability of all involved components. | 08-13-2009 |
20090210265 | Promoting Sales Of An Establishment - Disclosed herein is a computer implemented method and system for promoting sales through a customer incentive scheme of an establishment. The establishment offers the customer a redeemable voucher of a first value on purchase of merchandise. The customer registers the redeemable voucher on an online website. The online website is managed by a promotion company. The promotion company places the customer in a promotion cycle on the online website. The promotion cycle comprises a predetermined sequence of redeeming registered vouchers of the customer and multiple registered customers. The promotion company tracks total value accumulated by the customer on the online website till the total value reaches an exchange value predetermined by the establishment and the promotion company. The customer then redeems the redeemable voucher for the exchange value for merchandise from the establishment or a company participating in the customer incentive scheme. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210266 | METHODS, SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR A DECISION FRAMEWORK FOR VALUATING BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION ALTERNATIVES - Methods, systems and computer program products for a decision framework for valuating business transformation alternatives. An exemplary embodiment includes a method for framework for valuating business transformation alternatives, the method including identifying a transformation alternative, performing a strategic value analysis, performing a value risk analysis and performing a qualitative assessment to compute a value of the business transformation alternative based on the strategic value analysis and the value risk analysis. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210267 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY MAPPING SECURITY CONTROLS TO SUBJECTS - A computer system and method is disclosed for automatically and dynamically mapping risk management controls to risk management profiles based upon criteria associated with each control and values associated with each risk management profile. A database is populated with a plurality of risk management controls which may correspond to the commandments of a security requirement. The database is also populated with a plurality of risk management profiles and associated attribute values which represent information technology subjects within an organization. A computer process maps each individual risk management control to the appropriate profiles so that the organization may properly execute the control on the associated subject. Alternatively, a set of risk management profiles may be automatically determined based upon the risk management profiles and a plurality of commandments associated with a security reference. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210268 | BULK ORDER MANAGEMENT - A method includes creating a bulk order. The bulk order includes a plurality of action sets. Each action set represents a set of changes to a plurality of assets, and the bulk order represents, for a plurality of accounts, a plurality of services and assets. The method also includes validating the bulk order. The validating includes verifying a validity of a user name, which includes a validity of an association between the user name and the account and a validity of an association between the user name and the service. The validating also includes verifying the action set obeys a constraint of the product. The method also includes submitting the bulk order for execution of the set of changes. The submitting includes preparing the action set, executing the set of changes and changing a status of the bulk orders header to indicate a completion of the bulk order. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210269 | Method for Operating a Renewable Energy Power Generation Facility - A method is described for operating a renewable power generation facility having a plurality of individual power generation units for generating power from a renewable energy source. In one exemplary embodiment, the method comprises selling the power generation units in the power generation facility to individual investors | 08-20-2009 |
20090210270 | Systems and methods for providing direct communication from personalized targeted advertisements - A method of creating a personalized targeted advertisement for displaying on a webpage of a website is disclosed. The personalized targeted advertisement includes features to provide direct communication between a sender and a recipient of the personalized targeted advertisement. A selection of an advertisement template from a plurality of advertisement templates is detected. Then, a media file and a custom message are received to build the personalized targeted advertisement. The personalized targeted advertisement is then sent to the recipient identified by a unique identification. The advertising server is notified so that the personalized targeted advertisement can be displayed when the recipient identified by the unique identification logs into the website. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210271 | Methods and systems for determining quantitative benefits of travel avoidance through online web conferencing and tracking thereof - Online web conferencing methods implemented in an information handling system are provided that determine and display various savings that result from The methods herein determine and display, among other variables, the total air emissions saved by being able to forego physical transportation of the users on account of being able to meet by an online web conference. Other types of savings that may be determined and displayed include cost savings, productivity savings, environmental savings, and any other type of saving or benefit that results from foregoing transportation of users to a hypothetical meeting location. Users may override default assumptions or estimates to more accurately model the estimated savings. Various transportation modalities may be included as desired. Reports may be generated that summarize the quantities determined by the models of the embodiments disclosed herein. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210272 | Methods & systems for energy, information, and business systems modeling - Systems and methods for providing visual representation of the energy and information systems, in addition to people, for representing a business and its operating efficiency. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210273 | Methods & systems for visualizing business functions and/or operations - Systems and methods for providing visualizing business functions and/or operations using at least one visual representation of the energy and information systems, in addition to human resource elements, for representing a business and its operating efficiency. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210274 | System and Method for Tracking and Managing Environmental Attributes - A system and method for tracking and managing environmental attributes which provides a framework to facilitate the transparent listing, tracking, managing, and sale of environmental attributes. The system and method ensure greater transparency for buyers, sellers, and regulators and allow for the bundling and geographic referencing of environmental attributes. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210275 | COST MANAGEMENT OF SOFTWARE APPLICATION PORTFOLIO - An apparatus for managing a cost of ownership of a portfolio of N software applications (N≧2). A regression function is identified for each application. Each regression function expresses an approximate cost of ownership of the applications in terms of parameters and coefficients. J applications A | 08-20-2009 |
20090216573 | Method and device for automatic event detection and report generation - A robot controller including a control unit and a portable operating device (TPU) for teaching and manually operating the robot. The TPU includes safety equipment, a safety TPU-part having a first communication unit and a main TPU-part having a third communication unit. The control unit includes a safety control part having a second communication unit and a main control part having a forth communication unit. The first and second communication units are arranged such that they form a first communication channel for transferring communication data including information regarding the status of safety equipment from the TPU to the control unit. The third and fourth communication units are arranged such that they form a second communication channel for transferring general communication data between the TPU and the control unit. Each of the main TPU-part, the safety TPU-part, the main control part, and the safety control part includes a central processing unit adapted for generating and/or handling the communication data. Each of the communication units is connected to a network. Each of the communication units forms a node in the network. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216574 | Method and system for monitoring plant operating capacity - A monitoring system is disclosed for acquiring output activity, utilization capacity and/or effluent data from an facility on a facility-by-facility and/or an industry-by-industry basis. The system is designed to generate a plant and/or industry output activity database that is updated on a continuous, near continuous, periodic and/or intermittent basis so that subscribers are apprised of changes in plant or overall industry output. A clearing house is also disclosed for distributing the acquired data to subscribers to aid in analyzing, predicting trends, pricing, maintaining, adjusting, minimizing, and/or maximizing individual plant or overall industry output. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216575 | Systems and Methods for Providing a Vending Network - Embodiments of the invention can implement systems and methods for providing a vending network. In one embodiment, a system for providing a vending network can be provided. The system can include at least one transaction-type device associated with a vending machine, wherein the at least one transaction-type device is operable to facilitate cash transactions and/or cashless transactions associated with one or more products or services offered by the vending machine. The system can also include at least one server operable to communicate with the at least one transaction-type device, wherein the at least one server is operable to receive data associated with the transactions. Furthermore, the system can include at least one vend settlement server operable to communicate with the at least one server, wherein the at least one vend settlement server can settle some or all of the transactions | 08-27-2009 |
20090216576 | METHOD FOR CONSTRAINED BUSINESS PLAN OPTIMIZATION BASED ON ATTRIBUTES - A method for constrained business plan optimization based on attributes. The method, according to one embodiment, uses business data of a manufacturer to generate constrained business plans using one or more attribute-based constraints. The method is highly efficient in organizations having a complex organizational structure, multiple interactive production flows, many products, many customers and the need to rapidly add attribute-based constraints. It allows managers to make better strategic and tactical decisions regarding their business, thereby maximizing profit while satisfying constraints. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216577 | User-generated Review System - A system that combines user-generated reviews and user-generated video to create a review website covering an ever-changing list of topics. People located in different cities and colleges throughout the world create videos to both educate and entertain. This allows users to input their positive recommendations of different subjects into the system and offers users the ability to make decisions of what they buy, where they travel, where they go, what they do, and any possible decision that they could ask friends, co-workers, etc. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216578 | COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION SYSTEM - A collaborative innovation system is described. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store a topic, responses, revisions, and ratings. The interface may communicate with a content provider and users. The processor may receive the topic from the content provider and provide the topic to the users. The processor may receive responses from some of the users based on the topic. The processor may provide the received responses to all of the users. The processor may receive revisions to the responses from some of the users. The processor may provide the received revisions to all of the users. The processor may receive ratings of the responses and the revisions from the users. The processor may provide the responses and revisions to the content provider, ordered based on the ratings. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216579 | TRACKING ONLINE ADVERTISING USING PAYMENT SERVICES - A user's online activity is tracked and offers associated with online advertisements presented to the user are identified. Information regarding these offers are provided to a payment service, which associates the information with an account for the user. When the user performs an activity using a payment card or other payment mechanism, the payment service may identify the activity as corresponding with an offer. Information regarding the completion of the activity for the offer may then be associated with information regarding the user's online activity. Additionally, a rebate and/or incentive may be provided to the user based on completion of the activity. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216580 | Computer-Implemented Systems And Methods For Partial Contribution Computation In ABC/M Models - Computer-implemented systems and methods for analyzing costs associated with a cost flow model having components of relationships and entities. A system and method can be configured to receive a data associated with the cost flow model as well as source-entity definitions, via-entity sets, and target-entity definitions. A set of linear equations is created that is representative of the costs and entity relationships, wherein data about certain relationships satisfying a removal criteria are not included in the matrices. The system of linear equations is solved to determine contribution values from the source entities to the target entities through the via-sets. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216581 | System and method for managing community assets - A system and method to manage a community development asset. The system includes an asset polling agent, a nomenclature taxonomy dictionary, and an asset discovery service. The asset polling agent identifies a descriptive term associated with an asset under development. The nomenclature taxonomy dictionary stores a list of synonym terms related to the descriptive term associated with the asset under development. The asset discovery service identifies a reusable asset of a plurality of reusable assets for use with the asset under development based on at least one term, from a combination of the descriptive term and the list of synonym terms related to the descriptive term, extracted from social network data. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216582 | SUB-LEDGER TO ACCOUNT FOR PERFORMANCE OBLIGATIONS - A system and method for implementing a performance obligation sub-ledger. A performance obligation is generally the recognition by an enterprise that the enterprise has an obligation to provide goods and/or services that corresponds with the enterprise's right to receive consideration. The obligation is released as the goods and/or services are provided or other criteria are met. A performance obligation sub-ledger, which interacts with virtually all aspects of an enterprise management system is disclosed to keep track of creation and release of performance obligations. The summary of the performance obligation sub-ledger is then reflected in the enterprise general ledger. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216583 | APPROXIMATING CYCLE TIMES WITHIN MATERIAL FLOW NETWORK - Approximating cycle times within a material flow network is disclosed. One embodiment includes assigning an approximate cycle time for completion of a part number PN within the material flow network by using a model that rounds the approximate cycle time to a nearest aggregate time period and adjusting the assigned approximate cycle time based on a mathematical function representing an aggregate accuracy of an aggregation of cycle times throughout the material flow network. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216584 | REPAIR DIAGNOSTICS BASED ON REPLACEMENT PARTS INVENTORY - A diagnostic system for diagnosing a vehicle, includes a first memory storing in a database, dynamic sales of components of the vehicle, a signal translator that communicates with the vehicle in at least one protocol, an input device that inputs information, a processor that controls a software according to the input information from the input device and communicates with the vehicle with the signal translator, a second memory stores the software controlled by the processor, the second memory stores information transferred from the first memory including the dynamic sales data, the processor ranking a failure mode of the vehicle according to the sales data of the components of the vehicle, executing a diagnostic routine on the vehicle based on the rank order of the component, and a display unit that receives and displays diagnostic information according to ranked failure mode. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216585 | SORTING OPTIMIZATION OF DOCUMENTS FOR MAILING - A method of optimizing mail sorting on a envelope sorting machine by eliminating the necessity to pass some of the documents through the machine twice is provided in which a postal code table is created having an order for each of a plurality of postal code ranges. An unsorted document print stream is received and a document parameter table created to store boundaries of each of a plurality of documents and a location of a postal code in each document. An index table is constructed incorporating information from the postal code table indicating the location and order of each document in the unsorted document print stream. The index table is reordered according to the order of each document and a sorted document print stream is generated, whereby the documents are arranged in order of their respective priorities. The documents are then printed from the sorted document print stream, separated into groups in accordance with their respective priorities and sorted in order of each group's respective order. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216586 | Method for Modernizing Technical Installations - The invention proposes ascertaining at least one technical influencing variable for the technical measured variable and then identifying design measures on the installation which are able to influence the at least one technical influencing variable such that the value of the at least one technical measured variable is altered so as to increase the value retention of the installation. In a subsequent step, further technical influencing variables for the value retention of the installation are identified which have their value altered by the design measures. Thereafter, the changes in the values of the technical influencing variables on account of the design measures and then the change in the value retention of the installation which is linked to the changes in the values of the influencing variables are ascertained. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216587 | MAPPING OF PHYSICAL AND LOGICAL COORDINATES OF USERS WITH THAT OF THE NETWORK ELEMENTS - Physical coordinates of a user and an asset are determined. A probability that the user and the asset are close to one another is determined based on the physical coordinates of the user and the asset. Permission for the user to access to the asset is decided based on the probability. Additionally or alternatively, logical coordinates of a user and an asset are determined. The logical coordinates of the user and the asset are compared, and permission for the user to access to the asset is decided based on the comparison. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216588 | RETURN ON INVESTMENT ANALYZER - In various embodiments, a user enters information regarding a business entity for classification of the business entity. Thereafter, a user views a series of questions and when those questions are pre-populated with answers a user can keep the pre-populated answer or replace the pre-populated answer with a different answer. The data submitted by the user can be transmitted towards a server (for subsequent updating of the populated answers in the server) and/or analyzed using the populated answers to determine a return on investment of equipment prior to purchasing equipment; and/or for an analysis of the business entity's current equipment. Embodiments of the invention also include other methods, computer-readable mediums, apparatuses, and systems that contain features similar to the features in the above described method. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216589 | System and method for developing technology assets - An automated method for developing new products within a development entity, comprises receiving respective catalogs of technology assets, each including at least one of a patent, trade secret, know-how, documentation, prototypes, pre-production units, production samples, tooling, and demonstration frameworks. Each catalog corresponds to a discrete pool of technology assets having subject matter in common. The development entity also receives, from the originating owner, title to each pool in exchange for an equity interest in the development entity and an option to re-acquire the pool upon payment of a reacquisition fee to at least one primary investor. Further development of each technology asset pool is funded by at least one primary investor, who receives an equity interest in the development entity in exchange for its capital investments. Costs expended by the development entity to develop new product concepts corresponding to each asset pool are separately tracked. If the re-acquisition option is exercised, these costs form the basis for calculating the fee to be paid. If not, monetization is achieved by selling and/or licensing elements the enhanced technology asset pool to a spin-off entity funded by at least one secondary investor. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216590 | Inferring System Goal Values in An Inverse Goal Lattice - A system for inferring relative system goal values in an inverse goal lattice including: a goal identification module, an inverse goal lattice configuration module, a goal value assignment module, an included goal value allocation module, and an including goal value assignment module. The goal identification module identifies goals for accomplishing system objective(s). The inverse goal lattice configuration module applies an ordering relation to goal(s) to configure the inverse goal lattice. The inverse goal lattice interconnects goals with several levels having “including goals” and “included goals.” The goal value assignment module assigns values to included goal(s) at a lowest level of the inverse goal lattice. The included goal value allocation module allocates goal value(s) from included goal(s) to including goal(s) using a goal value allocation function. The including goal value accrual module assigns an including goal value using: allocated goal value(s) and goal value accrual function(s). | 08-27-2009 |
20090216591 | METHOD FOR COMPUTER EVALUATION OF CUSTOMER INFORMATION AND AUTOMATICALLY PROVIDING CUSTOMIZED FINANCIAL PRODUCT OFFERS THERETO - This invention relates to the field of computer-assisted methods for customer data evaluation and communication of customized sales offers of financial products to customers based on data evaluation. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216592 | System And Method For Identifying Network Click - The present invention discloses a system for identifying a network click. The system includes: a parsing server, adapted to provide, after a page is impressed, impression information of the impressed page for an identifying server; a clicking server, adapted to provide, after the impressed page is clicked, click information for the identifying server according to the click; the identifying server, adapted to determine whether the impression information and the click information meet a corresponding relationship, determine the click as an effective click if the impression information and the click information meet the corresponding relationship, and determine the click as a vicious click if the impression information and the click information do not meet the corresponding relationship. The present invention also provides a method for identifying a network click. The solution of the present invention can dramatically increase the precision of identifying vicious clicks. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216593 | POINT SOURCE ASSET SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - Embodiments of the present invention relate to a point-source asset system for managing an incentive-based environmentally-conscious behavior program and methods of implementing the same. In one embodiment, a system comprises: an administrative entity, communicably accessible via a computer network, comprising a database; a consumer entity having an entity account stored on the database; an environmentally-conscious sub-program, comprising a point-source asset, associated with the consumer entity; a means for monitoring point-source asset activity within the environmentally-conscious sub-program; and a means for granting a credit value, correlating to the point-source asset activity, to the entity account. | 08-27-2009 |
20090222291 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COORDINATED SCHEDULING - A schedule-coordination system and method that analyzes schedules of a plurality of users and detects schedule overlaps between the users. A first user can be proactively alerted to a schedule overlap with a second user, depending upon registration records of the first and second users. The system and method can also optimize the coordination of a user's schedule by facilitating changes to the schedule. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222292 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MULTIPLE SUB-SYSTEMS META SECURITY POLICY - A method for multiple sub-systems meta Security Policy (MSSMSP) including business process policies for a business organization having a meta policy server, Business-Asset-Monitors (BAM's) and security sub-systems, wherein the security sub-systems are supported by Policy Connectors and wherein the BAM's are software agents on each business asset that are responsible to monitor the organizational users' activities and report that information to the meta policy server. The method includes defining by a Chief-Security-Officer (CSO) of the organizational business assets, wherein the business assets are supported by the BAM's. The method also includes correlating by the CSO of abstract, business-oriented-parameters with technical, low-level parameters of the security sub-systems and validating the security policy relative to the user's by monitoring the users' activities against the business assets and by using the meta policy server, thereby enabling the creation, management and control of one central MSSMSP in correlation to the various security sub-system's policies. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222293 | Method and System of Using Commodity Databases in Internet Search Advertising - A method and system are provided for using commodity databases for parallelized and scalable solutions in Internet advertising. In one example, the method includes receiving first-type data and second-type data from one or more web servers, partitioning the first-type data into a particular number of first-type partitions, partitioning the second-type data into second-type partitions, wherein there are a same number of second-type partitions as the particular number of first-type partitions, sorting each first-type event by a second-type timestamp, opening second-type event files and finding first-type event matches, generating annotated second-type data by annotating each second-type event file with data from matching first-type events, and optimizing an advertising model based on the annotated second-type data. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222294 | System and Method for Financial Data Management and Report Generation - A system comprises at least one financial information management system storing financial data, the financial data including transaction data and account data for at least one account; a data aggregation system operative to retrieve data from the at least one financial information management system, to age the data relative to an aging date based on an account characteristic in addition to or instead of a transaction date, and to aggregate the aged data according to one or more predetermined rules; and a report generation system operative to generate reports from the aged and aggregated data. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222295 | METHOD FOR MANAGING AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICE ACCOUNT - A method to manage an information technology service account comprises engaging a customer to establish the information technology service account and engaging in four phases of management. In the reactive phase, the steps of training the customer on support and assessing technical needs of the customer are performed. In the proactive phase, the steps of establishing a problem reporting procedure, deploying the problem reporting procedure to the customer, identifying known issues of the information technology service account based at least in part on the problem reporting procedure, identifying solutions to the identified known issues are performed. In the planning phase, the steps of determining additional or substitutive tools for the information technology service account based on the problem reporting procedure, querying product releases of the customer, querying technology roadmap of the customer, determining additional or substitutive tools based on the product releases and technology roadmap are performed. In the maintenance phase, the steps of collecting customer feedback data, and determining modification of one or both of steps of the previous phases and one or more tools based on the customer feedback data. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222296 | SUBJECT LINE PERSONALIZATION - One or more conditions associated with personalizing a subject line of a message for each of one or more target recipients may be determined. One or more conditions may be evaluated to determine which of conditional text is included in and which of conditional variables are included with the subject line. One or more values may be determined, for each of the one or more target recipients, corresponding to each of universal variables and the conditional variables for inclusion with the subject line. The subject line of the message may be personalized for each of the one or more target recipients based on the evaluation of the one or more conditions, the subject line including text and values corresponding to the variables for inclusion with the subject line as determined based on the evaluation. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222297 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPOSITE PRICING OF SERVICES TO PROVIDE OPTIMAL BILL SCHEDULE - System and method for service pricing optimization enables analysis of multi-phased, multi-business unit, multi-process, multi-geo/country deal structure with its parts and phases having different pricing implications, and provides a flexible composite pricing schedule optimized for both service provider and receiver by gain and risk sharing. In one aspect, elementary pricing models and pricing parameters are established and a composite pricing model is constructed based on the elementary pricing models and pricing parameters. An optimizer optimizes the composite pricing model to minimize risk and maximize one or more selected criteria. Price is generated using the optimized composite pricing model. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222298 | Data Mining Method for Automatic Creation of Organizational Charts - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating organizational charts. The process receives a selection of an employee from an employee directory to form a reference employee. Thereafter, in response to receiving the selection, the process extracts information relating to a hierarchy of other employees with respect to the reference employee from an employee directory to form extracted information. The process then generates the organizational chart from the extracted information. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222299 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DEFINING AND MANAGING TASK ORIENTED PROJECTS - Systems and methods for project management are provided for a project containing tasks and user designations for administrators and non-administrators. Each task has a task completion status and a task identity. Each respective user designation includes a user account associated with a user. The administrator can change the task completion status of all tasks whereas the non-administrator can only change the task completion status of some of the tasks in the project. A first electronic message is received from the administrator. The message assigns a task to a non-administrator. Subsequently, a second electronic message with a completion status of the task is received from the non-administrator, whereupon the completion status of the task in an electronically stored record of the project is updated to reflect the new completion status of the task without human intervention. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222300 | Systems and Methods of Marketing to Defined Consumer Groups - A method includes implementing a loyalty program in a defined environment. The defined environment is associated with a defined group of consumers. The loyalty program is associated with a product. The method also includes providing a loyalty reward to a consumer of the defined group of consumers in response to the consumer interacting with a product in the defined environment. The method further includes determining a loyalty reward redemption opportunity based on at least one common attribute associated with the defined group of consumers. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222301 | Methods for Implementing a Loyalty Program - A method of rewarding loyalty of a user may include providing a personal terminal to the user, detecting whether the personal terminal is within proximity of an interaction terminal, and based at least in part on the proximity of the personal terminal to the interaction terminal, providing a benefit to the user. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222302 | Method and Apparatus for Social Network Marketing with Consumer Referral - A service provider facilitates consumption of goods, brands, or services on an interactive network using characterizations of consumers, behavior, brands, consumable goods, advertisers, and advocates to determine a three-way match between a consumable good, a consumer, and an advocate. The matching method determines one or more likely consumers by maximizing the estimated contextual value of personalized advocacy. Further, the service provider captures the value of the personalized advocacy in each match, and distributes that value in the form of various marketing incentives. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222303 | Method and Apparatus for Social Network Marketing with Brand Referral - A service provider facilitates consumption of goods, brands, or services on an interactive network using characterizations of consumers, behavior, brands, consumable goods, advertisers, and advocates to determine a three-way match between a consumable good, a consumer, and an advocate. The matching method determines one or more goods likely to be benefit from the marketing scheme by maximizing the estimated contextual value of personalized advocacy. Further, the service provider captures the value of the personalized advocacy in each match, and distributes that value in the form of various marketing incentives. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222304 | Method and Apparatus for Social Network Marketing with Advocate Referral - A service provider facilitates consumption of goods, brands, or services on an interactive network using characterizations of consumers, behavior, brands, consumable goods, advertisers, and advocates to determine a three-way match between a consumable good, a consumer, and an advocate. The matching method determines one or more advocates by maximizing the estimated contextual value of personalized advocacy. Further, the service provider captures the value of the personalized advocacy in each match, and distributes that value in the form of various marketing incentive. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222305 | Shopper Communication with Scaled Emotional State - A shopper communication regarding a product or service includes a scaled emotional state. The scaled emotional state is associated with use of the product or service. The scaled emotional state may be in the form of text, a graphical indicia, or a verbal description. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222306 | METHOD AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR DETERMINATION OF THE TIME DURATION BEFORE A MACHINE ELEMENT REQUIRES SERVICING - The invention relates to a method for determination of the time duration (T) before a machine element ( | 09-03-2009 |
20090222307 | Means for incorporating sustainability metrics and total cost benefit analysis in decision-making - Methods are disclosed for the simplification and integration of data from a diverse set of sources for environmental costs and societal benefit data. The methods allow for the computation of five basic metrics: material use, water use, energy use, toxics emitted, land use and overall pollutants emitted. Further, they facilitate the computation of complementary metrics, as well as the estimation of net present value of costs of unrealized environmental impacts. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222308 | DETECTING FIRST PARTY FRAUD ABUSE - A computerized method includes analyzing data associated with a credit line during an origination stage for predictive variables for use in a model for first party fraud, and flagging an account during the origination stage when at least one or more predictive origination stage variables cause a model score to exceed a pre-defined fraud likelihood threshold. The computerized method also includes analyzing data associated with one or more previously flagged, post-booked stage credit lines for data elements or transactions to be used as variables in a model to predictive of first party fraud at the customer-level or in one or more of the post-booked stage credit lines. | 09-03-2009 |
20090234683 | Detecting and Measuring Risk with Predictive Models Using Content Mining - Computer implemented methods and systems of processing transactions to determine the risk of transaction convert high categorical information, such as text data, to low categorical information, such as category or cluster IDs. The text data may be merchant names or other textual content of the transactions, or data related to a consumer, or any other type of entity which engages in the transaction. Content mining techniques are used to provide the conversion from high to low categorical information. In operation, the resulting low categorical information is input, along with other data, into a statistical model. The statistical model provides an output of the level of risk in the transaction. Methods of converting the high categorical information to low categorical clusters, of using such information, and other aspects of the use of such clusters are disclosed. | 09-17-2009 |
20090234684 | Risk Based Data Assessment - A system for receiving and processing data includes a data processing and verification component that accepts data from a client in an electronic format and identifies therefrom data elements that can be directly verified. A risk assessment component receives data elements that have not been identified as directly verifiable and assesses a risk that the data elements are incomplete or incorrect. The risk assessment component generates risk assessment data. A decision support component receives the risk assessment data from the risk assessment component and selects appropriate actions for subsequent processing of the client data according to the assessment of risk contained in the risk assessment data. | 09-17-2009 |
20090234685 | RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEM MAINTENANCE BUSINESS MODEL - A renewable energy system maintenance method comprises network server based system for monitoring and repairing, for example, a solar power installation. Such comprises solar panels to convert sunlight to DC electricity, one or more inverters to convert the DC to AC electricity, and a metered utility connection for selling to or offsetting energy charges for AC electricity from an electric utility. A monitor with sensors and connections to the inverter provides system operation measurements and data through a wireless or wired connection the Internet. A centralized server collects measurements and data from many solar installation monitors and analyzes the inputs to provide useful information to the users and their systems integrator and third parties. In particular, such information is employed in several ways to conduct various parts of a solar energy business. | 09-17-2009 |
20090234686 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS CONTROL IN A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT - A method, apparatus, and program product for providing access control in a collaborative environment are provided. A pool of approvable candidates for use in building an access control list for a project team are provided by matching attributes for potential candidates with requirements for the project, with the pool being larger than a projected size for the project team. In response to a vacant role on the project team, an invitation to join the project team is sent to an approvable candidate in the pool. At least one of the access control list or the pool is modified based upon an action by the approvable candidate. | 09-17-2009 |
20090234687 | METHOD OF DESIGNING AN OPTICAL METROLOGY SYSTEM OPTIMIZED FOR OPERATING TIME BUDGET - Provided is a method of designing an optical metrology system for measuring structures on a workpiece wherein the optical metrology system is configured to achieve a time budget for completing metrology process steps. The design of the optical metrology system is optimized by using collected operating data in comparison to the selected operating criteria. In one embodiment, the optical metrology system is used for stand alone systems. In another embodiment, the optical metrology system is integrated with fabrication clusters in semiconductor manufacturing. | 09-17-2009 |
20090240537 | APPARATUS FOR DESIGNING AN OPTICAL METROLOGY SYSTEM OPTIMIZED FOR OPERATING TIME BUDGET - Provided is an apparatus for designing an optical metrology system for measuring structures on a workpiece wherein the optical metrology system is configured to achieve a time budget for completing metrology process steps. The design of the optical metrology system is optimized by using collected operating data in comparison to the selected operating criteria. In one embodiment, the optical metrology system is used for stand alone systems. In another embodiment, the optical metrology system is integrated with fabrication clusters in semiconductor manufacturing. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240538 | System and Method for Local Call-Based Advertising - A system and method for tracking calls based on advertising. An advertisement is communicated to a user through a communications network. A determination is made that a call connection is made between the user and one or more numbers associated with the advertiser. The advertiser is billed in response to the determined call connections. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240539 | MACHINE LEARNING SYSTEM FOR A TASK BROKERAGE SYSTEM - A machine learning system learns models to assist providers in processing documents of customers. Providers may use various productivity tools that use the learned models to assist in performing tasks on target documents of customers. The machine learning system may initially train models based on demographic information of customers and training data of the customers. To generate the models, the machine learning system collects the training data for the customers of each cluster and then trains a model for each cluster. The machine learning system uses the models to perform tasks on documents of customers. A provider can then modify the results of the task. The machine learning system can use those modifications to adjust the models. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240540 | System and Method of Distributing Audio Content - Systems and methods of distributing content are provided. A particular method includes receiving data related to content to be distributed. The method also includes automatically estimating a financial return associated with an audio version of the content based at least partially on a particular text-to-speech conversion process used to generate the audio version. The method further includes selecting one of a plurality of available text-to-speech conversion processes based on the estimated financial return. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240541 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UPDATING CERTIFICATE INFORMATION BETWEEN BUYERS AND SUPPLIERS - A computer system that manages compliance information between a buyer and a number of suppliers includes a database and is operable to store supplier guidelines corresponding to a product the buyer desires to purchase, store a list of approved suppliers, provide the suppliers with access to the supplier guidelines, store compliance information indicating whether one or more of the suppliers is in compliance with the supplier guidelines, and selectively update the list of approved suppliers in response to the compliance information. The computer system is also operable to store supplier certificates and to request updated supplier certificates provided directly from a certification issuer. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240542 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING RECALL INFORMATION THROUGHOUT A SUPPLY CHAIN - A computer system that manages compliance information between a buyer and a number of suppliers includes a database and is operable to store supplier guidelines corresponding to a product the buyer desires to purchase, store a list of approved suppliers, provide the suppliers with access to the supplier guidelines, store compliance information indicating whether one or more of the suppliers is in compliance with the supplier guidelines, and selectively update the list of approved suppliers in response to the compliance information. The computer system is also operable to distribute recall information to buyers and suppliers associated with a supply chain related to the recall. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240543 | PROJECT TROUBLE OCCURRENCE PREDICTION SYSTEM, METHOD AND PROGRAM - Based on expression patterns describing project information, a trouble occurrence probability and time are estimated by using a project trouble occurrence probability distribution in which a point where the expression pattern appears in a text of the project in formation is set as a reference, and by using statistics representing the distribution. With high likelihood, projects likely to have a trouble are narrowed down. The project information is a project state report regularly created for each project and includes at least a text describing the project state and information indicating the case where the project falls into a troubled state. The expression pattern is one or more definition descriptions that each specifies a specific linguistic expression in natural language processing. Expression pattern characteristics include a project trouble occurrence probability distribution in which a point where a certain expression pattern appears in a text of the project information is set as a reference, and statistics representing the distribution. | 09-24-2009 |
20090248459 | INTEGRATED MAINTENANCE AND MATERIALS SERVICES FOR FLEET AIRCRAFT USING AIRCRAFT DATA TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF MATERIALS - Turnkey maintenance of a customer's aircraft fleet is managed by a single management service provider (MSP) controlling integrated maintenance and materials services from a central operations site. The MSP converts data received directly from on-board aircraft systems into information it uses to manage maintenance service providers and parts suppliers. The MSP contracts with and manages maintenance, repair and overhaul organizations (MROs) who perform the maintenance on the customers' aircraft at line and base stations. The MSP either remotely manages part inventories at the customer's site, or manages suppliers who deliver the parts to the MROs. Maintenance planning, scheduling and execution information is exchanged between the MSP, MROs, part suppliers and the customers through a shared data communication network controlled by the MSP. The MSP charges the customer for the maintenance services based on a flat rate per unit of aircraft flying time. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248460 | INTERACTIVE SMART GAME PLAN - A method, system and a computer program product for an interactive smart game plan for one or more growth initiatives are provided. The method, system and computer program product include an electronic mail component configured to interact with one or more salespersons by sending one or more personalized electronic mails having growth initiative information personalized to the salesperson, pertaining to the growth initiative. The growth initiative information includes at least one of, sales execution instructions, prospect information, and prospect background information. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248461 | Apparatus and Methods for Decomposing Service Processes and for Identifying Alternate Service Elements in Service Provider Environments - Methods, apparatus and computer program products decompose a service process into service process operations; filter the service operations based on at least one pre-determined criterion; identify at least one different service process operation to be used to replace an existing service process operation; and replace the existing service process operation with the at least one different service process operation. The service process can be decomposed using specific service features derived from reference service processes. The pre-determined criterion used to filter the service operations can constitute a service level; a service category; or a service process feature. A service process feature describes core functionality of the service. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248462 | Method, Apparatus And Computer Program Product For Capturing Knowledge During An Issue Resolution Process - A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for capturing knowledge during an issue resolution process. The method, apparatus and computer program product facilitate the recording and subsequent location of knowledge such that the knowledge captured during this issue resolution process can be leveraged during subsequent issue resolution processes. The method, apparatus and computer program product are structured to capture various forms of knowledge including some forms of knowledge, such as telephone or other oral conversations, that have been inconsistently recorded in the past. Information that permits the categorization of the issue and/or that identifies one or more regulations, such as federal airworthiness regulations, that impact the issue may also be collected. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248463 | Managing Consistent Interfaces For Trading Business Objects Across Heterogeneous Systems - A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to an analytical view of trading order, a trade price specification contract, and/or a trading order business object. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248464 | Method, system and apparatus for managing context - A method, system and apparatus of managing context is provided. A current context is determined. It is determined if a context object associated with the current context exists in a shared memory and, if not, the context object is created in the shared memory. Data associated with the current context is collected while the current context is active. Data associated with the current context is stored in the context object associated with the current context. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248465 | Assessment of risk associated with doing business with a party - There is provided a method that includes (a) determining a first risk score that characterizes a first party, based on a presented characteristic of the first party, (b) associating the first party with a second party, based on the first risk score, (c) determining a second risk score that characterizes the first party, based on an activity that involves the second party, and (d) determining a resultant risk score that characterizes the first party, based on the first and second risk scores. There is also provided a system that performs the method, and a storage media having a program encoded thereon that is executable in a processor to perform the method. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248466 | INITIATIVE ANALYZER - Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for electronically determining the financial potential for a user for one or more initiatives to display a list of one or more initiatives for one or more prospects and financial potential for the one or more initiatives of each prospect. The methods, systems and computer program products can allow a user to analyze one or more initiatives and view the financial potential for a salesperson and/or the financial benefits for one or more prospects. The methods, systems and computer program products can allow a user to view multiple initiatives that are applicable for one or more prospects. The methods, systems and computer program products provide organization of initiative information and can allow a salesperson to operate in an efficient manner. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248467 | EXPENSE TRACKING, ELECTRONIC ORDERING, INVOICE PRESENTMENT, AND PAYMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - Systems and methods are described for electronic invoice presentment and payment processing. Requestors may place an order to purchase goods or services from one or more vendors. Invoice processing includes approval routing and dispute resolution. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248468 | Invention Review Board System and Method - A method of reviewing inventions using a review board made up of two or more members to determine a final disposition for the invention such as retaining the invention as a trade secret or filing a patent application for the invention. The review is conducted so that no unacceptable comments are made about the inventor or his/her invention. The method further involves identifying problems solved by the invention, identifying the elements of the invention in view of the problems and then drafting a claim in view of the elements. The claim is modified during the review process based on one or more parameters such as business value, prior art and operability of the invention. The review process may be performed by a computer program including user interfaces that facilitate review of the invention and determination of a final disposition for the invention. | 10-01-2009 |
20090254386 | INNOVATION MARKET - An innovation market is described. An apparatus may comprise an innovation market subsystem arranged to manage an innovation marketplace for the exchange of virtual shares in a project for virtual currency to measure project value. The innovation market subsystem may comprise an innovator manager module operative to allocate virtual shares to a project. The innovation market subsystem may also comprise an innovation exchange module communicatively coupled to the project manager module, the innovation exchange module operative to exchange virtual shares for virtual currency at a virtual market price. The innovation market subsystem may further comprise a price generator module communicatively coupled to the innovation exchange module, the price generator module operative to modify the virtual market price for the project based on the exchange. The innovation market subsystem may still further comprise an investor manager module communicatively coupled to the price generator module, the inventor manager module operative to generate a project value for an investor by multiplying the virtual market price for the virtual shares and a number of virtual shares owned by the investor. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254387 | TECHNIQUE FOR PERFORMING TRIPLE BOTTOM-LINE ASSESSMENTS - Embodiments of a computer system for determining a social responsibility metric are described. During operation, the computer system aggregates information associated with financial transactions of a user to determine the social responsibility metric. Note that the financial transactions may be included in a data structure associated with financial software, and the data structure may be stored in a computer-readable medium. Next, the computer system may provide the social responsibility metric to the user. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254388 | Urotensin 2 and its Receptor as Candidate Genes for Beef Marbling Score, Ribeye Area and Fatty Acid Composition - The present invention relates to the identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in urotensin II (UTS2) and urotensin 2 receptor (UTS2R) genes and their associations with beef marbling score (BMS), ribeye area (REA), amounts of saturated (rSFA) and monounsaturated (rMUFA), and Δ | 10-08-2009 |
20090254389 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CORPORATE WORKPLACE CAPACITY PLANNING AND OPTIMIZATION - Systems and methods for corporate workplace capacity planning and optimization are provided. A system according to the invention may include a computer. The computer may be configured to receive a plurality of characteristics relating to an entity or a portion of an entity. The computer may be further configured to receive a predetermined selection of buildings. The computer may also be configured to determine a plurality of solution sets. Each of the solution sets may express a subset of space located within the selected buildings for the location of the entity or the portion of the entity. The solution sets may be fixed for a predetermined amount of time into the future. The solutions sets can be based, at least in part, on the plurality of characteristics. The computer may also be configured to select a subset of the plurality of solution sets. Finally, a display device may be configured to display at least a portion of a single solution set. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254390 | COMMUNICATION WORKSPACE - Multiple pieces of information can be arranged into a single construct that allows the employee to ascertain information quickly while at her workstation. Selection of information for placement into the construct can employ various statistical models and the like. Selective pieces of information can be masked for a user's construct based upon access rights of the user. Constructs can be configured by a user based on personal preferences as well as by an administrator. Population of metadata upon the construct can be performed automatically through an instruction of the administrator or be overridden by a user request. In addition, various types of synchronization can be implemented between constructs, such that identical or near-identical information is populated upon multiple constructs. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254391 | USE OF HISTORICAL DATA IN A COMPUTER-ASSISTED TECHNICAL SOLUTION DESIGN TOOL - A method and system are disclosed for re-using, across plural customer accounts, information generated as part of technical solution designs by a service provider for delivering Information Technology (IT) outsourcing services to customers. The method comprises the step of providing a set of standard service elements and a set of standard service designs. The method comprises the further steps of customizing one or more of the standard service designs to generate customized service designs, generating custom service elements, and generating custom service designs associated with them. The custom service elements and service designs, and the customized service designs are stored in a tool-specific metadata repository that is accessed to promote reuse of the customizations across plural customer accounts. Usage statistics are utilized to identify when non-standard service elements and designs should be promoted to standard ones, and data mining techniques are used to infer policies associated with the non-standard service designs. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254392 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENTERPRISE NETWORK ACCESS CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT FOR GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE ENTITIES - A method, system, computer program product, and devices for enterprise network access control and management for Government and Corporate entities, including interagency identity management; connectors and controls; an interagency directory services transformation service; a user/duty position resolving service; role-based encryption key management; role-based business process modeling; and proximity-based access control enabled by user-role-track association. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254393 | BILLING, DOCKETING AND DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT - A server and distributed client docketing management system includes a first client computer module on a first client computer that collects administrative information to collect a docketing template for a specified activity. A second client computer module on a second client computer applies the docketing template to a specified file upon determination of occurrence of the specified activity. A third client computer module on a third client computer presents docket entries of the docketing template on a docket for a day on which the docket entries require answers. A fourth client computer module on a fourth client computer presents proposed answers to the docket entries of the docketing template on the docket for the day on which the docket entries require answers. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254394 | System and Method for Managing Service Facilities in a Service Enterprise - A system and method for optimizing the architecture of a service territory in a service enterprise. A management area has a fixed service call capacity to provide maintenance services to a subscriber base of the service enterprise. The cost of servicing the subscribers within the management area is measured by computing the driving cost and the restocking costs over a range of 1 to n service facilities using probability analysis. The optimal number of service facilities is determined by finding the lowest aggregate cost of servicing the subscribers over a range of 1 to “n” service facilities. | 10-08-2009 |
20090259499 | Method and system employing a mobile device for soliciting user experience sharing - A method and system employing a mobile device for soliciting user experience sharing is disclosed. The method and system electronically solicit a user's experience relating to a product or service purchased from a merchant or service provider. A financial transaction notification message is sent by a financial institution to a user's mobile device following a purchase of the product or service from the merchant or service provider. The financial transaction notification message is related to the financial transaction performed by the user to purchase the product or service and serves to prompt the user to share their experience related to the product or service purchased. The user provides a response using the mobile device that includes an experience annotation reflecting the user's experience. The experience annotation may be provided to the merchant or service provider and/or published to an online service. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259500 | METHOD FOR NEGOTIATING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICE PROCESSES - Techniques for negotiating an agreement between a provider and a user are provided. The techniques include obtaining at least one of one or more forecasting techniques, one or more analogous agreements and one or more strategies, using the at least one of one or more forecasting techniques, one or more analogous agreements and one or more strategies to calculate a probability that a service can be completed by a deadline, and between the provider and the user, using the calculated probability to negotiate a desired level of balance between service quality, service level agreement and a delivery guarantee. Techniques are also provided for establishing a performance metric. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259501 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WEIGHTING CONFIGURATION ITEM RELATIONSHIPS SUPPORTING BUSINESS CRITICAL IMPACT ANALYSIS - A system and method for generating a business critical impact analysis report includes steps of: inserting a rank value field in each configuration item relationship type definition; inserting a rank value field in each single relationship between configuration items; determining default rank values for the rank value fields; assigning the default rank values to the single relationships and the relationship type definitions; receiving a user request to generate the business critical impact analysis report at a selected rank level of configuration items; and presenting the business critical impact analysis report to the user, displaying the configuration items and their relationships corresponding to the selected level. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259502 | Quality-Based Media Management for Network-Based Media Distribution - Disclosed are techniques and configurations for monitoring quality of digital media assets available from a network-based media distribution system, and taking action to make those digital media assets that have quality deficiencies unavailable from the network-based media distribution system. The network-based media distribution system can provide an online media store from which users can acquire those of the digital media assets that are deemed available. In one embodiment, digital media assets that have quality deficiencies can be rapidly discovered and automatically removed from being available at an online media store. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259503 | SYSTEM AND TOOL FOR BUSINESS DRIVEN LEARNING SOLUTION - A system, method and tool are described for providing a business-driven learning solution. A learning plan is created where the learning plan is implemented in a course for a determined time period. The learning plan is displayed to a plurality of users. The learning plan is approved by the plurality of users. Thereafter, the learning plan is updated during the determined time period in accordance with changes to budget, prioritization and training needs. The updated learning plan is displayed to the plurality of users. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259504 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PAR OPTIMIZATION - Methods and systems for optimizing a product supply chain, including managing and maintaining an optimum product inventory with respect to stock levels, frequency of use, and replenishment intervals for products in a clinical setting. Actual or historical par data and simulation parameters, such as par types, delivery schedules, and/or vendor settings, are received or updated, and one or more simulations are performed. The product supply chain is optimized based on the results of the simulations. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259505 | Inventory management system and method - In one aspect, an inventory management system is provided that includes an input module, a storage module, a completeness module, a notification module and a display module. The input module is adapted to receive a plurality of attributes, where the plurality of attributes related to a plurality of inventory items. The storage module is adapted to store the received plurality of attributes. The completeness module is adapted to determine if each attribute of the plurality of attributes is complete or incomplete. The completeness module is further adapted to determine an attribute completeness value of each attribute of the plurality of attributes. The notification module is adapted to notify a user of the attribute completeness value of each attribute of the plurality of inventory items. The display module is adapted to display the plurality of attributes, the plurality of inventory items and/or the attribute completeness value on a display device. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259506 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RATING PATENTS AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS - A statistical patent rating method and system is provided for independently assessing the relative breadth (“B”), defensibility (“D”) and commercial relevance (“R”) of individual patent assets and other intangible intellectual property assets. The invention provides new and valuable information that can be used by patent valuation experts, investment advisors, economists and others to help guide future patent investment decisions, licensing programs, patent appraisals, tax valuations, transfer pricing, economic forecasting and planning, and even mediation and/or settlement of patent litigation lawsuits. In one embodiment the invention provides a statistically-based patent rating method and system whereby relative ratings or rankings are generated using a database of patent information by identifying and comparing various characteristics of each individual patent to a statistically determined distribution of the same characteristics within a given patent population. For example, a first population of patents having a known relatively high intrinsic value or quality (e.g. successfully litigated patents) is compared to a second population of patents having a known relatively low intrinsic value or quality (e.g. unsuccessfully litigated patents). Based on a statistical comparison of the two populations, certain characteristics are identified as being more prevalent or more pronounced in one population group or the other to a statistically significant degree. Multiple such statistical comparisons are used to construct and optimize a computer model or computer algorithm that can then be used to predict and/or provide statistically-accurate probabilities of a desired value or quality being present or a future event occurring, given the identified characteristics of an individual patent or group of patents. | 10-15-2009 |
20090265195 | METHOD FOR VISUALIZING A PROCESSING STATUS OF AN ORDER - A method for visualizing a processing status of an order is disclosed, wherein the order is issued by a management information system, and executed on an execution system, and wherein status reports associated with the order are transmitted from the execution system to the management information system in Job Definition Format, and incoming status reports are stored in the management information system. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265196 | Apparatus, system, and method for collecting metrics from a non-monolithic website - An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed to collect metrics from a non-monolithic website having external content. The method includes monitoring a pointer movement in a web page. The web page displays a content feed of the external content. The method also includes identifying a pointer movement representative of an interaction gesture. The interaction gesture is indicative of a type of interaction with the content feed of the external content. The method also includes generating a score for the content feed in response to the pointer movement including an interaction gesture. The score includes a quantity of each of the reported types of interaction with the content feed. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265197 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BUILDING SHARED ITINERARIES - A method implemented by a computer allows a user to create an electronic itinerary, parts of which may later be purchased through an electronic reservation system and, at the same time, to find a suitable traveling companion. The method provides compatibility between user itineraries to be determined based upon a classification of activities making up the itineraries. The user may select from compatible itineraries an itinerary and associated subscriber to companion him on a trip. A method is provided for communicating between the user and a selected subscriber to negotiate a shared itinerary. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265198 | Reputation Evalution Using a contact Information Database - A contact information database, including records such as those stored in a personal address book, is applied to evaluate the reputation of a user and/or conduct fraud or spam detection. A number of different factors selected for reputation/fraud prediction value can be used in a statistical model to evaluate reputation of an individual based on an identifier, such as an email address. The factors can include information useful in predicting the reputation of an individual, such as in how many address books the email address or other information appears, whether emails have been previously sent to that email address, whether any such emails have been returned as undeliverable, and so forth. These factors can be used to create a vector including scores for the user on the various factors, which can be stored in a vector database and updated regularly as the information changes. The information in the vector database can be accessed by parties for use in reputation evaluation, fraud detection, etc. for a particular email address or individual. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265199 | System and Method for Governance, Risk, and Compliance Management - In particular embodiments, the present invention provides a system and method for governance, risk, and compliance management. For example, a method for governance, risk, and compliance management includes providing an interface for defining a control to be used to reach a goal of an organization. The control provides a procedure to be followed by the organization. The method further includes providing the interface for defining a metric for tracking a progress of the organization towards reaching the goal using the procedure. The method further includes receiving metric data from an external source. The metric data corresponds to the metric. The method further includes tracking the progress of the organization towards reaching the goal using at least the metric and the metric data. The method further includes displaying the progress of the organization towards reaching the goal. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265200 | System and Method for Governance, Risk, and Compliance Management - A method for governance, risk, and compliance management includes, at a user interface, enabling a user to define a plurality of goals of an organization. The method further includes at the user interface, enabling the user to input a plurality of controls, each control comprising a measure implemented by the organization to achieve one or more of the plurality of goals of the organization and input linking information that links each of the plurality of controls to the one or more of the plurality of goals for which it was implemented. The method further includes at one or more processors coupled to a memory, storing the plurality of goals, the plurality of controls, and the linking information in the memory. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265201 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING SECURITY SOLUTION - Provided are a method and apparatus for determining a security solution. The method and apparatus generate a security solution analysis model for analyzing effects on investment of security solution combinations consisting of several security solution candidates on the basis of integer programming (IP), standardize various constraints that have significant effects on security solution determination on the basis of IP, and apply the standardized constraints to the security solution analysis model, thereby determining a security solution combination having the smallest residual risk while satisfying the constraints as an optimum security solution combination. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265202 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING A CUSTOMER REQUEST - A method for processing customer requests includes: generating a service request according to a business subscribed by a customer, wherein the service request carries service request information; acquiring business attribute information required in business processing corresponding to the service request, according to the service request information; and determining a corresponding business processing unit according to the acquired business attribute information, so as to process the subscribed business. A system for processing customer requests is also disclosed. With the present invention, the quality of service may be guaranteed and the satisfaction degree of the customer may be improved. | 10-22-2009 |
20090271228 | CONSTRUCTION OF PREDICTIVE USER PROFILES FOR ADVERTISING - A system that facilitates targeted advertising is described in detail herein. The system includes a receiver component that receives user data that includes historical searching and browsing activity of a user. A profile generator component generates a user profile based at least in part upon a subset of the user data, wherein the user profile includes a plurality of keywords, wherein at least one keyword in the plurality of keywords is assigned a score that is indicative of a probability that an advertisement corresponding to the keyword will be monetized. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271229 | METHOD FOR GENERATING A FLEXIBLE MODEL FOR JOINT PROFIT AND ENVIRONMENTAL OPTIMIZATION - A method for generating a flexible model for joint profit and environmental optimization. The flexible model comprises an input-to-output activity conversion table being applied on projects, processes, markets, and products of the organization. The conversion table includes a five-step pattern that captures a wide range of conversion behaviors. The flexible model can be effectively utilized to model and optimize environmental initiatives determined by the organization in the context of the organization's profits. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271230 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SOLVING STOCHASTIC LINEAR PROGRAMS WITH CONDITIONAL VALUE AT RISK CONSTRAINTS - An apparatus including a calculator to determine an optimal solution to a stochastic linear programming problem or a stochastic mixed-ineteger linear programming problem with conditional value at risk constraints (CVaRs). The optimal solution is determined by generating a sequence of solutions that converge to the optimal solution. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271231 | SOLUTION UTILIZING COMMODITY-ORIENTED CORRECTION GUIDELINES TO CORRECT DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS - The present invention can include a solution for correcting defective electronic business transactions using a commodity-oriented approach. In this method, a defective electronic business transaction can be received from an automated processing system. A correction value can be calculated for the defective transaction. The calculated correction value can be compared against a preset threshold value. When indicated by the result of the comparing step, the defective electronic business transaction can be corrected. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271232 | EVENT RESOLUTION - Apparatus, systems, and methods that operate to assist in resolving both expected and unexpected events that occur in the course of business operations are disclosed. Activities may include detecting the occurrence of an alert event, determining whether the alert event is an expected event or an unexpected event, presenting a resolution sequence for the expected event, and soliciting a new event resolution path for the unexpected event. Further activities may include determining an alert event is an unexpected event, displaying an alert message associated with the unexpected event, and soliciting recommendations to form a new event resolution path to be presented upon determining a new event has occurred that is similar to the alert event. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271233 | VALUING FUTURE INFORMATION UNDER UNCERTAINTY - The invention relates to a method of performing an oilfield operation of an oilfield having at least one well having a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation for extracting fluid from an underground reservoir therein. The method steps include analyzing the oilfield operation to generate a decision tree comprising a first decision and a second decision, wherein a first outcome of the first decision dictates acquiring information relevant to the second decision, formulating a figure of merit of the oilfield operation according to the decision tree based on the information and uncertainties associated with the oilfield, determining a value of the figure of merit by modeling the oilfield operation using statistical sampling, and performing the oilfield operation upon making the first decision based on the value of the figure of merit. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271234 | EXTRACTION AND MODELING OF IMPLEMENTED BUSINESS PROCESSES - A system and method in which an implemented business process to model is identified, and one or more markup language files are automatically generated specifying metadata and a structure of the business process. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271235 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING SURVIVAL CURVE USED TO CALCULATE FAILURE PROBABILITY - A part fault table indicating the number of days used, a fault flag and a first weight is generated for each of plural parts. A survival curve and a hazard function for each of the plural parts are also generated. Then, convergence is determined by calculating a hazard value using the hazard function for each part in the same group, calculating a second weight by normalization using the hazard value of each part and comparing the first and second weight with each other. Finally, a control operation is performed in such a manner that the convergence determination is terminated by outputting the survival curve or updates the first weight with the second weight, while a new survival curve and a new hazard function are generated from the part fault table using the updated first weight, after which the convergence determination is determined again. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271236 | Dynamically Routing Salvage Shipments and Associated Method - A system and method is disclosed for managing salvage shipments in a transportation network. The system includes a transportation planner coupled with one or more entities in the transportation network. The transportation planner determines an optimized transportation plan for delivery and pick-up of shipments throughout the transportation network. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271237 | Optimizing Rail Shipments for Commodity Transactions - Embodiments for optimization of at least one previously established rail shipment of a commodity are described herein. More specifically, one embodiment of a method includes receiving data related to a first previously established rail shipment the first previously established rail shipment established via a first supplier and exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with a second previously established rail shipment. | 10-29-2009 |
20090276253 | System for Determining Shortage Costs - A system that can determine shortage costs in a repeatable and sustainable manner. In certain embodiments, the system takes into account different shortage costs that impact different organizations and weight those shortage costs against the costs to expedite material in to cover those shortages. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the system can continue to be updated based on changing needs of the business and to reflect a true impact of unit shortages so accurate expedite decisions can continue to be made and accounted for that are of the most economic benefit to a manufacturer. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276254 | COLOR FORMULATION SELECTION PROCESS - A computer-implemented method of repairing a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes steps of estimating the cost of performing repairs to a damaged vehicle and determining a refinish paint formulation for refinishing a vehicle by conducting a computer-based search for a refinish paint formulation that best matches the vehicle's original finish prior to performing the repair work on the vehicle, where the repair work comprises performing any body work, mechanical systems work and/or electrical systems work and refinishing the vehicle. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276255 | PRIORITIZING CLIENT ENGAGEMENTS AT ACCOUNTING PRACTICES - Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to software for prioritizing client engagements at accounting practices. The disclosure describes various data inputs, a business objectives preference module, an optimization engine, user schedule(s), and, in an embodiment, a database or data warehouse. The optimization engine receives requests for new clients, requests for new projects for existing clients, or the like, receives business objectives, receives a current client engagement schedule and receives various additional input data, preferences, or user settings. The engine outputs an updated client engagement schedule, including, for example, whether undertaking the new client or project is advisable based on some or all of the input data. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276256 | METHOD FOR COMPUTING AN ENTERPRISE PROCESS COMPLIANCE INDEX - Techniques for computing an enterprise process compliance index are provided. The techniques include obtaining an enterprise process, obtaining a compliance policy, segmenting the enterprise process into at least one process step and the compliance policy in at least one policy clause, and computing an enterprise process compliance index, wherein computing the enterprise process compliance index comprises determining an applicability of the at least one process step to the at least one policy clause. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276257 | System and Method for Determining and Managing Risk Associated with a Business Relationship Between an Organization and a Third Party Supplier - Aspects of this invention are directed to a method for determining and managing risk associated with a business relationship between an organization and a third party supplier. A further aspect of this invention relates to a system that allows the organization to manage risk and compliance processes. Further aspects of this invention relate to identifying a potential third party for conducting a business relationship, obtaining information about the third party relating to the risk associated with the business relationship with the third party, and generating at least one score related to the risk associated with the business relationship with the third party. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276258 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING WORKFORCE TALENT SUPPLY - Systems and methods for estimating workforce talent supply. Candidate resumes are received in electronic form and expressed in natural language. The natural language expression of the candidate resumes is analyzed to extract elements expressed in candidate resumes and to convert extracted elements into a normalized form. A sampling database of candidates is built using normalized form of elements produced by the analysis of candidate resumes to provide an element-level description of each candidate in the sampling database. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is used to determine the national supply of workforce talent by occupation, and the national or regional workforce supply of talent is estimated at an element level by statistically extrapolating the information in the sampling database in accordance with the BLS data. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276259 | AGGREGATING RISK IN AN ENTERPRISE STRATEGY AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A system for aggregating risk data in an enterprise strategy and performance management is provided. The system, in one example embodiment, includes a risk fetching module to obtain risk exposure data, the risk exposure data related to one or more objectives, a risk data parser to determine a first objective from the one or more objectives, a selector to determine source risk exposure values from the risk exposure data, the source risk exposure values being related to the first objective, an aggregator to aggregate the source risk exposure values related to the first objective into an aggregated risk value, and a mapping module to determine a performance goal corresponding to the first objective. A view generator may be provided to generate a combined view to include performance data related to the performance goal and the aggregated risk value. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276260 | Assessing Risk - Systems, methods, and apparatus, including software tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, involve a future deadline for completion of a project milestone. An estimate of an amount of time slippage associated with the future deadline is received. A probability of missing the future deadline is calculated based on the estimated amount of time slippage and an amount of time remaining until the future deadline. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276261 | ASSESSMENT METHOD FOR PROCESS IMPROVEMENT DECISIONS - A risk assessment method for process improvement decisions applying for semiconductor process change comprises: performing a risk assessment evaluation to compute a polarity (plurality?) of items corresponding to their values, generating a risk assessment evaluation value to determine if the risk assessment evaluation value is in a risk setting value, go to next two steps; not, go to next step; performing an active inspect for the polarity (plurality?) of items corresponding to their item setting values, if not satisfied with the active inspect, repeat the above step; if not, transferring the semiconductor process change to online process. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276262 | Production management system, production management method, and storage medium containing production management program for executing the production management method - There is provided a production management system that can easily build a production system of each finished product without requiring the time and labor for management of production factors. In a production management system ( | 11-05-2009 |
20090276263 | Framework for realization of web 2.0 features - A method to shape one or more features of Web 2.0 in the form of Web 2.0 solutions, using Web 2.0 realization framework, to the plurality of enterprises is disclosed. The method includes identifying the respective enterprises computing infrastructure and a business application needs of the respective enterprises. The respective enterprises current support system is also measured to find the feasibility of implementing the features of the Web 2.0. The method further comprises offering one or more Web 2.0 features to the respective enterprises based on the business activity. The method includes providing the Web Realization Cycle (WRC) for controlled implementation of Web 2.0 features to the respective enterprises. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276264 | TARGETED PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A targeted product distribution system is described herein with respect to an exemplary management of product flow through a distribution center. Specifically, the system and method described herein is directed to the management and display of direct and easily-understood instructions, such that average individuals, as well as those with mental disabilities, will be able to contribute equally to the overall process. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276265 | COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK SERVICE DEPLOYMENT SIMULATOR - A decision management system simulates a communications network service deployment using business and technology changeable parameters, a base case model, a network cost model and a bandwidth model. The simulations may be performed for different sets of changeable parameters to generate multiple candidate solutions. These solutions are analyzed to identify a solution for deploying the communications network service. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276266 | WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT METHOD USING AN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus determines whether workflow information is included in a received print request. When the workflow information is included in the received print request, the image forming apparatus analyzes the workflow information and calculates a limit date/time to be notified to workers taking charge of respective steps of a workflow. The image forming apparatus prepares E-mail data including information that indicates the limit date/time. The image forming apparatus sends the prepared E-mail by referring to mail addresses of the workers taking charge of the respective steps of the workflow. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276267 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING WEIGHT DATA RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION - The subject matter discloses a method of handling weight data related to transportation, comprising receiving weight data from a passenger, a representative, or the passenger; accumulating the weight data associated with a specific trip and determining the amount of fuel required for the specific trip as a function of the accumulated weight data. The subject matter also discloses an apparatus for implementing the method and a method of doing business utilizing the data analyzed by the method | 11-05-2009 |
20090276268 | Systems And Methods For Selecting Flour - Flour may be treated to denature the proteins and modify starches. The invention includes methods and systems for determining whether to use treated flour or untreated flour. The invention also includes methods and systems for determining whether to treat flour or not. | 11-05-2009 |
20090281845 | METHOD AND APPARATUS OF CONSTRUCTING AND EXPLORING KPI NETWORKS - A method and system for constructing and exploring KPI networks, in one aspect, identified KPIs associated with a performance target. Correlated or dependent KPIs are determined and correlations or dependencies are weighed to provide the degree of relevance in the KPI network. Influential chains in the correlation are determined. KPIs and associated correlations may be mined using historical data. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281846 | APPARATUS, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD, FOR FACILITATING DATA-CENTER MANAGEMENT - An apparatus, and an associated methodology, automatically monitors operations at a data center. A metric obtainer collects metrics associated with operation of entities maintained or operated at the data center. The collected metrics are stored at a database whose contents are accessible by an analyzer. The analyzer analyzes the collected data. Analyses are used to manage operations at the data center. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281847 | Method and System For Data Disaggregation - A method and system for migrating source data from a source database to a destination database based on energy efficiency and conservation. A migration server evaluates the source data for usage and requirements and defines data usage and requirement tags for the source data. The source data is disaggregated into one or more source data sets based on the data usage and requirement tags. The migration server then identifies candidate destinations for the source data, wherein each candidate destination has stored data identified with usage and requirement tags. The data migration server compares the first usage and requirement tags of the source data with the second usage and requirement tags of the stored data and identifies an optimal destination database based on the comparing step. The data migration server migrates the source data to the optimal destination database. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281848 | PARTITIONING PRODUCT FEATURES - Apparatus, systems, and methods operate to partition a product feature set into a set of included features and a set of feature upselling candidates determined by a corresponding set of decision variables. The decision variables can be determined, in turn, by maximizing a profit function comprising a sum of first mathematical products (each product including profit, probability of sale, and a decision variable) over the product feature set, subject to the condition that a sum of second mathematical products (each product including feature utility and a decision variable) over the product feature set is less than or equal to the utility of the product feature set combined with a base product, minus the utility of a competing product. Operations may include designating an initial sales product configuration as a combination of a base product and the set of included features. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281849 | Systems and methods for developing a mobile network - Exemplary systems and methods for developing a mobile network are provided. Exemplary methods include receiving a request to include a mobile network site in a ranked menu of mobile network sites, including the mobile network site in the ranked menu of mobile network sites, sending the ranked menu of mobile network sites to a mobile communications device, receiving a communication from the mobile communications device indicating that the mobile network site should have a different rank, processing the received communication to update the ranked menu of mobile network sites, and sending the updated ranked menu to the mobile communications device. Exemplary systems include a communications module that receives a request to include a mobile network site in a ranked menu of mobile network sites, sends the ranked menu of mobile network sites to a mobile communications device, and receives a communication from the mobile communications device indicating that the mobile network site should have a different rank. A ranking engine includes the mobile network site in the ranked menu of mobile network sites, and processes the received communication to update the ranked menu of mobile network sites. A mobile network site database stores information about the mobile network site and the ranked menu of mobile networks sites. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281850 | Situational Awareness System And Method And Associated User Terminal - A system, method and user terminal are provided to facilitate common situational awareness including, for example, awareness of evacuation and emergency vehicle routes. The system includes a plurality of user terminals in communication with a computing device, such as one or more servers. Each user terminal may include a processor and an associated display. The user terminals are configured to receive the evacuation routes and/or the routes for the emergency vehicles, as well as optionally other information regarding the underlying situation, from the computing device for display thereat. The user terminals may provide a field incident report to a computing device that provides the user terminals with information regarding the emergency situation. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281851 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING ON-LINE INFLUENCE IN SOCIAL MEDIA - A method and system for determining on-line influence in social media is disclosed. A recursive site influence modeling module computes a site influence from aggregated viral properties of content hosted by the site and further integrates, in the formulation of the site influence model, the influence of commentors, commenting on the hosted content, and the influence of individuals cited in the content. The influence of the commentors and individuals is calculated by aggregating viral properties of related content and as well by taking into account the influence of outlets owned by the commentors and the individuals. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281852 | Closed-Loop Referral System And Method - A closed loop referral system and method is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method, comprises embedding a tracking code into a first website. The tracking code communicates with a referral system. A user interface is provided on a browser for the first website. The browser is directed from the first website to a second website. Upon performance of a user action on the second website, the tracking code is executed. The tracking code communicates with the referral system to direct the browser to a third website determined by the referral system. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281853 | Legal Instrument Management Platform - A legal instrument management system facilitates the storage and management of documents including contracts or other legal instruments. The system facilitates the review of stored documents as well as the creation of new documents. The system also provides searching capabilities to quickly identify documents that match a search query. Contract models can be structured to define how data is organized and to normalize the description of contract terms in the system. Methods are also disclosed. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281854 | Interactive knowledge sales market database - The interactive knowledge sales market database is organized into four cooperating peer systems. The database system includes an advertisement broadcast system, for catering to individual creativity and innovation via user-customizable formatting and creation of advertisements, a distribution implementation system for distributing the advertisement to a market community, a member interaction system for providing a virtual, online marketplace to the users, and an economic exchange system that accounts for all exchanges in the market community via electronic fund transactions. All systems are linked to a common market database, which has a tiered software architecture for directly supporting the four systems and providing a market exchange of innovation insights, outlooks, ideas, tips, and thought to Internet users utilizing the interactive knowledge sales market database. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281855 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTERACTIVE BEEF CATTLE MARKETPLACE - A system and method for dynamically marketing cattle is provided comprising a buyer interface, a producer interface, a network, and a cattle information server. The cattle information server receives information from the buyer interface defining a plurality of demand profiles at least one which contains information specifying a first pre-conditioning program. The cattle information server also receives information from the producer interface defining a supply profile that specifies a second pre-conditioning program and stores the demand profiles and supply profile in a database. The cattle information server searches the database to determine if one or more of the demand profiles match the supply profile based at least in part on a comparison of the first and second pre-conditioning programs and identifies at least one demand profile in response to a match between the supply profile and the demand profile. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281856 | GLOBAL ASSET RISK MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for risk assessment are disclosed. In various embodiments, the systems and methods may include at least one risk information source receiving risk information, and generating a risk assessment report based on the risk information. In various embodiments, the systems and methods may include a risk information source, an asset information source, and an analysis system that correlates one or more risks with one or more assets. In various embodiments, the systems and methods may generate a risk assessment report from the correlated risk information and asset information. In various embodiments, the systems and methods may be applied globally assessing risks that occur in any region or country throughout the world, for any type of risk(s) or any type of asset(s). In various embodiments, the systems and methods may be beneficial to business organizations for identifying, quantifying and/or managing potential and/or actual operating risks. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281857 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTEGRATED GLOBAL SHIPPING AND VISIBILITY - Disclosed is an integrated global shipment system that provides end-to-end visibility of the movement of a package. The integrated global shipment system employs a shipment consolidating application for integrating one or more freight tracking systems with one or more end-delivery systems. As a result, shippers are provided with complete visibility of the movement of their shipments of goods from an origin country to a destination country and till the final consignees. In addition, the integrated shipment system significantly decreases the cost of managing inventories by providing a virtual inventory solution. Under this virtual inventory solution, suppliers are able to bypass distribution centers and delay allocation of goods until after the importation of goods into a destination country. | 11-12-2009 |
20090287514 | RAPID CANDIDATE OPT-IN CONFIRMATION SYSTEM - A recruiting system and method includes an automated candidate opt-in confirmation system for identifying and screening job candidate resumes that permits at least one potential candidate to opt-in to seek a job opportunity. The recruiting system enables a candidate to opt-in using a telephone, the Internet, or through any other suitable mediums or methods. The recruiting system and method provides a highly effective tool for job recruiters to select and identify qualified candidates that want to pursue a specified job opportunity quickly and efficiently. | 11-19-2009 |
20090287515 | Monetization of Offline-Interface Events Operating on Ads Distributed Through Advertising Networks - Ads servers, clients, and networks serve and/or publish ads through online networks, then track offline-interface events that operate on the ads, and charge advertisers based on the offline-interface events. An enabling network includes an ads publishing module to request an ad from an ads serving module and publish the ad, a tracking module to track offline-interface events that operate on the published ad, and a billing module to charge an advertiser based on the offline-interface events. | 11-19-2009 |
20090287516 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE AGGREGATION AND COMMUNICATING OF PROCESS METADATA OF HETEROGENEOUS PRODUCTION PROCESS CHAINS - System and method for aggregation and transmission of process metadata ( | 11-19-2009 |
20090287517 | AUTOMATED METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS USING MANAGEMENT QUALIFICATION TOOL - An automated method, system and program product for opportunity analysis utilizing a management qualification tool is disclosed. The management qualification tool gathers a current state data concerning a complex business situation and analyzes the data in a stepwise manner through successively detailed questions. A future state solution can be calculated and can be compared to established benchmark data. A report can be automatically generated in a standardized format. Such an approach can be carried out by a software application program associated with a GUI wherein the non-input required fields can be password protected. | 11-19-2009 |
20090287518 | Inventory control and optimization - A method of revenue management of an inventory of items in order to optimize the availability of one or several item(s) requested by a user, method comprising the steps of calculating an online estimate of a first element associated with the request; calculating an online estimate of a second element associated with the request; comparing the estimate of the first and second element to determine whether or not requested items can be granted to the requestor. The optimized calculations take place in real time and are handled by a single on-line system that does not need to rely on uploads of recommendations from an external off-line optimization system. | 11-19-2009 |
20090287519 | System and Method for Equipment Management - A method for managing equipment may include operating one or more equipment units, tracking operating data for the one or more equipment units, tracking equipment service data for the one or more equipment units, communicating the operating data and the equipment service data to a database, maintaining the operating data and the equipment service data at the database, operating one or more point of sale interfaces for processing customer orders, communicating customer order data from the point of sale interfaces to the database, maintaining customer order data at the database, and calculating estimated service dates for one or more of the equipments units. The calculation of estimated service dates may be based on the operating data, the equipment service data, and the customer order data. | 11-19-2009 |
20090287520 | TECHNIQUE FOR DETERMINING AND REPORTING REDUCTION IN EMISSIONS OF GREENHOUSE GASES AT A SITE - A system for generating standardized greenhouse gas emission reduction credits based on mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions at a site resulting from use of renewable carbon as a fuel at the site to produce energy in substitution for previous use of a fossil fuel at the site, includes a computer, at least one database accessible by the computer and containing past site-specific data and subsequent site-specific data regarding the at least one variable impacting emissions of the greenhouse gas generated from the use of the renewable carbon as a fuel for generating energy at the site, a greenhouse gas emissions modeling module, and at least one interface to the computer, for outputting a report of the identified quantity of the standardized greenhouse gas emission reduction credits. | 11-19-2009 |
20090292567 | System and Method for Assessing Operational Risk Employing Market-Based Information Processing - A method of assessing operational risk includes defining a participant set. The participant set includes a plurality of members. The method also includes identifying a set of initial risk sources, assigning risk certificates for each of the initial risk sources to each of the plurality of members of the set of participants, and trading the risk certificates among the plurality of members of the set of participants to establish market prices that correspond to a level of risk associated with each of the initial risk sources. | 11-26-2009 |
20090292568 | Adaptive Risk Variables - Methods, systems and computer-implemented processes for analyzing transactions for fraud are presented. A plurality of risk tables used by a fraud detection model is augmented with temporal change data related to risk variables associated with the plurality of risk tables. The fraud detection model is then executed using the augmented plurality of risk tables to generate a score for transaction data representing a new transaction, the score representing a numerical probability of the existence of fraud based on the fraud detection model. | 11-26-2009 |
20090292569 | Method for sweeping a depository and an automated teller machine incorporating the same - Disclosed herein is a method for collecting information related to deposits made at an ATM and an ATM configured for collected the same. Information describing each deposit made at the ATM is collected and first and second summaries of the deposits produced. In response to a sweep command, a printout summarizing deposits made prior to the sweep command and subsequent to an immediately preceding sweep command is generated while, in response to a reset command, a printout summarizing deposits made prior to the reset command but subsequent to the sweep command is generated. | 11-26-2009 |
20090292570 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ASSESSING OPERATIONAL PROCESS QUALITY AND RISK - Methods and apparatus for assessing operational process quality and risk of an entity or a group of entities. The present invention enables a user to effectively compare one or more events, representing what actually happened, with a reference, which represents ideal performance in terms of operational process quality and risk, and express the corresponding results in quantitative terms. The present invention is capable of presenting results in a form and with sufficient rapidity that a human decision-maker is able to timely observe conditions which represent unacceptable quality or excessive risk and respond appropriately. | 11-26-2009 |
20090292571 | METHOD OF MANAGING CARBON REDUCTION FOR HYDROCARBON PRODUCERS - A method and means is disclosed for managing the reduction of carbon during product transport for a large number of hydrocarbon fuel producers within a given geographic region. This reduction of carbon is accomplished at a few major sequestration hubs located within the geographic region where the sequestration hubs themselves pass through or near major carbon dioxide sequestration facilities. The method includes reducing the amount of carbon in the product and providing a carbon credit or a carbon tax benefit to the producer as an additional alternative available to the producer than acquiring a carbon credit, paying a carbon tax or installing on-site capture and sequestration facilities. | 11-26-2009 |
20090292572 | Concrete Material Dispensing System - A control system for a concrete plant adds intelligent capabilities in the concrete plant that may enhance safety, localize control of the concrete plant, and assist with troubleshooting. The control system may also enhance accuracy for determining an amount of mixed concrete dispensed, or amounts of concrete ingredients to dispense, and may eliminate the need for equipment used to verify the amount of mixed concrete or concrete ingredients dispensed. | 11-26-2009 |
20090292573 | METHOD FOR OPTIMAL DEMANUFACTURING PLANNING - A method and apparatus that maintains a database of the demands over time for all the different refurbished machines is disclosed. The invention also maintains the supply over time of all the different machines that will be returned from expired leases. The invention maintains the relationship for alternate parts which parts can be used in place of another. The invention also maintains an inventory of parts and machines. As machines are returned from expired leases, they come into inventory. From this inventory, some of the machines will, from time to time be scheduled to be refurbished or demanufactured. The balance will remain in inventory. When a machine is demanufactured, all of the parts that are produced will be put in inventory. | 11-26-2009 |
20090299779 | METHOD FOR MANAGING INVENTORY UNDER PRICE PROTECTION - A method and system for managing inventory under price protection plan determine an inventory replenishment plan for one or more goods considering a price protection agreement including at least length of price protection between at least two supply chain partners in a supply chain having decentralized control over a predetermined time period. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299780 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING AND/OR PROVIDING POWER OUTPUT INFORMATION OF WIND TURBINE FARMS - A computerized method for determining a power curve for a wind farm having a plurality of wind turbines and a meteorological mast (met mast) includes collecting measurement data points of at least wind speed and wind direction over time for each of the wind turbines and the met mast. The measurement data points include measured power output for each of the wind turbines. The method further includes removing measurement data points for wind turbines performing in a non-standard manner or that are unavailable to generate remaining measurement data points, statistically determining a power curve model for the wind farm using the remaining measurement data points, and displaying the power curve model for the wind farm. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299781 | PROFILE MANAGEMENT AND CREATION METHOD AND APPARATUS IN A CATALOG PROCUREMENT SYSTEM - A catalog based purchasing and requisition system profile manager for a procurement services system that allows profile searching and editing features. The system provides simplified new profile creation, existing profile editing, profile grouping, customized profile copy and profile searching features. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299782 | VARIANCE MANAGEMENT - Method and system for determining estimation variance associated with project planning are provided. In one aspect, information associated with a project is obtained and initial estimations for the tasks in the project are determined using available information. The tasks are performed and actual measurements are obtained from the completed tasks. The actual measurements are used to revise the estimates of the remaining tasks. The revised estimates are used to compute a project level estimate and a variance on that estimate, and to enable better project management. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299783 | Method and system for defense capability in trading in a complex environment - A system for interfacing with an information management tool. The system includes a memory for storing information regarding a plurality of programs, each program having at least one capability component. A processor is configured to generate a portfolio of projected capabilities by aggregating the capability components from the plurality of programs, and to create a visualization of each of the projected capabilities at discrete points in time for: analyzing an impact of each projected capability on each of the remaining projected capabilities to identify projected capability implications, and analyzing effects of reallocating resources among the programs to determine changes in the projected capability implications. The system also includes a user interface for displaying projected capability implications due to the effect of reallocating resources. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299784 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR FURNISHING INFORMATION TO CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVES - A method is provided for permitting telephone sales representatives access to information on qualification of customers to obtain particular products. A client server system is used. A client submits information concerning a product, a type of qualification and customer information to the server. Based on the product and type of qualification, a set of qualification rules is then obtained. The qualification rules are organized by category. Customer credit information, including credit history, preexisting products, and other information, is obtained from a customer credit database. Customer credit information is then traversed through the qualification rules to obtain a qualification result, which is returned to the client. In a method for providing scripts to representatives, who identify a requested type of script and the product, the representatives are provided with a dynamically generated script of the requested type and specific to the identified product. Script types are classified into functional types. Scripts are dynamically filled with customer-specific information, such as name, price and product. The output is provided for display on the telephone representative's browser. A general sales script is provided in the browser window. Links for items that are required in response to customer inquiries are also provided in the window. When a link is selected, a script is provided specific to the type of customer inquiry. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299785 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND STORAGE DEVICE FOR JOB POSTING, MATCHING, RATING, AND REFERRAL - A job posting method, system, and storage device which allows users to create one or more talent networks each containing one or more connections, create job postings that trickle down to other users according to a set of rules, a referral system for rewarding users who recommend candidates for the job postings, and a recommendation system which allows both job posters and job seekers to have the system recommend potential candidates or jobs, as the case may be. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299786 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRICING SOFTWARE SERVICE REQUESTS - A system and method for pricing software service requests is provided. The method includes entering input details corresponding to a clients' software service usage data. The method further includes calculating a cost per ticket for each severity level of the software service request. A margin for each severity level is assigned to each severity level in the order of increasing severity. Thereafter, a price per software service request is calculated for each severity level using the corresponding margin. Additionally, the method includes determining an optimal staffing scheme corresponding to one or more software services. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299787 | COMPLETE HAND CARE - A complete hand hygiene station and method of monitoring a complete hand hygiene station are provided. The complete hand hygiene station may include at least an automated wash cylinder or chamber, a sanitizer dispenser and a lotion dispenser. The wash chamber and/or the sanitizer dispenser may be used to provide a user with a hand washing. The lotion dispenser may be used to moisturize a user's hands after the usage of the sanitizer dispenser. The complete hand hygiene station may be monitored to ensure compliance with one or more hygiene protocols. A particular hygiene protocol may specify hygiene requirements such as daily hygiene station usage, lotion usage subsequent to sanitizer usage, and/or mandatory wash chamber use subsequent to a predetermined number of lotion usages. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299788 | COMMERCE AND SERVICES IN A FEMTOCELL NETWORK - System(s) and method(s) are provided for commerce and services through a set of networked femto access points (APs) and served devices. Incentive(s) and advertisement are delivered to a device based at least in part upon at least one of a location of the device within a coverage area spanned by the set of networked femto APs. Commercial transaction(s) can be implemented based at least in part on a commercial profile associated with a mobile device. Order(s) for a product can be issued remotely and a related transaction can be effected at a point-of-sale linked to the product; transaction's billing charges can be adjusted based at least in part on available incentive(s). Navigation from a point of entry to a destination can afford delivery service(s) or locale or product identification or discovery. Revenue sharing and generation of business intelligence is provided. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299789 | Method, System And Computer Program Product For Analyzing Maintenance Operations And Assessing The Readiness Of Repairable Systems - An automated method, system and computer program product for assessing the readiness of a plurality of repairable systems, such as a fleet of aircraft, are provided. In addition to identifying the repairable systems that will be operational, the relative state of readiness of the repairable systems is determined such that the repairable systems that are most likely to successfully complete the designated task can be selected. Additionally, an automated method of analyzing the maintenance operations performed upon a plurality of repairable systems, such as a fleet of aircraft, is provided. In this regard, the relative states of readiness of the repairable systems are determined and maintenance resources are allocated based upon the respective measures of the relative states of readiness of the repairable systems. As such, maintenance operations scheduled for the aircraft that will have the greatest state of readiness upon completion of the maintenance operations can be prioritized. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299790 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF INTERACTIVELY OPTIMIZING SHIPPING DENSITY FOR A CONTAINER - A system and method for interactively optimizing shipping density of racked parts by a user is provided. The system includes a user computer system, a communications network, a remotely located computer system, a data storage device a computer-generated model of a component part; a computer-generated model of a container for transporting the component part and an executable shipping density optimization software program. The methodology includes the steps of the user selecting the component part model and container. The methodology also includes the steps of analyzing the shipping density of component parts within the container. The methodology further includes the steps of identifying a bottleneck feature and modifying the bottleneck feature and determining the optimized density of the modified component parts in the container. | 12-03-2009 |
20090307021 | METHOD FOR INVENTORY GOVERNANCE IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE - The present invention is directed to inventory governance in a virtual universe. A method of inventory governance in a virtual universe (VU) includes: providing an inventory for a virtual universe (VU) resident; and providing means for governing at least one aspect of the inventory, the governing means comprising at least one of: an administrative interface for establishing an authorizing relationship between the VU resident and an authorizing entity; a filtering interface for administering at least one filter to the inventory; or a monitoring interface for providing capability to monitor at least one of: the VU resident or the inventory. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307022 | CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE COMPARATIVE LANDSCAPE TOOL - A capability assessment system provides a tailored evaluation with clear distinction between progressive companies and companies that offer more basic services. The system scores and rates the company across multiple categories according to a which capabilities are applicable to the company, and which of the applicable capabilities the company actually utilized. The system applies a unique rating and point mapping approach to the capabilities utilized by the company. The point mapping approach is configured to facilitate clear delineation between average and above average companies, as well as an identification of which capabilities, if utilized, can put a company ahead of its competition. This information assists a company in efficiently prioritizing and identifying which improvements to its rendered services will have the greater overall impact, benefiting both the customer and the company itself, and allowing the company to effectively recognize, meet, and exceeding customer expectations. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307023 | PRODUCT CUSTOMER SUPPORT IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE - The present invention relates to virtual universe product customer support. A method for providing customer service in a virtual universe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: determining that a real-world product may have a problem; collecting information associated with the product; analyzing the collected information at a support location service in the virtual universe to determine a land location within the virtual universe of a product support center for the product; and providing an avatar with a teleportation invitation to the product support center. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307024 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING INFORMATION ABOUT CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES OF AN ORGANIZATION - A system is provided for presenting information about waste reduction or resource preservation activities of one or more entities. The system may include at least one server resource that is programmed to generate a presentation for an online medium. The presentation may provide at least a first information item that is indicative of a determination of a reduction by a given entity in either of an identified waste byproduct or a resource consumption. The reduction is a result of one or more kinds of a conservation activity that is performed by one or more individuals in the organization. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307025 | Attrition Warning and Control System - An attrition warning and control system informs an employer as to the risk of attrition for an employee. The employee is assigned a discrete attrition category. The discrete attrition category is determined from an employee satisfaction behavior. The employee satisfaction behavior may be categorized according to its behavior type. Portal logic executed by the attrition warning and control system generates employee team attrition risk reports for employee teams. The portal logic also builds project team attrition risk reports from the employee team attrition risk reports. Reporting logic executed by the attrition warning and control system delivers the discrete attrition category, employee satisfaction behavior, the employee team attrition risk reports, and the project team attrition risk reports through an authorized connection via a communication interface. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307026 | PRIORITY-BASED SYSTEM FOR NETTING AVAILABLE COVERAGE - A method is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including receiving standard MRP input data, including supply rules. Demand priority data may also be received to provide a business ranking of the independent demands. The MRP input data and demand priority data may be transformed into a format usable by an implosion engine and a pegging solver. Such transformation may include providing artificial MRP input data for each of the components. The transformed MRP input data may be processed with the implosion engine and the pegging solver to provide pegged implosion data. A pegged supply shortfall for a component may then be calculated based on the pegged implosion data. Specifically, consumption of an artificial component may represent a supply shortfall for the component. The demand priority data for the independent demand that pegs to the supply shortfall may provide the prioritized shortfall for that component. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307027 | Repair order management - Systems and methods used by automobile service centers to manage repair orders are disclosed. The repair order management system retrieves information pertaining to the processing of the repair orders from one or more service center databases. The retrieved information is processed by the system to generate one-line summaries for each repair order. The one-line repair order summaries are displayed on one or more screens of a secure web-based user interface. The displayed one-line repair order summaries are automatically updated to reflect updates to the repair orders. The one-line repair order summaries allow service personnel at the automobile service center to quickly obtain concise information on each repair order and thereby, expedite processing of repair orders. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307028 | A METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING POTENTIALLY FRAUDULENT CUSTOMERS IN RELATION TO ELECTRONIC CUSTOMER ACTION BASED SYSTEMS, AND A COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR PERFORMING SAID METHOD - The invention concerns a computer-implemented method, system and computer program for performing said method, for identifying potentially fraudulent entities in relation to electronic entity action based systems, associated with for example at least one client website | 12-10-2009 |
20090307029 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISCOUNTED PRINTING - A system and method for method for implementing a discounted printing is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for implementing discounted printing includes creating a sponsored document including a digital signature using a cryptographic protocol provided in an application by an enterprise, sending the sponsored document including the digital signature to a client computing system including a sponsored printer for printing by the enterprise, dynamically verifying the digital signature by a trusted service provider upon the enterprise sending the sponsored document to the sponsored printer, and printing the sponsored document by the sponsored printer upon a successful verification of the digital signature. The method may also include crediting an end user associated with the sponsored printer by an amount that substantially subsidizes cost associated with the printing of the sponsored document. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307030 | RISK MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVER AND JOB SUPPORT DEVICE - A risk management support server possible of obtaining support information according to various viewpoints of risk management is provided. In client ( | 12-10-2009 |
20090307031 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DATA COLLECTION, REPORTING, AND ANALYSIS OF FLEET VEHICLE INFORMATION - Presented is a system and method of providing centralized management and analysis of fleet information. The system includes a centralized fleet information management server accessible via a communications network to thin clients. The communications network may be the Internet, and the thin clients are required to have only a web browser application to fully access the functionality of the server. A portable computing device, such as a Windows CE or Palm compatible device, may be used with an installed application program to conduct on-site, off-line inspections. The portable device includes a local database that may be populated with fleet information downloaded from the fleet information management server. Upon completion of the on-site inspection, the data stored in the local database may be uploaded to the server. The server may be used by thin clients to generate various reports based on the fleet data, including the estimation of operating cost savings. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307032 | BRAND PROTECTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A product management system for monitoring the movement of products through a supply chain, the system being adapted to receive data from reader devices that capture data associated with the products as they move through the chain. The captured data is used to generate an event record for each product, at each stage in the supply chain. These records are used, together with at least one model of the supply chain, to detect anomalous events. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307033 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING DUPLICATE SURVEY ATTEMPTS - A system and method for detecting and avoiding attempts at taking the same survey by the same respondent. A respondent is assigned a Global unique identifier (GUID) and the encrypted global identifier is inserted in a “cookie” stored on the user's computer. Each time a respondent attempts to take a survey, a respondent is identified using a mechanism such as e-mail, computer identifier or the like and a Survey Management system checks to see if this respondent should have a global identifier encoded in a cookie. Based on this review, the Survey Management system can determine whether or not this particular user, whether using different computer systems or under different user accounts has previously taken the survey. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307034 | ENERGY INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An energy information management system and a computer-implemented method of managing energy information are disclosed. The computer-implemented method may include receiving energy use data based upon the energy consumption of one or more facilities, associating the energy use data with one or more facility types based upon characteristics of the one or more facilities to which the energy use data is related, and storing the energy use data in a database. Each facility type may be determined based upon at least one of an owner, location, size, age, use, operating schedule, lighting, water use, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment of the facility to which the energy use data is related. The energy information management system may include one or more sources of energy use data which generate data signals, a server, and a browser-enabled user device. | 12-10-2009 |
20090313056 | PERFORMANCE METRICS IN RENEWALS ENERGY SYSTEMS - Systems and methods are provided for collecting ( | 12-17-2009 |
20090313057 | SELF-SERVICE USER DEVICE MANAGER - A central management system may manage a plurality of self-service user devices. A user or customer of a business entity operating one or more of the self-service user devices may place an order for a self-service user device, such as the sale of a new self-service user device, a remodel or update of the current self-service user device, the de-installation or relocation of a self-service user device or the like. The self-service user device may be designed and configured to operate with the self-service user device management system. During the operation of the self-service user device, maintenance may be performed. A self-service user device profile may be generated that stores and compiles information relating to the order, the sale, the configuration, the operational tracking, or any other suitable information. Information relating to one or more self-service user devices may be shared between one or more users. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313058 | TOOL, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT - The present invention relates to a method, a system and a tool for dynamically optimizing project management. The method, system and tool divide at least one project in sub-elements and define a plurality of paths, each path comprising at least one unit. They further define a plurality of amalgams corresponding to one of the path to be followed by at least one sub-element. Then, they calculate a weight for each of the plurality of amalgams based on predetermined factors, the weight corresponding to a prioritization level for each of the sub-elements of the amalgams in execution of the units. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313059 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATING ISSUE TRACKING SYSTEMS - Communication between a first issue tracking system and a second issue tracking system is provided. An integration platform is configured to translate an issue tracking ticket from a form recognizable by the first issue tracking system, which can be a component of a customer network, into a form recognizable by the second issue tracking system, which can be a component of a service provider network. A gateway server is provided to control communications between the integration platform and the issue tracking system of the service provider network. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313060 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERSONALIZED PRINTING AND FACILITATED DELIVERY OF PERSONALIZED CAMPAIGN ITEMS - A system, having a corresponding method, for personalized campaign printing and delivery of a printed campaign includes: a processor that stores and processes printing and delivery data and selects printers to execute the printing and shipping of campaign items requested by a plurality of users designing separate personalized campaign items and accumulates, combines and splits the incoming data into at least one batch of items segmented into an air or ground shipping method; splits the batch into at least one smaller batch segmented by shipping code; and determines whether the batch qualifies for a discounted shipping rate. If no, the processor combines the batch with at least another regional batch of the same shipping method into a succeeding larger batch with a shipping code linked to the shipping code of the batch wherein the resulting combined batch qualifies for discounted shipping rate. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313061 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF CONSOLIDATING PRINT SHOPS ON INVENTORY LEVELS - In an embodiment, a system of evaluating an impact of consolidating a plurality of print shops on inventory levels may include a processor and a processor-readable storage medium in communication with the processor. The processor-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for performing a method of evaluating an impact of consolidating a plurality of print shops on inventory levels. The method may include identifying a plurality of print shops to consolidate from an enterprise, identifying an inventory policy, receiving corresponding job demand information and determining a plurality of total inventory requirements for the identified print shops. The total inventory requirements may include a total average inventory level and a total order-up-to level. The method may also include determining, a plurality of consolidated inventory requirements for a consolidated print shop and displaying statistics pertaining to the job demand information, the total inventory requirements and the consolidated inventory requirements. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313062 | System and Method for Theme Park Line Queue Management - The present disclosure describes a method for managing theme park ride lines by providing an identifying device to a guest, the device configured to uniquely identify the guest, using the identifying device to ascertain an amount of time a guest spends at a predetermined location and reducing the amount of time a guest spends in a line queue for a predetermined ride by the amount of time the guest spends at the predetermined location. A system for managing theme park ride lines is also provided. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313063 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF MIGRATING TO A DYNAMIC PROCESSING ENVIRONMENT - In an embodiment, a method of evaluating an impact on inventory levels of migrating from a pre-processing environment to a dynamic processing environment may include identifying a plurality of form types to migrate from a pre-processing environment to a dynamic processing environment and identifying an inventory policy. For each identified form type, corresponding job demand information may be received. A computing device may determine a plurality of total inventory requirements for the identified form types based on the identified inventory policy. The computing device may determine a plurality of migrated inventory requirements for the dynamic processing environment based on the identified inventory policy. One or more statistics pertaining to one or more of the job demand information, the total inventory requirements and the migrated inventory requirements may be displayed to a user. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313064 | DELIVERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An item delivery service capable of distributing items while maintaining anonymity between an exhibitor (vendor) and a successful bidder (purchaser) is provided. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313065 | SYSTEM AND TOOL FOR BUSINESS DRIVEN MANAGEMENT - A system/tool/service for a business driven management is described. A strategic alignment is determined for a plurality of services. Demand planning is driven in accordance with the strategic alignment. Program execution and value measurement is outputted in accordance with the demand planning. Program execution and value measurement is applied to the strategic alignment determination. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313066 | System And Method For Determining Trailing Data Adjustment Factors - Timely projections of product sales for a reporting time period are obtained by combining actual sales data received from reporting stores and estimated sales data for non-reporting stores. The projections are adjusted to account for trailing data, which may be reported after the end of the subject time period. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313067 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BUSINESS TO BUSINESS SALES AND MARKETING INTEGRATION - A system for marketing and sales in a business-to-business environment is disclosed. The system includes a close integration of sales and marketing personnel of an organization maximize awareness of the organization in the minds of prospective customers and to be considered as a possible supplier when needs arise. This integration further is utilized to enhance the organization's response to RFP's issued by prospective customers. The system is used to identify unmet customer needs and solutions, to utilize cross-functional teams to more effectively respond to RFPs, and to collaborate with the customer at all levels to achieve and maintain a positive customer experience. The system also provides a variety of consolidated information tools to sales and marketing groups to optimize all oral and written interactions with prospective customers as well as current customers. Examples of such tools include an RFP Response Wizard, a Win Improvement Toolkit, a Learning from Losses newsletter, and a Customer Experience Kit, among others. Success metrics are also used to track the effectiveness of marketing/sales efforts. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313068 | ADAPTIVE INFORMATION & MEASUREMENT SYSTEM - A method, AND apparatus are described to accurately measure the delivery performance of a postal service using without external agents in the measurement process. The invention describes a system that measures the postal logistic automatically, and continuously. The basis for measurement are tag mail pieces that circulate continuously through the postal system. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313069 | Identity Verification Systems and Methods - Systems and methods are disclosed for verifying customer identifications. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving, at a transaction gateway, a communication associated with a transaction initiated by a customer; determining the communication includes an identity verification request to verify encoded data obtained from an identification presented by the customer; routing the identity verification request to an identity verification service; receiving, from the identity verification service, a result including one or more identification values obtained from the encoded data; and transmitting the result to a requester associated with the communication. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313070 | MANAGING ACCESS TO JOB-SPECIFIC INFORMATION, APPLICATIONS, AND PHYSICAL LOCATIONS - A method and storage medium for managing access to job-specific information, applications, and physical locations are provided. The method includes creating an employee record for a new employee. The employee record includes an employee ID, employee personal data, a job code, and administrative data. The method also includes transmitting a portion of the personal data to an employee directory database, and transmitting a notification to one or both of a manager and a system administrator. The method further includes enabling access to job-specific software applications, and establishing a password account for the employee. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313071 | INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND MATERIAL FOR STERILIZATION FACILITIES - An automated system for management of information and distribution of materials associated with sterilization procedures includes a network server and client computers that communicate via a computer network. The client computers are distributed among sterilization facilities that require sterilization services. The network server exchanges a variety of information with the sterilization facilities. In response to information from client computers, the network server may trigger distribution of materials to sterilization facilities, and generates reports for record-keeping or cost-accounting purposes. The information distributed by the network server may pertain to the operation, maintenance and control of sterilization equipment, characteristics and capabilities of sterilization materials, and expert technical advice. The information received from sterilization facilities includes requests for information, orders for purchase and delivery of materials, and sterilization process information documenting sterilization procedures performed within a sterilization facility. | 12-17-2009 |
20090319307 | Methods of Evaluating Undersaturated Coalbed Reservoirs - The evaluation and assessment of geologic formations comprising undersaturated coalbed methane reservoirs. In some embodiments, the present invention provides for inductively quantifying critical desorption pressure of the solid in an undersaturated coalbed methane reservoir from an unrelated substance, the formation water. By using these techniques, the characterization of undersaturated coalbed methane reservoirs may be more quickly and economically made based upon a methane content characteristic such as critical desorption pressure, gas content, and in some embodiments gas content as calculated from isotherm evaluation, estimates of dewatering for production, and ratios of critical desorption pressure to initial reservoir pressure, among other possible characteristics. The features of the invention may further have applicability in combination with conventional reservoir analysis, such as coring, logging, reservoir isotherm evaluation, or other techniques. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319308 | EQUIPMENT RETROFITTING PROJECT METHOD - An equipment retrofitting project method includes the steps of conducting sales, project management (PM)/design, production and field service phases. The PM/design phase includes the steps of providing a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) and measuring spatial and dimensional coordinates of natural gas compressor station components with the CMM at the compressor station location. The coordinates are related to a reference at the compressor station location. Output is provided from the CMM in the form of part coordinate system (PCS) data comprising the spatial and dimensional data associated with the components and a 3-D model is created from the PCS data. In the production phase new and/or refurbished components are produced utilizing the PCS data at a location remote from the equipment. In the field service phase the new or refurbished components are installed in the equipment. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319309 | PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A system and method for analyzing and minimizing the life-cycle cost of constructing, maintaining and rehabilitating a network of highway pavements for a pre-determined life-cycle and associated range of minimum acceptable conditions thereof. Specifically, the present invention enables a decision maker to realize the trade-off between cost and pavement condition, thereby aiding the decision maker in choosing an appropriate allocation of resources for pavement construction, maintenance and rehabilitation. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319310 | Information Criterion-Based Systems And Methods For Constructing Combining Weights For Multimodel Forecasting And Prediction - Systems and methods are provided for a computer-implemented method for automatically generating a weighted average forecast model that includes receiving a plurality of forecasting models and time series data. At least one parameter of each of the received forecasting models is optimized utilizing the received time series data. A weighting factor is generated for each of the plurality of optimized forecasting models utilizing an information criteria value indicating fit quality of each of the optimized forecasting models, and the generated weighting factors are stored. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319311 | Systems and Methods for Real-Time Monitoring and Analysis of Prescription Claim Rejections - Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for real-time monitoring and analysis of prescription claim rejections. In one embodiment, a transaction performance monitoring system for facilitating real-time monitoring of the rejection of claims can be provided. The transaction performance monitoring system can include a transaction performance monitoring application operable to receive a plurality of claims associated with at least one dispenser, wherein each of the claims relates to at least one prescription and at least one payor. In addition, a transaction performance monitoring application operable to, in real-time, identify rejected claims and associated causes of the rejected claims. Furthermore, a transaction performance monitoring system can include a network operable to communicate the plurality of claims between the at least one dispenser and the at least one payor. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319312 | System and Method for Governance, Risk, and Compliance Management - In particular embodiments, the present invention provides a system and method for governance, risk, and compliance management. For example, a method for governance, risk, and compliance management includes providing an interface for defining a control to be used to reach a goal of an organization. The control provides a procedure to be followed by the organization. The method further includes providing the interface for implementing the control in order to reach the goal of the organization. The method further includes receiving metric data from an external source. The metric data includes a document link. The method further includes providing the interface for accessing, using the document link, one or more documents corresponding to the control. The one or more documents are accessed in such a way as to prevent the one or more documents from losing their status as original. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319313 | Method of automation of business processes and apparatus therefor - The invention disclosed relates to the field of requirement specification in application development. This invention provides a system for business process automation which can generate an executable optimized requirements set by capturing the requirements from the users and processing them to create prototypes. Feedback is obtained from external users on the played prototypes to correct and enhance the requirements to obtain an optimized, complete, correct and consistent requirements set. This helps in the successful development of business application with minimal errors in a very short time. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319314 | METHODS OF COLLECTING AND VISUALIZING GROUP INFORMATION - A system and methods allow groups to be managed. Various methods of collecting and visualizing group information are described. A group head and various members of organizations can organize fundraising activities or groups based on a common purpose. Group performance can be rated and displayed. Various group successes can be reported. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319315 | COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS CARBON OFFSETS - A club or community of mineral producers or other interested parties is put together for the purpose of responsibility account for CO2 and/or other pollutants in produced minerals. The community utilizes a community system to track the amount of CO2 that is associated with produced minerals. The community member sponsoring the mineral contributes to the community fund an amount representative of the value of the estimated CO2 as determined by the community system. The community then utilizes the received funds to invest in carbon offset activities which in turn are returned as benefits to the community members so that either those members can sell carbon offset accounted minerals or the community can do so on the community members' behalf. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319316 | Method and System of Using Structured Social Networks and Communities to Create and Maintain Business Service Models - A method is described for distributing the creation and maintenance tasks of a Business Service Model over social networks and communities in enterprise environments. Members of a community are enabled to view all Business Service Models and components in the community, and in accordance with permissions are enabled to read, create, modify, delete, update, tag, mark and comment on Business service Models and components, including being able to add missing relationships, elements, state propagation rules, or algorithms. Community workspaces are provided for tracking creation and maintenance activities, and individual workspaces are provided summarizing these activities taking place within the individual's communities. Combined together in a continually iterative model, these computer implemented mechanisms provide IT organizations with a complete, accurate and current Business Service Model. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319317 | Or Relating To A Method and System for Testing - A method of evaluating a cost associated with a test scenario, which test scenario comprises one or more branches making up a use case, the method comprising the steps of: determining a first parameter based on the complexity of the use case; determining a second parameter which indicates the criticality of the use case; determining a third parameter which indicates an execution cost of each action and decision point of the use case; determining a fourth parameter which indicates the priority of each branch of the use case; determining a fifth parameter which indicates the classification of each test parameter for each branch of the use case; determining a cost associated with the test scenario, based on a predetermined calculation using two or more of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth parameters. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319318 | NOTIFICATION TRANSMISSION OVER A NETWORK BASED ON OBSERVED DATA - One embodiment includes an apparatus that comprises a storage medium to store a database. The apparatus also includes a port to receive, over a network, data related to a number of observations at a work site based on input into an electronic device. The apparatus includes a processor to store the data into the database, wherein the processor is to output a notification message through the same or a different port and over the network to an account of a supervising party based a metric related to the number of observations. | 12-24-2009 |
20090326994 | Test Method for Detecting Deviations of Geoobjects - Test method for optimizing the collection of tolls from vehicles on toll roads of a road network, which is carried out by a vehicle-mounted position-determining unit and a vehicle-external management unit which has a data connection to the latter, the toll roads of the road network having detection zones superimposed on them in an electronic image of the road network and the vehicle-mounted position-determining unit transmitting toll-related data to the management unit when vehicle positions are determined within the detection range. There is provision for monitoring zones to be additionally provided in the electronic image of the road network, which monitoring zones are assigned to detection zones and in their spatial extent extend in each case beyond the detection zone assigned to them, the position-determining unit transmitting the position data, located within the monitoring zone, of the vehicle to the management unit when vehicle positions are determined within the monitoring zone and outside the detection zone. | 12-31-2009 |
20090326995 | APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A TRADE BUSINESS CARD - This disclosure details apparatuses, methods and systems for a Trade Business Card. The Trade Business Card and Trade Business Card Platform allows users to enter some key business profile data about their company (e.g., address, category of business, customs, DHL, D&B information, telephone number, etc.). This information may then provide other companies and individuals who receive the Trade Business Card access to and the ability to view a provider's services, products and other offerings and to generate a good faith estimate. In one embodiment, the Trade Business Card travels (i.e., is visible) on every Trade Business Card Platform web page and is automatically populated with required data entry fields from searches through the approved purchase process. This eliminates the need for the user or other Trade Business Card Platform participants and/or administrators from having to type in any information about the customer profile manually. | 12-31-2009 |
20090326996 | LOT HANDLING DURING MANUFACTURING - A system for determining a list of potential lots for consolidation is presented. The system includes a module having a database and an input for receiving an event occurrence. The database may include a set of consolidation rules. The module, upon receiving the event occurrence, retrieves the consolidation rules and initiates a consolidation analysis to determine the list of potential lots for consolidation based on the consolidation rules. | 12-31-2009 |
20090326997 | MANAGING A COMPANY'S COMPLIANCE WITH MULTIPLE STANDARDS AND PERFORMING COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF THE SAME - A set of internal processes of a business entity can be identified. At least one compliance standard can be selected. Each compliance standard can include a set of required processes for compliance. The internal processes can be programmatically compared against the set of required processes for the compliance standard. Differences between the internal processes and the required processes can be determined. A compliance cost can be estimated based at least in part upon the determined differences. An expected benefit of satisfying the compliance standard can be determined as can an expected return on investment. When compliance standards change, new compliance standards emerge, and/or business factors of the entity change, data used in previous runs can be re-used. Data concerning internal processes of the entity can be reused when determining compliance costs/benefits for a different standard. | 12-31-2009 |
20090326998 | TRANSACTION RISK MANAGEMENT - The innovation assists risk management staff within a financial institution to effectively and efficiently, establish, monitor and act upon transaction risks that may occur related to treasury services. The process can include establishing a unique customer information, their account relationships with the bank, assigning transactional exposure limits, monitoring those limits, notifying appropriate (or desired) personnel when limits are breached, and notifying customers as appropriate. Additionally, approval matrices are employed to evaluate risk associated with transaction services. | 12-31-2009 |
20090326999 | INNOVATION DEVELOPMENT TRACKING AND MANAGEMENT - Systems (and corresponding methodologies) for monitoring and tracking the evolution of innovations within organizations, such as corporations, are provided. The innovation employs an image rendering to graphically convey development status. Overall, the innovation discloses a formalized mechanism by which innovations can be progressed from conception to product (or process) development and deployment. Thus, the innovation structures the evolution process of ideas throughout the development from conception to application. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327000 | Managing Change Requests in an Enterprise - Systems, methods, and apparatus, including software tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, involve managing change requests in an enterprise. Multiple factors for assessing risk associated with implementing changes within an enterprise are defined, and multiple risk assessment characteristics are associated with each factor. An identification of one of the risk assessment characteristics for each of the factors is received through a user interface. The received identification of risk assessment characteristics is associated with a particular request for approval of a change within the enterprise. A maximum overall risk assessment level for the particular request is identified based on the received identification of risk assessment characteristics for each of a first subset of the factors. An overall risk assessment level is determined for the particular request based, at least in part, on the maximum overall risk assessment level. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327001 | DEFINING AND IMPLEMENTING CONFIGURATION STANDARDS FOR FACILITATING COMPLIANCE TESTING IN AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENT - A method for facilitating compliance testing in an information technology (IT) environment is provided. The method includes defining each IT component of an enterprise as a set of attribute value pairs represented as a configuration item (CI) and defining relationships among the CIs. Configuration Standards for the CIs are defined to include scope identifying CIs to which the Configuration Standards apply and restrictions defining requirements for compliance. Compliance testing is performed for IT components of the enterprise against a selected Configuration Standards by determining, depending on the scope and the restrictions of each of the selected Configuration Standards, which of the IT components within the scope of the selected Configuration Standards fails to meet the restrictions of respective ones of the selected Configuration Standards; and by outputting results as a list, which includes each of the IT components that failed to meet respective ones of the selected Configuration Standards. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327002 | AUTOMATED WORKFLOW FOR CONTENT LOCALIZATION MANAGEMENT - According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for automating content localization workflow including translation processes. The method includes generating initial metadata relating to the status of a content localization workflow. The current status of the metadata is determined and displayed on a user interface dashboard. The user interface dashboard may be used to modify the content localization workflow. The metadata is used to drive changes and interaction from one phase of the workflow to another in an automated manner. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327003 | Electronic business method for monitoring the activity of an establishment - An electronic business method for monitoring the activity of an establishment, including the non-limiting step of: providing an electronic information database preferably associated with a server, wherein the electronic information database includes at least one establishment record; storing activity information about an establishment within an establishment record; receiving a search inquiry regarding the activity of an establishment; and generating at least one content page via a server, wherein the at least one content page includes activity information about an establishment. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327004 | Personnel cost planning - Computer-implemented prospective planning of personnel costs for an enterprise includes conducting planning preparation to plan the personnel costs, electronically collecting data relating to personnel costs, electronically performing a cost planning run, electronically conducting a detailed analysis of the results to revise and modify the collected data to produce updated results, and reporting the results of the cost planning run. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327005 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREPARATION OF AN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FILING IN ACCORDANCE WITH JURISDICTION- AND/OR AGENT-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS - A facility has been developed whereby an applicant (or his representative) may file corresponding applications in multiple jurisdictions using multiple associates while automating the preparation of filings in accordance with jurisdiction- and/or associate-specific requirements and/or procedures. An intellectual property filing portal or hub is employed, which in some realizations is hosted on public, packet switched data network and communicates with both applicants (or representatives) and associates. The intellectual property filing portal facilitates selection, by applicants (or representatives) of particular jurisdictions and associates based at least in part on fee quotations in accordance with particulars of an intellectual property filing and in accordance with fee structures of the particular jurisdictions and foreign associates. In addition, the intellectual property filing portal facilitates registration of associate- and jurisdiction-specific form documents and fee schedules for at least partially automated preparation of formal documents. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327006 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR AUTHENTICATION, FRAUD PREVENTION, COMPLIANCE MONITORING, AND JOB REPORTING PROGRAMS AND SOLUTIONS FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS - A system and method of using a computer to prevent fraud and abuse and to promote reporting transparency, according to various exemplary embodiments, can include receiving data of an entity and individuals; accessing data about the entity and individuals in one or more remote computers to prevent fraud and abuse from being committed by the entity or the individuals; determining whether the data of the entity and individuals satisfies a plurality of criteria and issuing a certification identification number if the data of the entity and individuals satisfies the plurality of criteria; determining whether the data of the entity and individuals is in compliance with at least one government regulation; and defining a plurality of customized criteria and determining whether the data of the entity and individuals satisfies the plurality of customized criteria. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327007 | INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, VALIDATION METHOD, INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, AND PROGRAM - An information processing system includes: a terminal device including a purchase information generating unit generating purchase information for relating a user who purchased a product to the purchased product, the purchase information identified by a predetermined identifier, a verification means generating unit generating verification means verifying correctness of the identifier, and a communication unit sending a purchase verification including the verification means and the identifier verified by the verification means to a terminal of the user; and an information processing device including a communication unit receiving word-of-mouth information entered by a user and a purchase verification when the word-of-mouth information involves it, a validation unit validating correctness of the identifier contained in the received purchase verification using the verification means, and a data holding unit holding purchaser word-of-mouth information having the identifier with correctness verified by the validation unit and non-purchaser word-of-mouth information as the word-of-mouth information other than the purchaser word-of-mouth information. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327008 | Transaction Velocity Counting For Fraud Detection - Methods and systems for detecting fraud based on velocity counts are disclosed. | 12-31-2009 |
20100004961 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACCOUNTING AND CONTRACTING FOR CLINICAL TRIAL STUDIES - A clinical trial study is modeled for automatically generating business intelligence information regarding the clinical trial study. The clinical trial study has a total budget amount and a total amount of deliverables. A software application program is provided that has equations and business rules that together define a process, a timeline, and deliverables associated with the clinical trial study. The program is populated with items including entities that have been contracted to provide the deliverables to the clinical trial study, budget items and amounts related to the deliverables for the respective entities that have been contracted to provide the deliverables, and for at least some of the budget items, a time frame in which the budget item is expected to be incurred or paid. Business intelligence information is then automatically generated using the equations and business rules in the program, and the items entered into the program. The business intelligence information includes appropriate invoice payments for the deliverables for the respective entities that have been contracted to provide the deliverables at a specific time frame, an accounting for the clinical trial study, and cash flow needs for the clinical trial study. | 01-07-2010 |
20100004962 | PROVIDING REAL-TIME TEST AHEAD WORK DIRECTION FOR MANUFACTURING OPTIMIZATION - A system for generating a work unit test ahead candidate list. A list is generated of all potential candidate systems for test ahead operations. A system in the potential candidate list is selected. It is determined whether any work unit in the selected system is waiting for short parts. Determining that no work unit in the selected system is waiting for short parts, a complexity score is calculated for each work unit in the selected system. The calculated complexity scores are added to a total system complexity score. It is then determined whether an override exists for a work unit in the selected system. Determining that an override does exist, the selected system is removed from the potential candidate list. A candidate list is generated from remaining systems in the potential candidate list. Then, the candidate list is outputted to provide recommendations for optimizing work unit test ahead operations. | 01-07-2010 |
20100004963 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING A BUSINESS ORGANIZATION THAT NEEDS TRANSFORMATION - A method and system for identifying a business organization that needs transformation is provided. In one implementation the method and system may include providing information, such as financial, marketing, and internal information, related to a business organization; determining from the information whether the business organization has had a performance trigger; adding the business organization to a list of transformation candidates if the determination identifies the business organization as having had a performance trigger; and displaying on a display device whether the business organization is a candidate for transformation. | 01-07-2010 |
20100004964 | Intention Driven Business Process Modeling - An intention-driven business process modeling system and method are presented. User input is received defining one or more actions related to a real business process. The one or more actions are combined in a logical group to create an intention model, the intention model including business-specific actions to be performed according to the logical group. An application programming interface is defined for each business-specific action. An event model is then defined to generate an event handler to interface with the application programming interface of each business-specific action to execute each action of the intention model. | 01-07-2010 |
20100004965 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF SHARING INFORMATION THROUGH A TAGLESS DEVICE CONSORTIUM - The invention provides one or more consortia of networks that identify and share information about users and/or user devices interacting with the consortia. User devices may be identified, at least in part, by a delta of time parameter between a user device used and a reference time. Other parameters may be analyzed to identify a computer user and/or device and noteworthy transactions. The invention may be used for identity-based applications such as network security, the detection of fraudulent transactions, identity theft, ratings-based communities and law enforcement. | 01-07-2010 |
20100004966 | SYSTEMS ENGINEERING PROCESS - A method for implementing a project for a customer. Business requirements are developed for the project and are reviewed for acceptability in accordance with Business Requirements Review (BRR) exit criteria. System requirements are developed for the project and are reviewed for acceptability in accordance with system requirements review (SRR) exit criteria. Component requirements are developed for the project and are reviewed for acceptability in accordance with Preliminary Design Review (PDR) exit criteria. The business requirements are decomposed into the system requirements. The system requirements are decomposed into the component requirements. A Requirements Traceability and Verification Matrix (RTVM) is generated when the business requirements are established. The RTVM is updated throughout the life of the project. The RTVM includes verification information relating to the business requirements, the system requirements, and the component requirements. The RTVM depicts hierarchical relationships between the business requirements, the system requirements, and the component requirements. | 01-07-2010 |
20100010842 | Computer-Implemented Systems and methods for Producing, Processing and Managing Structured Data Sets - Systems and methods are provided for retrieving a product template from a product template directory to generate a contract document reflecting a contract. The product template comprises basic functions associated with a product. Distribution rules indicate whether a particular data combination can lead to a contract. The systems and methods may determine, based on the distribution rules, which conditions are fulfilled so that a customer is given access to a product associated with the basic function. A relationship may be created between a distribution rule and a basic function allocated to the distribution rule. The systems and methods provide functionalities for implementing contract data and for managing and administering customer contracts relevant to a customer. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010843 | ALGORITHM SYSTEM AND METHOD - An algorithm system and method is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes selecting an algorithm to calculate a demand factor for each job in a job list requiring a demand factor calculation, calculating the demand factor using the selected algorithm, and assigning the calculated demand factors to the corresponding jobs in the job list. The calculating demand factor using the selected algorithm includes utilizing data associated with a job in the job list to calculate the demand factor using the selected algorithm. For example, the data includes aging data of the jobs, job status data, and client priority data of the job. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010844 | Method of Identifying and Prioritizing New Product Concepts and Development - A product development process directed to elicit previously unknown, unmet needs of consumer group participants using, in a principal aspect of the invention, guided imagery in the idea discovery stage. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010845 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONSTRUCTING PRODUCTION PLANS - Systems and methods are presented for constructing production plans to achieve one or more production goals, in which a diagnosis engine determines the production plant condition based on a previously executed plan, observations from the plant, and a plant model, and formulates a heuristic based on a diagnostic objective, and with a planner to performing a partial-plan search using the heuristic to construct the plans that will concurrently achieve at least one production goal and facilitate the diagnostic objective. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010846 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EVALUATING BUSINESS-CRITICAL CRITERIA RELATING TO EXPLORING ENTITY MOBILITY/PRODUCTIVITY OPPORTUNITIES - Systems, methods and computer-readable media for evaluating business-critical criteria relating to exploring entity mobility/productivity opportunities are provided. A method according to the invention may include calculating a hierarchy of a plurality of decision elements regarding the opportunities. The calculating can include forming a matrix of values corresponding to the relative importance of each of the decision elements with respect to one another. The method can also include calculating a weighted composite score for each sub-process specified in each of the plurality of decision elements. The method may include compiling a favorability rating for each sub-process. The favorability rating for each sub-process may be based, at least in part, on the weighted composite score for each sub-process and the matrix of values corresponding to the relative importance of each of the decision elements with respect to one another. Finally, the method may include ranking each favorability rating to form a favorability index. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010847 | TECHNIQUE THAT UTILIZES A MONTE CARLO METHOD TO HANDLE THE UNCERTAINTY OF INPUT VALUES WHEN COMPUTING THE NET PRESENT VALUE (NPV) FOR A PROJECT - The present invention can include a method for handling the uncertainty of input variables in the calculation of the net present value (NPV) of a project that utilizes a Monte Carlo approach. Such a method can begin by expressing the equation for the net present value (NPV) in a probabilistic form. The probabilistic form can allow for the input variables to be treated as random variables with triangular distributions. Various equation parameters for the probabilistic NPV equation can be defined. A Monte Carlo computational algorithm can be executed that utilizes the probabilistic NPV equation and the defined equation parameters to produce multiple probabilistic NPV distributions. For each probabilistic NPV distribution, a mean value and a standard deviation can be ascertained. The mean value can represent the present value (PV) of the project and the standard deviation can represent the associated risk of the project. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010848 | TROUBLE TICKET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Management of trouble tickets for a circuit is provided. A method and system provides a plurality of management tools that enable a user to obtain, verify, and manage information related to a trouble ticket to ensure compliance with federal standards and proper resolution and billing for problems experienced for a customer. With the method and system, the user may open a trouble ticket, close the trouble ticket, and bill a customer for services associated with resolving the trouble ticket. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010849 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TAX RISK ASSESSMENT AND CONTROL - A method of determining an enterprise risk for a tax exempt entity based upon data required to complete a tax form. The method includes the steps of organizing the data into a plurality of categories to determine areas of risk related to public relations and to tax exempt status. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010850 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SOLUTION ORDERING BY FEDERATION OF ORDER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND USE OF SOLUTION RECORDS - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art with respect to solution order processing and provide a novel and non-obvious method, computer system and computer program product for processing solution orders using solution records. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for solution ordering across disparate order and contract management systems in a manufacturing environment can be provided. The method can include receiving a request for a solution from a customer, identifying a solution that satisfies the request for a solution, determining a solution order for the identified solution, generating a solution record for the solution order and assigning a solution record number to the solution record. The method can further include populating the solution record with product identification numbers received from multiple product lines in the manufacturing environment. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010851 | REAL ESTATE SPACE EVALUATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for allowing users of real estate to calculate the relative costs of various office space area sizes so an educated decision can be made early in the real estate leasing and purchasing processes, thus eliminating potential additional work necessary caused by adjustments to space requirements midway through a relocation. The system also allows the user to create a detailed description of the construction that will be required for that space so an accurate construction estimate can be obtained. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010852 | Systems and methods for configuring and profiling a digital media device - A system, method, and computer program for configuring and profiling digital media devices is provided. The digital media device is monitored for user interaction. Profile data is generated based on the user interaction. The digital media device is automatically configured based on the profile data. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010853 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ANALYZING BUSINESS PROCESS FLOW - An apparatus includes: an extracting unit to extract, from a data storage section, a process instance having a business event associated with a specific attribute having a range of attribute values, there being stored in the data storage section a plurality of process instances for which a series of business events are arranged in time series, and attribute values of one or a plurality of attributes associated with each business event; a specifying unit to specify transitions between the business events included in the extracted process instance in each given range, and to specify one amongst the given ranges in which the extracted process instance is relatively most changed based on transition between specified business events; and an output unit to produce a flowchart including a flow in which the process instances extracted in the specified process are superimposed on each other, and to output the flowchart. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010854 | FARM WORK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, FARM WORK MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, AND FARMING MANAGEMENT METHOD - A farm work management system includes a communication apparatus for transmitting location information of a worker carrying out a farm work and a farm work management apparatus for managing a progress of the farm work based on the location information transmitted from the communication apparatus. The communication apparatus includes a notifying unit for notifying the farm work management apparatus to the effect that the farm work is started or the farm work is finished in a case where an operation unit receives the predetermined operation. The farm work management apparatus includes a work location identifying unit for identifying the work location based on the location information transmitted from the communication apparatus, a calculating unit for calculating an estimated work time from read information, and a transmitting unit for transmitting to the communication apparatus the information about the read work content and the estimated work time having been calculated. | 01-14-2010 |
20100017239 | Forecasting Discovery Costs Using Historic Data - A computer-implemented method and apparatus for forecasting discovery costs includes probability-based forecasting and capturing historic stage transition data for each matter stage regarding the duration of each historic matter stage and regarding the number of new custodians and data sources added during that matter stage. The stage transition data is statistically and aggregated by stage and matter type. Progress for existing matters is extrapolated. Initiation of future matters is forecast by extrapolating how many new matters are expected to be initiated over the duration of a forecasting period. The average pace of progress is extrapolated from the historic data. Volumes of production and custodians are forecasted by extrapolation using quantitative characteristics of the historic stage transition data. | 01-21-2010 |
20100017240 | RECYCLING AID SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, AND RECYCLING AID METHOD - A recycling aid system for aiding a recycling process of an electronic apparatus is disclosed. The recycling aid system includes: the electronic apparatus; a radio communication apparatus placed in a location on a route through which the electronic apparatus moves; and a management server apparatus connected to the electronic apparatus via the radio communication apparatus. The electronic apparatus includes: a unit configured to obtain physical measurement data of environment of the electronic apparatus, and to store the physical measurement data in a storage unit; a unit configured to obtain traceability data, and to store the traceability data in the storage unit; a unit configured to transmit the environment history data and the traceability data to the management server apparatus; and a unit configured to receive data including the environment history data and the traceability data from the management server apparatus, and to visually output the received data. | 01-21-2010 |
20100023358 | RISK ANALYSIS AND MITIGATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF ANALYZING AND MITIGATING RISK - A machine-implemented method for analyzing risk associated with an activity may include receiving inputs identifying a user and an activity to be analyzed, selecting a boundary dataset including operator data, vehicle/equipment data, and/or general operations data, selecting a boundary parameter from the selected dataset, selecting an environmental parameter associated with the selected boundary parameter, and determining whether the selected environmental parameter exceeds a threshold level of risk associated with the selected boundary parameter. | 01-28-2010 |
20100023359 | INTEGRATED PROUCTION LOSS MANAGEMENT - Current monitoring systems often provide the operating condition of a specific component and do not consider the impact of a specific failure upon an entire system or a business. Nor do the current systems provide an avenue for the business to predict the loss, as well as its impact, and make an educated decision of mitigating the loss based upon economic, environmental, and health and safety considerations. Methods and systems are provided for predicting loss events, impacts of loss events, and providing potential corrective measures to reduce or eliminate the occurrence or impact of the loss events. One aspect relates to the use of system-wide information to predict variables that are directly linked to business impact, such as production loss. Extraneous and transactional data are also utilized according to other aspects of the invention. | 01-28-2010 |
20100023360 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE AGILITY OF A BUSINESS OFFERING - In a particular embodiment, a method for measuring and assessing the agility of a business offering that includes creating a plurality of agility factors that can be used to measure a responsiveness of a business offering to change. The method further includes assigning a weight to each agility factor. Each weight indicates a relevant contribution of an associated agility factor to the responsiveness of the business offering. The method further includes receiving user inputs of agility values for at least a portion of the plurality of agility factors and using the user inputs of agility values and the weight assigned to each agility factor to calculate an agility result. The agility result provides a quantitative assessment of the adaptability of the business offering. | 01-28-2010 |
20100023361 | Enterprise Asset Management - Systems, methods, and apparatus, including software tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, involve tracking assets in an enterprise. An electronic asset record is generated based on a request for an asset before receiving a particular asset in response to the request. A particular asset is selected in response to the request for the asset, and data relating to the particular asset is received. The electronic asset record is associated with the particular asset based on the received data. After the particular asset is received, the electronic asset record is modified based on information about the particular asset. | 01-28-2010 |
20100023362 | MANAGEMENT OF BUSINESS PROCESS KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - A method for managing key performance indicators (KPIs) in an enterprise business having a plurality of business units can be provided. The method can include receiving a target for a general KPI and at least one constraint for a general attribute, wherein the general KPI is an aggregation of KPIs and wherein the general attribute is an aggregation of attributes. The method can further include reading a formula for each of the business units, wherein a formula defines how changes in a KPI are correlated with changes in the unit's attribute. The method can further include calculating for each business unit a separate target for the KPI of the business unit such that: a) the general attribute remains within the at least one constraint and b) the target for the general KPI is attained and sending to each business unit a separate target that was calculated. | 01-28-2010 |
20100023363 | Logistics plannning in a business environment - A method for supply chain design may include identifying nodes, links connecting the nodes, and replenishment strategies for moving materials along the links, in a supply chain. The method may also include determining a value indicative of the complexity of the supply chain based on a characteristic of the nodes, links, and replenishment strategies. The method may also include identifying whether core competencies of the nodes are underutilized. The method may also include reducing the complexity of the supply chain to increase utilization of the core competencies of the nodes. | 01-28-2010 |
20100023364 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING A THREAT AGAINST A BORDER - A method for determining a threat against a border from objects crossing or trying to cross said border. Said method includes at least the steps of segmenting the border into border elements of uniform terrain features infrastructure and weather conditions, collecting data of incidents occurring along a given border element, determining a threat potential for said border element, determining a protection factor for the border element, and determining a threat against the border element from the threat potential and protection factor. The method may be used for warning about an increased threat to a border, wherein the threat is compared with a threat value threshold. If the threat exceeds the threat value threshold, an alarm is issued. The method may also be used for allocating protective measures along a border. | 01-28-2010 |
20100023365 | Software database driven accounting, contact management, marketing automation and communication system, method and compilation for managing multi-tiered incentive referral compensation and charitable contributions applied to social or business networking websites selling goods or services in electronic commerce - This data processing and online computer network software application system and method specifically addresses deficiencies of current systems and methods in generating rapid and sustainable word-of-mouth and viral customer referral and retention activity through automation of networking, computing, tracking, storing, reporting, analyzing and paying multiple levels of residual referral compensation to registered users (“Member” or “Members”) of an online interactive social or business networking enabled website (“Sponsor” or “Sponsors”) also offering charitable donation inclusion as part of its electronic commerce network marketing and transactional management system. | 01-28-2010 |
20100030595 | Transactional Engine Linking Businesses to Multiple Recruitment Companies for Engagement & Management of Labour - The invention provides methods and business methods for processing and publishing business information, and for networked procurement and tracking of data such as cost, charge, and budget analysis, from a secure hub, based on the use of time sheets as the single source, for collection to a single location, for processing to produce reports which are then distributable to, buyers and suppliers of casual and permanent labour in a secure environment. The invention allows multiple buyers (e.g. companies), suppliers (e.g. agents) and workers to transact with multiple discrete levels or customised secure access levels, from only one database and requires no proprietary software at the user end apart from a web browser. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030596 | Business Process Intelligence - Systems, methods, and apparatus, including software tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, involve managing business information in an enterprise. Multiple business operations are identified for achieving a business objective in the enterprise, and one or more data operations are identified for managing information related to a subset of the business operations. An automated business process is defined for implementing the business operations and the data operation. The automated business process initiates the data operation based on execution of the subset of business operations. The automated business process is stored for repeated use in the enterprise. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030597 | Internet Content Delivery Management System - A delivery management engine that monitors and controls system Internet content delivery, primarily advertisement, is presented. The system uses automated scripts to track delivery of content and includes a discrepancy reconciliation engine that reconciles delivery counts between multiple server systems. The system includes user encoded business rules that enable automatic adjustments to advertisement campaigns to ensure that a contracted number of deliveries is met. The system avoids both over-delivery and under-delivery of content against a target and therefore optimizes the use of valuable advertising space. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030598 | PLATFORM PROVISIONING SYSTEM AND METHOD - There is provided a platform provisioning system and method. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is a computerized method of provisioning a new environment to an application platform, the method including analyzing a current state of the application platform, defining business requirements for the new environment, defining technical requirements for the new environment, generating a logical architecture for the new environment based on the business requirements and the technical requirements, performing a gap analysis on the application platform based on the current state of the application platform and the generated logical architecture, generating a technical architecture for the new environment based at least partially on the gap analysis, generating a physical architecture for the new environment based at least partially on the technical architecture, and provisioning the new environment based at least partially on the physical architecture. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030599 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATING HEALTH CARE PAYERS AND PROVIDER SYSTEMS WITH HEALTH CARE TRANSACTION SYSTEMS USING A SINGLE HIPAA EDI RESPONSE GENERATION COMPONENT - A method, system, and computer program product for integrating Health Care Payers and Providers with a health care transaction system. The health care transaction (HCT) utility solves the problem of integration between these two parties by providing the developer with an application that is capable of automatically generating an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) response message to a request. The HCT utility mainly consists of a servlet (associated with the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) or other data communication protocol) that forwards an EDI request from a sending party to applications that may act as either a payer or provider. These applications may automatically process and respond to request EDI messages sent from other applications using an EDI processor application. The HCT utility provides the advantage of providing an infrastructure for testing healthcare transactions. Furthermore, the infrastructure enables testing of a variety of transactions from multiple sources. Additionally, clearinghouse testing may now be automated. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030600 | Valuing model option contracts - A method for determining the theoretical value of a Model Option contract. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030601 | PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT - There is described herein a method for evaluating the relative sustainability of a product, addressing the complete physical life cycle, the method comprising: defining a product within a product family wherein products perform equivalent functions; defining a set of environmental, social, and economic criteria; selecting a product from said product family as a baseline for comparison; and scoring said product compared to said baseline for each of said criteria. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030602 | COFFEE DISPENSING DEVICE AND METHOD - A coffee dispensing device is provided with a transport device that couples various components for the processing of unroasted coffee beans together. For example a roaster may be coupled to a grinding and brewing device to enable the transfer of roasted coffee beans between the roaster and grinder/brewer. Also, the transport device may transfer the roasted coffee beans from a roaster to an output port so that roasted coffee beans may be obtained. An automated coffee transaction device (ACTD) is also provided to automate aspects of the purchasing of coffee. A service delay projection calculator is also provided to estimate the expected wait time of a customer entering a queue. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030603 | Estimation Mechanisms that Utilize a Complexity Matrix - An example of a solution provided here comprises receiving project-characteristic inputs for a project, receiving major-services inputs for the project, applying analysis rules to the inputs, and outputting, for the project, at least one complexity measure that is usable in an estimation process. | 02-04-2010 |
20100036690 | SERVICE SCHEDULING - Techniques for scheduling one or more services are provided. The techniques include obtaining customer information, obtaining one or more service characteristics for each of the one or more services, and using the customer information and the one or more service characteristics to schedule the one or more services. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036691 | PHASE DRIVEN MODELING SERVICES - A software project management method uses templates from one project phase as inputs to their subsequent project phases. The project is organized in four phases, each phase having one or more steps and one or more attributes. Using XSL, a phase model is transformed into a starting point as input for the subsequent phase model. XSL-FO is used to generate PDF documents from any phase model to export a particular project deliverable. The information and data created within that phase still has meaning as input for the next phase. A model thus derived can be reused for another project as well as to transform into a model used by a subsequent phase within the same project. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036692 | VENDING MACHINE TRACKING SYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE-CHANNEL TRACKING DEVICE - A tracking system counts events in the operation of multiple vending machines. The tracking system receives event data through multiple channels and stores the data for collection and analysis. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036693 | FLOW TRACKING OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUBSTANCES - An environmental tracking system provides facilities for modeling the processes of an organization that have an impact on the environment. The environmental tracking system allows each process to be modeled by its input substances and its resulting output substances. The environmental tracking system allows links to be established between the processes, such as indicating a source process and a destination process for a substance. Each process performs a conversion of input substances to output substances in accordance with conversion parameters specified for the process. Once the model of the processes of an organization is established, the environmental tracking system can track the flow of substances through the organization based on the model. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036694 | Method and System for Providing a Customized Publicaiton - Methods and systems for providing customized publications, such as cookbooks are disclosed. The methods and systems display a list of recipes associated with a library of recipes selected by a user and receive from a user a selection set of one or more recipes from the list of recipes. The methods and systems also retrieve the one or more recipes in the selection set from a content database, assemble a customized cookbook having a plurality of pages that include the retrieved one or more recipes, and send an order for printing the customized cookbook. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036695 | Supply chain verification system - Supply chain verification system with a multi brand level of information, a brand level of information, a product manufacturer level of information, a component level of information and a prime ingredient level of information. Each level of information remaining available to its own level or lower levels than its own, but not to higher levels than its own except for a central independent organization that has access to all the levels of the information for the purpose of evaluating and assuring a pre-set level of product quality. A preferred embodiment includes the information levels pertains to food quality and origination. A preferred embodiment includes the food quality is related to whether the food can be certified organic or not. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036696 | Agricultural Machine And Operator Performance Information Systems and Related Methods - In one example, a system can comprise a first data gathering mechanism set and a data processing mechanism set. The a first data gathering mechanism set can be configured to gather a first operational data set during operation of a first agricultural machine set, and to transmit the first operational data set to a network. The first operational data set can comprise information representative of one or more characteristics of an agricultural crop during production. The a data processing mechanism can be configured to store a combined data set comprising the first operational data set, and generate one or more reports based on the combined data set. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036697 | Online Management of the Provision of Advice and Services - A method and system for the management of the provision of advice and services and in particular to consultancy services managed and provided via the Internet or any other public Internet type network. The method comprises the steps of receiving requests from a plurality of participants including an advice provider and at least one user for access to a conferencing event. The identity of each participant is checked and a conferencing space is established in which each participant is able to communicate with each other participant. The charge for the conferencing event is debited from prearranged users' accounts. | 02-11-2010 |
20100042445 | CUSTOMIZABLE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS DASHBOARD AND ALERTS, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A customizable situational awareness system is described that allows a user to customize the type of information that the user receives through a user interface, e.g., a dashboard, displayed by the system. In particular embodiments, the system can allow the user to configure alerts that are sent to the user's mobile or other device based on situational awareness events. In further embodiments, the customizable situational awareness system receives user configuration data related to flight events, maintenance events, and alerts. When the system receives situational awareness data, the system can retrieve the user's configuration data and display the situational awareness data based on the user's configuration data. Thus, aspects of the customizable situational awareness system allow the user to access information that is more relevant to the user and to filter out less relevant information. | 02-18-2010 |
20100042446 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING CORE PROPERTY REVIEW - An apparatus for providing real estate property review and evaluation is provided. The apparatus may include a storage module, an analysis engine in communication with the storage module, and an evaluation output module in communication with the analysis engine. The analysis engine may be configured to receive from the storage module information corresponding to a plurality of real estate properties. The information may further correspond to a predetermined group of data points for each of the properties. The analysis engine may calculate a score for each of the properties based on the information for the data points for each of the properties. The analysis engine may also transmit to the evaluation output module an index value for each of the properties based, at least in part, on the calculated score for each of the properties. | 02-18-2010 |
20100042447 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIRECT MANIPULATION OF A TRIANGULAR DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION USING A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE - A system and method are provided for direct manipulation of a triangular distribution of information using a graphical user interface. The system includes a graphical user interface for receiving user inputted values. The system further includes a data calculator for generating estimates based on the user inputted values, and for generating curves for display on a grid based on at least one of, the user inputted values and the estimates. The graphical user interface respectively receives the user inputted values based at least on a current position of a pointer on the grid. The graphical user interface is capable of applying a direct manipulation, based at least on the current position of the pointer on the grid, to at least one of the user inputted values and the estimates, such that a result of the direct manipulation is displayed on the grid. | 02-18-2010 |
20100042448 | APPARATUS, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD, FOR EVALUATING ORGANIZATION BEHAVIOR USING ORGANIZATION ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION - An apparatus, and an associated methodology for evaluating organization behavior from electronic communications between members of an organization. The comparison determines whether a first group dominates a second group, whether a first person of a first group dominates said first group or whether a first person of a first group dominates said organization. An alert message is generated and transmitted if it is determined that communications indicate that organizational effectiveness is or might be effected by inappropriate communications. | 02-18-2010 |
20100042449 | Heterogeneous Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure Management Orchestration - In certain embodiments, a method includes accessing one or more parameters based on an IT service request received from an upper-layer IT interface, the parameters formatted according to an upper-layer IT interface construct. Appropriate IT domains are determined, according to at least a portion of the parameters, from a number of IT domains for implementing IT infrastructure for fulfilling the request, the domains each associated with one or more vendor-specific solutions for providing IT infrastructure of a type associated with the domain. Using a common semantic interrelational data model that includes mappings of constructs for upper-layer IT interfaces to constructs for IT domains, at least a portion of the parameters are translated from the upper-layer IT interface construct into constructs suitable for use by the determined appropriate domains. One or more parameterized instructions operable to cause appropriate vendor-specific implementations of the determined appropriate domains to implement appropriate infrastructure for fulfilling the request are communicated. | 02-18-2010 |
20100042450 | SERVICE LEVEL MANAGEMENT IN A SERVICE ENVIRONMENT HAVING MULTIPLE MANAGEMENT PRODUCTS IMPLEMENTING PRODUCT LEVEL POLICIES - A change can be identified in service level for a Web service for an entity from a first service level to a second service level. Active policies associated with the first service can be retrieved. The active policies can be policies of a set of different management products of a service environment. For each management product, policies associated with the first service level can be deactivated. Policies associated with the second service level can be retrieved. For each management product, policies associated with the second service level can be activated. In one embodiment, the activation and deactivation of policies can occur automatically using a service level manager that programmatically handles service level specific adjustments across management products. | 02-18-2010 |
20100042451 | Risk management decision facilitator - Methods and systems for facilitating risk management decisions are provided. Example embodiments provide a Risk Management Decision Facilitator System “RMDFS”, which enables users to normalize all risk management decisions so that they are made consistently, in-line with entity policy, regardless of who is making them and their point in a product lifecycle. An example RMDFS accomplish these goals by providing components and processes that are linked together using a normalized risk matrix, so that all decisions are viewed against a standardized set of severity terms, likelihood terms, and risk classifications regardless of the particulars of the product or process being manipulated. All problem assessments, risk assessments, and risk controls are automatically evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. | 02-18-2010 |
20100042452 | METHOD OF ONLINE PREDICTING MAINTENANCE OF AN APPARATUS - A method of online predicting maintenance of an apparatus is disclosed. Using an optical emission spectroscopy (OES) positioned on the apparatus and the change of emission spectrum intensity detected by the OES in the process, according to the detected results, measuring the parameter in the process, the function relation between the process parameter and spectrum intensity is acquired. A control threshold is decided by the processing requirement to the apparatus. When the parameter exceeds the control threshold, maintenance to the etching apparatus is engaged in order to avoid processing error caused by frequent shutdown or deficient maintenance which is estimated by experience, and hence decreasing the cost and increasing processing efficiency of substrates (such as silicon wafers) without changing apparatus and adding other online sensor, and improving production rate by avoiding waste substrates caused by error processing results. The method is suitable for semiconductor substrate etching maintenance of the apparatus and also other maintenance of the apparatus. | 02-18-2010 |
20100042453 | Methods and apparatus for greenhouse gas footprint monitoring - The present invention invention provides methods, apparatus, and systems for determining greenhouse gas (including carbon dioxide) emissions and energy usage, costs and savings of individuals, families, homes, buildings, businesses, or the like. User inputs specific to an end user are accepted, and one or more of the user inputs are correlated with at least one of historic data and modeled characteristics pertaining to greenhouse gas emissions and energy usage to obtain at least one of greenhouse gas emissions and energy usage corresponding to said one or more of said user inputs. An overall greenhouse gas emissions and energy usage can then be determined for the end user based on the greenhouse emissions and energy usage corresponding to the one or more of the user inputs. A specific impact of a particular user action on the end user's overall greenhouse gas emissions and energy usage may also be calculated. | 02-18-2010 |
20100042454 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DETECTING MORTGAGE RELATED FRAUD - Embodiments include systems and methods of detecting fraud. In particular, one embodiment includes a system and method of detecting fraud in mortgage applications. For example, one embodiment includes a computerized method of detecting fraud that includes receiving mortgage data associated with an applicant and at least one entity related to processing of the mortgage data, determining a first score for the mortgage data based at least partly on a first model that is based on data from a plurality of historical mortgage transactions associated with the entity, and generating data indicative of fraud based at least partly on the first score. Other embodiments include systems and method of generating models for use in fraud detection systems. | 02-18-2010 |
20100049557 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPTIMIZING POSTAGE COSTS IN A DIRECT MARKETING CAMPAIGN - Systems and methods for optimizing postage costs in a direct marketing mail campaign are described. In one configuration, an efficient, advertiser-based direct mail targeting mailing list creation system is described. It may then be utilized to add names to an existing direct mail list in order to optimize postage costs associated with such a mailing campaign. In another configuration, a managed, rolling direct mail campaign is utilized to provide a standby group of mail pieces used over time to optimize postage costs associated with a first mailing campaign. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049558 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY GENERATING SUGGESTED ENTRIES FOR POLICY SETS WITH INCOMPLETE COVERAGE - A system and method for determining policy coverage and generating a suggested policy for gaps in the policy coverage includes determining policy coverage for one or more policies in a policy coverage space and determining regions uncovered by the policy coverage in the policy coverage space. Suggested policies are generated to cover the regions uncovered by the policy coverage. The policy coverage is supplemented with the suggested polices to complete coverage of a policy set. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049559 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FOCUSED AND SCALABLE EVENT ENRICHMENT FOR COMPLEX IMS SERVICE MODELS - A system and method for focused and scalable event enrichment for information management system service models in which a monitoring agent monitors one or more IT components running on one or more end-points. When an event probe is installed, a local metadata cache is primed with metadata stored on a metadata server. After a monitoring agent receives an event from an end-point, the event is enriched with metadata stored in the local metadata cache. The enriched event is then uploaded to an event monitoring server. A business service manager server uses the enriched events stored on the event monitoring server to manage the service model and to quickly determine service status based on service impacting events. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049560 | RETENTION OF SUBSCRIBERS TO A COMMUNICATION SERVICE - An apparatus and method to retain subscribers to a communication service includes a first step ( | 02-25-2010 |
20100049561 | FLUIDIZED BED COMBUSTION OPTIMIZATION TOOL AND METHOD THEREOF - A device for optimizing a modeled fluidized bed combustion power plant ( | 02-25-2010 |
20100049562 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REPORTING CONTINUING EDUCATION - A system, method, and software package configured to monitor and report continuing education attendance. The system may include a plurality of kiosks positioned at a continuing education location, wherein the kiosks are configured to monitor conference attendees attendance at particular educational seminars. The kiosks may then generate a continuing education certificate for the user to present to the governing body, or alternatively, the kiosks may independently transmit the continuing education certificate to the governing body on behalf of the conference attendee. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049563 | Interactive Computer Implemented Website System and Its Method of Use - A website system that allows customers and service providers to enter into secured service agreements, wherein disputes are resolved by the website system without having to resort to the courts, attorneys, or private mediation or arbitration services. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049564 | Method and Apparatus for Real-Time Automated Impact Assessment - A method for automated real-time impact assessment is disclosed. The method uses real-time events and alerts from monitored systems and environments such as computer networks, telecommunications networks, transportation systems, buildings, military units, emergency response teams, air traffic, medical facilities and services, chemical process plants, manufacturing assembly lines, power plants, farms, supply-chain management, businesses with workflow-based business processes, and other real-time applications which maintain situational models to depict, determine, and analyze the historical, current, and potential state of a complex set of interacting things, entities, and agents. The method shows first a means to acquire and update the relationships between entities represented in the situational view and entities such as business process, tasks, assets, and missions which are the subject of the impact assessment. The method shows second a means to automatically determine and maintain, from the situational view and other information, an evaluation of the impact on the subjects of the assessment, such entities including business processes, tasks, assets, and missions. The method shows third a means to determine impact assessment from potential and actual situations in the situational view. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049565 | Method of computing spreadsheet risk within a spreadsheet risk reconnaissance network employing a research agent installed on one or more spreadsheet file servers - A method of computing spreadsheet risk within a spreadsheet risk reconnaissance network employing a research agent installed on one or more spreadsheet file servers registered on the network, and one or more spreadsheet file servers for supporting one or more user organizations registered and communicating with a data processing center. The method involves the steps of one or more of the research agents collecting metadata from spreadsheet files stored on said spreadsheet file servers registered on the network. Either the research agents or the data processing center, (i) analyze the collected metadata associated with each spreadsheet file, (ii) identify Spreadsheet Purpose from collected metadata, and (iii) calculate the Relative Likelihood of Error (RLE) and the Relative Likelihood of Concern (RLC), based on the calculated RLE, for a plurality of spreadsheet files associated with at least one user organization under management by the network. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049566 | Quality control system, quality control program, and client device - A quality control system comprises servers connected to companies having different quality control in-house systems and interconnected through networks and client devices operated by quality control managers belonging to the respective companies. In this quality control system, when the client device of one company logs in a server, according to the definition of the one company as a master and the definition of the customer company (step S | 02-25-2010 |
20100057504 | FUNCTIONAL EXTENSIONS FOR BUSINESS OBJECTS - A system may include generation of extension metadata defining a functional extension associated with a business object, and generation of a runtime metadata buffer comprising enhanced metadata, the enhanced metadata based on core metadata of the business object and the extension metadata. In some aspects, a service request associated with the business object is received, it is determined whether the service request is associated with the functional extension, an extension service associated with the functional extension is provided if it is determined that the service request is associated with the functional extension, and a core service associated with core data of the business object is provided if it is determined that the service request is not associated with the functional extension. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057505 | BUSINESS PROCESS COMMUNITY INPUT - A community input method can be provided. The method can include receiving from an end user a request to access a portion of a workflow in a business process instance, prompting the end user to provide community input to community documentation for the portion of the workflow, and rendering the community documentation accessible by other end users accessing the portion of the workflow. Optionally, an interval (whether fixed or random) of a number of end users requesting access to the portion of the workflow in the business process instance can be determined, and the end user can be programmatically prompted to provide community input only if the request from the end user is received on the determined interval. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057506 | CONVERSION VALUE REPORTING USING CONVERSION VALUE PIXEL - A first web page at a first server includes a clickable advertisement. The reporting pixel is associated with a unique identification. The reporting pixel is further associated with the advertisement or with a line item or campaign that is associated with the advertisement. When a user clicks on the advertisement, the user's client browser is redirected to a second web page corresponding to the advertisement at a second server. The redirect includes context information associated with the advertisement. The second web page eventually leads the user to a conversion. The second server obtains the revenue generated from the conversion and reports the revenue to the first server. The revenue is identified by the pixel identification associated with the reporting pixel and the context information associated with the advertisement. The first server collects and aggregates the revenue for the advertisement, or line item or campaign to which the advertisement is associated. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057507 | Real-Time Manufacturing Routing Optimization Using Content and Quality Level - Dynamically generating manufacturing routings in a manufacturing environment, using content and quality level information. The content and quality level information may pertain to multiple, disparate commodities (e.g., parts and/or assemblies) which are to be processed as a group, and some of those commodities may have already undergone various processes (such as testing of various types and durations). The generated routings may reflect parameterizations pertaining to the commodities. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057508 | STRUCTURED IMPLEMENTATION OF BUSINESS FUNCTIONALITY CHANGES - The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for structured implementation of business functionality changes. A pre-defined resource vocabulary is utilized to assist in determining if a business capability change is worthwhile. The pre-defined resource vocabulary provides a mechanism for a plurality of different organizations to consider business capability changes in a uniform, repeatable, and consistent manner. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057509 | CO-OCCURRENCE CONSISTENCY ANALYSIS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FINDING PREDICTIVE VARIABLE GROUPS - A method of modeling includes quantifying a co-operative strength value for a plurality of pairs of variables, and identifying a clique of at least three variables based on a graph of the co-operative strength values of a plurality of pairs of variables. The method also includes selecting a first pair of variables of the plurality of pairs of variables having a high co-operative strength value. A second clique may also be identified. A model of the first clique and a model of the second clique are made. The outputs of these models are combined to form a combined model which is used to make various decisions with respect to real time data. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057510 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN AUDIT TOOL FOR COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDERS - A method for auditing installation of communications facilities. Network engineering information is received. The network engineering information may include telecommunications installation requirements and a budget associated with one or more telecommunications projects. A portal is displayed to receive telecommunications installation information from one or more contractors assigned to perform the one or more telecommunications projects. Auditing information associated with the one or more telecommunications projects is received. The auditing information and the network engineering information are automatically compared to the telecommunications information to determine deviations for multiple criteria. The deviations are reported for adjusting the compensation of the contractor. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057511 | INTEGRATED AUTONOMOUS FLEET MANAGEMENT USING SELF-AWARE VEHICLES - An apparatus for managing a fleet of vehicles. On each of the vehicles are a plurality of vehicle subsystems, each subsystem capable of monitoring conditions and assessing capabilities of the subsystem. For each vehicle, a vehicle management system has one or more processors and memory configured to: monitor conditions and assess capabilities of the vehicle based on subsystem condition and capability information provided by the subsystems, and based on the monitored vehicle conditions and assessed vehicle capabilities, initiate performance of one or more fleet management functions. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057512 | Linear assets inspection system - The invention provides a graphical user interface implemented on a computer including an information area for displaying to a user at the computer inspection status information in connection with one or more components of a linear asset infrastructure. The graphical user interface also includes a control component operable by the user at the computer to cause the graphical user interface to display additional information on the one or more components of the linear asset infrastructure. | 03-04-2010 |
20100063855 | FLEXIBLE SYSTEM HEALTH AND REMEDIATION AGENT - A flexible compliance system is described herein that provides a deployable system health agent and automated remediation of computer system compliance failures based on configurable compliance rules. An administrator defines rules that represent compliance elements that the flexible compliance system will enforce. The flexible compliance system reads the rules defined by the administrator like a flexible set of conditions to check, and checks client computer systems based on the rules. The flexible compliance system generates a statement of health that indicates whether the computer system satisfies or violates each rule. In response to the statement of health, the flexible compliance system may take various actions with respect to a computer system in violation of a rule, including attempting to resolve the violation or quarantining the computer system to avoid interaction with other computer systems. | 03-11-2010 |
20100063856 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING BUSINESS ACTIVITY MONITORING - Apparatus and methods for providing a business activity monitoring system. The apparatus and methods may involve monitoring a plurality of business activities that take place within a business communication network; formulating a monitoring program for activities that extend from inside the network to a platform outside the network; and, providing a business activity monitoring system that is configured to monitor activities on the business platform that is outside the network. | 03-11-2010 |
20100063857 | System and Method of Providing Feedback Related to Advertisement Data - A method of providing feedback related to advertisement data includes receiving a request from a set-top box device at an advertisement data management system. The request indicates that data related to a particular advertisement is to be sent to a mobile device associated with the set-top box device. The method also includes sending the data related to the particular advertisement, and collateral information including customer location information, to the mobile device. Further, the method includes receiving data from a point of sale venue indicating that a transaction based on the data related to the particular advertisement has been completed. The method also includes storing transaction completion data and the customer location information at a database accessible to an advertisement data source system. | 03-11-2010 |
20100070315 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPTIMIZING PRODUCTION FORECASTS USING STATISTICALLY PRIORITIZED DISCRETE MODELING METHODOLOGY - A computer-based method for dynamic path regeneration in a production environment as a function of stochastic event-driven parameters and constraints is described. The method includes examining existing status codes, for a plurality of remaining production jobs, to determine a current status for a production unit, applying at least one of predecessor relationships and successor relationships for the remaining production jobs to the existing status codes, analyzing historical job performance statistics for a number of previous production units based on production job performance data associated with the previous production units, and providing a user interface that depicts the remaining production jobs in order of criticality, the order of criticality determined based on the existing status codes, the at least one of predecessor relationships and successor relationships, and the analysis of the historical job performance statistics. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070316 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MONITORING AND RECORDING CARBON FOOTPRINT DATA - This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for monitoring and reporting an entity's carbon footprint. The method may include gathering information about the entity. The information may include utility information. The method may further include equipping the entity with a global positioning system (GPS) device, an accelerometer, and a pressure sensor, and gathering utility usage data for the entity. Further, the method may include capturing travel data for the entity, and calculating the entity's carbon footprint based at least in part on the utility usage data and the travel data. Furthermore, the method may include generating a report of the entity's carbon footprint. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070317 | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN FOR SELL FROM STOCK APPLICATION SOFTWARE - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing sell from stock software useful to process quotations, capture orders, process delivery and invoice. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include an Accounting process component; a Financial Accounting Master Data Management process component; an Outbound Delivery Processing process component; a Site Logistics Processing process component; an Inventory Processing process component; a Customer Requirement Processing process component; a Supply and Demand Matching process component; a Logistics Execution Control process component; a Due Item Processing process component; a Balance of Foreign Payment Management process component; a Payment Processing process component; a Customer Invoice Processing process component; a Customer Quote Processing process component; and a Sales Order Processing process component. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070318 | PROVIDING LOGISTICS EXECUTION APPLICATION AS ENTERPRISE SERVICES - Methods and apparatus, including systems and computer program products, for a service architecture design that provides enterprise services having logistics execution functionality at the level of an enterprise application. The design includes a set of service operations, process components, and optionally deployment units. Suitable business objects are also described. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070319 | ADAPTIVE CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An automated configuration management system (ACMS) oversees resources of a virtualized ecosystem by establishing a baseline configuration (including, e.g., security controls) for the resources; and, repeatedly, monitoring and collecting data from the resources, analyzing the data collected, making recommendations concerning configuration changes for the resources of the virtualized ecosystem based on the analysis, and either adopting and implementing the recommendations or not, wherein new states of the virtualized ecosystem and reactions to recommended changes are observed and applied in the form of new recommendations, and/or as adjustments to the baseline. The recommendations may be implemented automatically or only upon review by an administrator before being implemented or not. The various data may be analyzed according to benchmarks established for security and compliance criteria of the resources of the virtualized ecosystem, for example static/pre-defined or dynamically derived benchmarks/best practices. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070320 | ACCOUNTING TOOL FOR MEASURING ECOSYSTEM SERVICE FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE AT A PARTICULAR SITE - An accounting method to measure ecological value (or measurement of functional performance) of a particular site that divides the site into individual map units as determined by the number of substantially homogenous habitats found at the site. Habitat functions are determined per individual map unit. Performance indicators, such as habitat structures, physical and biological features, and other components, are identified and collected according to predefined ranges in the field or from actual site data. The values of performance indicators are assessed or scored based on collected data using look-up tables to create an indicator of functional performance. The indicator of functional performance is inputted into formulas to derive a measurement of functional performance at the individual map unit and the overall site. The accounting method of the present invention can also calculate ecological change at a particular site by calculating initial or baseline site values and a projected future value based on a particular projected modification (e.g., restoration or development) at the site and effects the modification may have over a period of time (e.g., 20 years). The difference between the future and the baseline values, whether a credit (uplift) or debit (impact or site degradation), can then be used in diverse applications, such as mitigation banking, ecological exchanges, registries, or as part of business or government decision/policy making. | 03-18-2010 |
20100076797 | Collaborative environment to assess, design, and implement product changes - Generation of an engineering change case is initiated by associating an identified problem for a product with an engineering change case template. The engineering change case can include a plurality of structured folders that can be populated with content characterizing the identified problem as well as proposed solutions to the identified problem with each folder being assignable to one or more users and having associated deliverables for such users. The various users populate the folders with content associated with the deliverables with at least a portion of the deliverables being delegable and requiring completion in a sequential order. Thereafter, generation of the engineering case can be finalized when an indication is received that all deliverables requiring approval have been completed. Otherwise, the engineering change case can be canceled. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. | 03-25-2010 |
20100076798 | MODELING, MONITORING, AND MANAGING SYSTEM DIMENSIONS FOR A SERVICE ASSURANCE SYSTEM - A user interface accepts a model of a proposed system solution for a service assurance system. A Dimensioning Engine receives the solution and determines dimensions for the solution. The dimensions specify any of: a quantity of CPUs, a rating for the quantity of CPUs, an amount of disk storage, a memory requirement, or a CPU processing parameter. A Dimensioning Model Manager stores data from equipment and product vendors to determine the solution by taking into account specific characteristics of an equipment or a product to be used in the service assurance system. A Dimensioning Monitor (DM) monitors the model of the solution against events occurring in the service assurance system. The DM transmits an alert if the service assurance system underperforms or overperforms with reference to the model. The DM determines changes to the model into line with a current set of operational conditions, or updates the dimensions. | 03-25-2010 |
20100076799 | System and method for using classification trees to predict rare events - Systems and methods are provided for predicting rare events, such as hospitalization events. A set of data records, each containing multiple attributes with one or more values (which may include an “unknown” value), may represent a root node of a decision tree. This root node may be partitioned based on one of the attributes, such that the concentration (e.g., “purity”) of a relevant outcome (e.g., the rare event) is increased in one node and decreased in another. This process may be repeated until a decision tree with sufficiently pure leaf nodes is created. This “purified” decision tree may then be used to predict one or more rare events. | 03-25-2010 |
20100076800 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING PLANT ASSETS - The invention is a method and system for monitoring plant assets automatically comprising the steps of calculating a sum of the plant assets to be monitored, storing the calculated sum in a database, calculating a sum of the bad actors, computing the percentage of bad actors from the calculated sum, storing the computed percentage of bad actors into the database, calculating a current sum of the plant assets to be monitored after a predetermined interval, retrieving the stored sum of the plant assets, determining whether the current sum of the plant assets corresponds to the stored sum. When the stored sum corresponds to the current sum, the current sum of bad actors is calculated, the percentage of bad actors is computed from the calculated sum to determine an Asset Health Risk Index (“ARI”). | 03-25-2010 |
20100076801 | ELECTRONIC COMMERCE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING FRAUDULENT MERCHANDISE - An electronic commerce system and method for preventing fraudulent merchandise are provided. An online market server determines whether merchandise is fraudulent using real owner information when information on merchandise including real-owner terminal information is input from a seller terminal to request to register the merchandise. The merchandise requested for registration in an online market can be provided to a buyer only when the merchandise is not fraudulent by determining whether the merchandise is fraudulent, such that the buyer is provided with reliable information on merchandise and electronic commerce can be activated. | 03-25-2010 |
20100082375 | ASSET INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHODOLOGY FOR UNDERGROUND STORAGE - A technique facilitates asset integrity management of underground storage assets, such as underground carbon dioxide storage sites. The technique comprises establishing a paradigm for asset integrity management comprising element fields related to elements such as asset life cycle, implementation procedures, technologies, tools, and methods to obtain and evaluate data, and control/mitigation measures. Data related to the element fields is processed based on relationships established by the paradigm. Based on the analysis, information related to the integrity of the underground storage asset is output lot-use in managing the underground storage asset. | 04-01-2010 |
20100082376 | SUGGESTING THINGS TO DO DURING TIME SLOTS IN A SCHEDULE - Architecture for suggesting activities to be performed during time slots of a user schedule, such as a calendar application. In one implementation, a personal activity is suggested for a free time slot. In another implementation, a personal activity can be suggested for both a free time slot and a full time slot. The architecture can also apply filtering to generate suggestions based on user location, preferences (stated or learned), user history, user interaction with content and candidate activities, targeted advertising, and so on. The filtering can be applied to disparate sources of activity information to provide relevant activities for suggestion to the user. Revenue models can be applied as well. The architecture can be deployed as a client/server topology or solely on the client. | 04-01-2010 |
20100082377 | Risk Evaluation of Conflicts in Separation of Duties - In one embodiment, there is provided a computer implemented method for evaluating risks of conflicts in separation of duties matrices. The computer implemented method receives a set of input data comprising a set of task information and a set of employee information to form received input, generates a risk control matrix from the received input, having a risk associated with each risk control of the risk control matrix, and generates an “n×n” weighted separation of duties matrix from the risk control matrix, wherein (Ti,Tj) represents a task pair, and Risk(Ti,Tj) represents a risk value of a conflict of the task pair (Ti,Tj). The computer implemented method further generates a task to employee assignment (p | 04-01-2010 |
20100082378 | Business Process Optimization And Problem Resolution - One embodiment provides a system for optimizing business processes comprising an analyzer component configured to retrieve testing data on a business application, wherein the testing data is generated before deployment of the business application. The analyzer component is further configured to retrieve actual data on the business application, wherein the actual data is generated during deployment of the business application. The analyzer component is further configured to analyze the actual data and the testing data to identify at least one business process from the actual data, wherein an identified business process from the actual data is attempted to be matched with a baseline business process defined during testing. The system further comprises a report generator configured to output results from analysis of the actual data and the testing data. Output results may be used to optimize testing and to correlate problems encountered in the field with situations encountered during testing. | 04-01-2010 |
20100082379 | INFERENTIAL BUSINESS PROCESS MONITORING - Methods, systems and computer program products for inferential business process monitoring. Exemplary embodiments include an inferential business process monitoring method, including deriving an optimal set of key performance indicators from a service level agreement specification, determining metrics to compute the key performance indicators from the service level agreement specification, assigning and configuring monitoring agents to retrieve the metrics to obtain the key performance indicators, deploying the monitoring agents and delivering key performance indicator metrics observed by the monitoring agents. | 04-01-2010 |
20100082380 | MODELING AND MEASURING VALUE ADDED NETWORKS - The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for modeling and measuring value added networks. Value added networks are modeled in accordance with a structured data model that defines data formats for business capability attributes. The structured data model can include a capability modeling schema having data format definitions that define how business capability attributes are to be represented. Value added networks can also be mapped such that users can visualize and navigate a value added network. A pre-defined resource vocabulary is utilized to assist in determining if a business capability change is worthwhile. The pre-defined resource vocabulary provides a mechanism for a plurality of participants in a value added network to consider business capability changes in a uniform, repeatable, and consistent manner. | 04-01-2010 |
20100082381 | LINKING ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES TO PERFORMING CAPABILITIES - The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for linking organizational strategies to performing capabilities. Embodiments of the invention include determining what impact proposed capability changes in an initiative/program/project for an organizational strategy have on the organizational strategy's performance. Schema-based representations of organizational strategies and initiatives are used to provide a common vocabulary for describing changes to organizational strategies. Proposed changes can be evaluated against an impact/value contribution curve, potentially on an ongoing basis, to determine their benefit. Corrective action can be taken when operations/tactics are trend outside of specified metrics | 04-01-2010 |
20100082382 | FORECASTING DISCOVERY COSTS BASED ON INTERPOLATION OF HISTORIC EVENT PATTERNS - A computer-implemented method of forecasting discovery costs captures historical business events, which are aggregated and statistically analyzed by matter type and business event types. Statistical data is used to calculate probabilities of occurrence of future business events and to extrapolate occurrence of those future business events. The method forecasts an extrapolated volume of production at the time of a forecasted export event. The method further forecasts costs for future discovery from the extrapolated volume of production. | 04-01-2010 |
20100082383 | Single Step Flight Schedule Optimization - The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes generating a first graph including possible flight segments between airline stations for an airline and determining a set of permissible crew pairings based on a traversal of the first graph. The method also includes generating a second graph comprising the determined set of permissible crew pairings and determining a set of permissible aircraft routings based on a traversal of the second graph. The method includes generating a set of optimized aircraft routings using an integer-programming algorithm that accepts the determined set of permissible aircraft routings as input, and outputting the set of optimized aircraft routings for use in a flight schedule. | 04-01-2010 |
20100082384 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMPREHENSIVE CONSUMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT - A comprehensive consumer relationship management system is disclosed. The comprehensive consumer relationship management system includes dispute resolution, customized data modeling, advertising assistance, and secure communications. By providing value added features, the comprehensive consumer relationship management system may strengthen consumer relationships by, for example, creating detailed data analysis to aid in making business decisions and facilitating secure communications among diverse consumers. | 04-01-2010 |
20100082385 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING TEMPERATURE OF BUSINESS COMPONENTS FOR FINDING BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES - Temperature of one or more business components are determined by determining temperatures for metrics associated with a business component using benchmark data. The determined temperatures for metrics are aggregated into a representative temperature for a business component using a selected algorithm. A spectrum of colors is provided to represent the range of temperatures and the representative temperature is represented as a color from the spectrum of colors. | 04-01-2010 |
20100082386 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FINDING BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES BY ANALYZING SERIES OF HEAT MAPS BY DIMENSION - A method and system for analyzing business performance and opportunities by generating one or more series of heat map views of business components by a plurality of dimensions associate information related to a plurality of dimensions with one or more business components; define one or more dimensions from the plurality of dimensions; generate one or more series of heat map views of the said business components by said defined one of more dimensions; and present said series of heat map views of the business components. | 04-01-2010 |
20100082387 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FINDING BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES BY USING A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL SHORTFALL ANALYSIS OF AN ENTERPRISE - A method and system for determining one or more shortfalls of one or more business components by multiple dimensions for business transformation, in one aspect define a plurality of shortfall types associated with a plurality of business components, define a plurality of dimensions of the plurality of business components, construct a shortfall assessment model for the plurality of dimensions, load a business model associated with the plurality of business components, compute shortfall assessment by performing a daisy chain analysis using the shortfall assessment model and the business model for said plurality of shortfalls and associated shortfall types, and presenting the shortfall assessment using visualization. | 04-01-2010 |
20100082388 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) INFRASTRUCTURAL ELEMENTS - The present invention provides a method, system and computer program product for managing the Information Technology (IT) infrastructural elements of multiple organizations. The system monitors various IT infrastructural elements, such as networks, operating systems, databases, and software applications of multiple organizations. Alerts corresponding to various issues related to the IT infrastructural elements are generated. Based on the alerts, the system provides information related to the issues to a support team for solving them. | 04-01-2010 |
20100082389 | POSTAL SERVICE REVENUE PROTECTION WITH REAL-TIME PROCESSING - Methods and apparatus for weighing an article, such as a mail piece, while the article is moving at high speed, and for checking that the correct amount of postage has been paid for delivery of the article. An article ( | 04-01-2010 |
20100082390 | DIGITAL DASHBOARD REPORTING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE - A reporting system for displaying to a user a plurality of key financial performance metrics about a practice, said reporting system comprising one or more user computers, each of said user computers having a practice digital dashboard for displaying said plurality of key financial performance metrics, wherein said practice digital dashboard includes one or more selectable data analysis interfaces to present said plurality of key financial performance metrics in a grid of one or more tables, graphs, or charts; one or more data servers in communication with each of the user computers, each data server comprising a set of billing and collection information for said practice and one or more functions for computing said plurality of key financial performance metrics from said set of billing and collection information for said practice; and a network allowing communication between said one or more user computers and said one or more data servers. | 04-01-2010 |
20100088129 | Technology Selection and Pricing System - A method of selecting a technology for manufacturing an integrated circuit includes designating candidate technologies for manufacturing the integrated circuit; generating design and performance data from the integrated circuit, wherein the design and performance data are generated for each of the candidate technologies; and generating die prices from the integrated circuit, wherein the die prices are generated for each of the candidate technologies. | 04-08-2010 |
20100088130 | Discovering Leaders in a Social Network - Particular embodiments of the present invention are related to discovering the identity of leaders who influence the performance of particular actions in the context of a social network. | 04-08-2010 |
20100088131 | CONSERVATION APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive resource consumption data from a plurality of consuming entities. The entities may comprise members of a defined community, such as an online community. Further activities may include publishing an online comparison of at least some of the resource consumption data and/or information derived from the resource consumption data to compare consumption by some number of the consuming entities. Publication, perhaps in the form of a ranked list display, is expected to foster competition between the consuming entities, leading to reduced resource consumption. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 04-08-2010 |
20100088132 | MERGER AND ACQUISITION DATA VALIDATION - Systems and methods are provided that perform data validation in real time. By uploading the source data from spreadsheets or entering the data directly into an application, the required validations can be run and reported in real time. Users can then either extract the data back into spreadsheets for manipulation, and then re-upload it, or correct the data directly within the application. Once the data set has passed all validations, it is then passed to the technical team for upload into the transactional system. | 04-08-2010 |
20100088133 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICES FRAMEWORK - Disclosed are embodiments a software architecture for benefits management. The software architecture provides a fixed software layer (e.g., program code) which defines a workflow to support benefits management at a generic level. The workflow defines a fixed, predetermined process through which an enterprise management system receives new requests for benefits, determines whether the request meets eligibility criteria and awards or rejects the benefits request. The software architecture includes a customization layer which includes a number of customization objects, each customization object adapting performance of the generic software layer to be appropriate for a specific benefits program. This software architecture minimizes cost to benefits providers because the generic software layer is common to all public benefits programs being managed by a software user. The software architecture finds ready application for a number of different benefits administration organizations, who need only provide a customization layer to define operation sufficient for their own needs. | 04-08-2010 |
20100088134 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ANALYZING LOCATE AND MARKING OPERATIONS WITH RESPECT TO HISTORICAL INFORMATION - Methods, apparatus and systems including a computer comprising at least one hardware processor, at least one tangible storage medium (memory), and at least one input/output (I/O) interface for evaluating a quality of a first locate and/or marking operation to identify a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility. First information relating to the first locate and/or marking operation is compared to second information relating to at least one second locate and/or marking operation different from the first locate and/or marking operation. One or more indications of a quality assessment of the locate and/or marking operation is automatically generated based on such a comparison, and the one or more indications of the quality assessment are electronically stored on the at least one tangible storage medium, and/or electronically transmitted via the at least one I/O interface, so as to provide an electronic record of the quality assessment. | 04-08-2010 |
20100088135 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ANALYZING LOCATE AND MARKING OPERATIONS WITH RESPECT TO ENVIRONMENTAL LANDMARKS - Methods, apparatus and systems including a computer comprising at least one hardware processor, at least one tangible storage medium (memory), and at least one input/output (I/O) interface for evaluating a quality of a locate and/or marking operation. First information relating to the locate and/or marking operation is compared to second information relating to one or more environmental landmarks. One or more indications of a quality assessment of the locate and/or marking operation is automatically generated based on such a comparison, and the one or more indications of the quality assessment are electronically stored on the at least one tangible storage medium, and/or electronically transmitted via the at least one I/O interface, so as to provide an electronic record of the quality assessment. | 04-08-2010 |
20100094670 | Interfacing A Building Contractor And A User - A data processing system for and a computer implemented method of providing an interface between a contractor of a building including units and a user related to some units. The data processing system includes an interface server connected to the contractor and to the user and including a graphical user interface, an analyzing module and a physical rules implementation module. The system receives construction plans, converts them to system objects, determines the associations among the system objects, applies physical rules to the system objects, allows the user to define changes to the system objects, calculates effects of the user defined changes on other system objects in the unit, verifies their feasibility and provides the changes in the plans to the contractor. | 04-15-2010 |
20100094671 | PIN-less Debit Payment Processing - This document describes tools for providing PIN-less debit (PLD) processing for a client, such as a merchant. In some embodiments, the tools intercept a request from a client to process a payment transaction for a consumer. If PLD processing is available for the transaction, the tools provide an indication to the client that PLD processing is an available option for processing the payment transaction. If the tools receive an indication that the consumer has opted to process the payment as a PLD transaction, the tools negotiate with a payment processor for fulfillment of the payment transaction. The tools are configured to handle one or more of the certification and compliance procedures required to process PLD transactions with a payment processor, thus allowing the client to process PLD transactions without having a direct payment processing relationship with a payment processor that offers PLD transaction processing. | 04-15-2010 |
20100094672 | Equation to monitor the economic vitality of nations and other social systems - This invention is a ratio (or equation) to monitor the economic well-being of nations and other social systems: V=R:N (economic vitality M is determined by the natural resources [R] available to a social system, in relation to the system's resource needs [N]). With clear and specific definitions of products, natural resources, social systems, and other related terms that make said ratio viable, said ratio can be programmed into a system-wide computer network, accepting input relating to needs and resources from throughout the system and issuing an alert in the event of a negative ratio (a condition in which needs for any specific resource exceed the system's access to that resource). | 04-15-2010 |
20100094673 | COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR KEYWORD BIDDING - A computer-implemented method and system for keyword bidding are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes identifying a keyword searched by a buyer on a host site just prior to their purchase transaction; recording a host site category associated with the purchase transaction; correlating the keyword with the host site category; determining a revenue per click value associated with the keyword; obtaining bidding information associated with the keyword; and automatically generating a bid value for the keyword based on the revenue per click value, the bidding information, and the host site category. | 04-15-2010 |
20100094674 | Supply Chain Management Systems and Methods - Supply chain management (SCM) systems and methods are presented. In SCM ecosystems having multiple independent trading partners that can functions as peers, the trading partners likely lack a “single version of truth” with respect to retail data formats or transactions. The partners can utilize database connectors to interact with other peer partners by converting the partner's retail data from proprietary formats to a common transaction format understood by all connectors or by an SCM application stack constructed from SCM modules. The connectors can use a registry server to discover other connectors capable participating in a requested transaction relationship. SCM modules can be configured to support a transaction relationship according to the transaction relationships available to the peers' connectors. | 04-15-2010 |
20100094675 | PHASE-OUT PRODUCT DEMAND FORECASTING - A system and method for generating or adjusting a demand forecast for a phased-out product is described. A demand forecast may be generated based on the historical data for the phased-out product and trends found in similar products that have been phased-out. | 04-15-2010 |
20100100401 | System And Method For Sizing Enterprise Application Systems - Embodiments of the present invention recite a system and computer-implemented method for sizing enterprise-application systems. In one embodiment of the present invention, a ratio of a plurality of pre-defined benchmarks is determined. The workload of the ratio-of pre-defined benchmarks corresponds to a desired workload of an enterprise application system. The ratio of the plurality of pre-defined benchmarks is then used as a second benchmark for testing the enterprise application system. | 04-22-2010 |
20100100402 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING AND SETTING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT RELATED PRICE POINTS - A system and method for price setting based on environmental impact whereby the environmental impact of a product and/or service is determined based on defined parameters. An environmental impact of a given product and/or service is also determined for various levels of consumption of the given product and/or service. An environmental impact goal is then established for the given product and/or service. An environmental impact goal level of consumption of the given product and/or service is then determined that will yield the desired environmental impact goal. An environmental impact goal price-point for the given product and/or service that will yield the environmental impact goal level of consumption that, in turn, will yield the desired environmental impact goal is then determined. The price of the given product or service is then set at the environmental impact goal price-point for the given product and/or service using one or more of various price setting mechanisms. | 04-22-2010 |
20100100403 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRACKING AND ANALYZING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF PRODUCING PAPER - A system and methods are disclosed for enabling a purchaser to make informed, customized purchasing decisions about a plurality of suppliers based on environmental impact data entered by the suppliers. The system enables a supplier to input data about the environmental impact of production process. The system enables the supplier to grant access permission to the input data to one or more purchasers. The system applies a normalization curve to normalize the data. The system also enables the supplier to identify up-stream production entities. The system enables the up-stream production entities to anonymously input environmental impact data. A purchaser enters a plurality of weight values indicating the relative importance of the environmental impact factors. Based on the inputted data by the suppliers and the up-stream production entities, and based on the weight values, the system provides at least one customized supplier environmental impact score to the purchaser. | 04-22-2010 |
20100100404 | System and Method for Prediction of Deterioration - System and method for predicting the rate of deterioration of a first and optionally further items of process equipment, which first item of process equipment receives an inlet stream and discharges one or more outlet streams which are optionally fed to one or more further items of process equipment, which first and optional further items of process equipment are subject to deterioration by one or more deterioration mechanisms, which inlet stream comprises a feedstock or derivative thereof; wherein the method comprises the steps of; (a) obtaining values of one Or more properties of the feedstock, (b) calculating a predicted rate of deterioration by the one or more deterioration mechanisms for each item of process equipment from the values of one or more of the feedstock properties; and (c) providing an output comprising the predicted rate of deterioration for each item of process equipment; and the system comprises a data processor adapted to receive values of one or more properties of the feedstock, to calculate predicted rates of deterioration by the one or more deterioration mechanisms for the first and optionally further items of process equipment from the values of one or more of the feedstock properties, and to provide an output comprising information relating to the predicted rates of deterioration by the one or more deterioration mechanisms for the first and optionally further items of process equipment. | 04-22-2010 |
20100100405 | Method and Apparatus for Determining and Managing Sustainability Ratings - Methods and apparatuses for determining and managing sustainability ratings are provided. An example method may include receiving a construction product type and identifying a first candidate construction product within a database based at least in part on the construction product type. The first candidate construction product may be associated with sustainability data for the first candidate construction product. The example method may also include determining a first sustainability rating based at least in part on the sustainability data for the first candidate construction product through application of sustainability rules. Other methods and apparatuses are also provided. | 04-22-2010 |
20100100406 | METHOD FOR PROTECTING PERSONAL IDENTITY INFORMATION - The method is for an identity security system. A user sets up a permanent user-profile that has a personal identify number, in his personal ID security pod via a security website. The user uploads one or more photos of the user. An identification-check entity sends an identify request, including the personal identify-number to the website. The security website retrieves the photo associated with the user based on the personal identify-number and displays the photo for the identification-check entity. | 04-22-2010 |
20100106536 | FACILITATING ELECTRONIC KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER IN ORGANIZATIONS - The present invention provides an approach for facilitating (electronic) knowledge transfer in organizations. Specifically, under the present invention, knowledge objects are collected, a set of questions are generated and classified, and a set of checklists are generated. Based on the knowledge objects, response to the questions, and the checklists, a set of analyses is performed, and a resulting set of reports generated. The reports as well as the knowledge objects, questions and/or checklists can be archived for later use. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106537 | Detecting Potentially Unauthorized Objects Within An Enterprise - One embodiment is a method that observes a first object within an enterprise and then determines that use of the first object by an enterprise is potentially unauthorized. The method then alters a computer model based on the first object and determines based on the model that a second object within the enterprise is potentially unauthorized. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106538 | DETERMINING DISASTER RECOVERY SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS FOR DATA COMPONENTS OF AN APPLICATION - Techniques for determining one or more disaster recovery (DR) service level agreements (SLAs) for each of one or more components of an application are provided. The techniques include identifying one or more components of an application, capturing one or more intra-application data dependencies between the one or more components, and mapping each of the one or more components to a DR profile to determine one or more DR SLAs for each of the one or more components of an application. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106539 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FAST LOCAL SEARCH AND INSERTION HEURISTICS FOR VEHICLE ROUTING - Methods and systems reduce vehicle travel time in a vehicle routing plan having vehicle routes which include vehicles and customers serviced by the vehicles, including executing cross-exchanges of the customers for combinations of vehicle routes in the vehicle routing plan. Executing cross-changes includes determining a travel time or time savings of executed cross-exchanges, saving a cross-exchange resulting in a minimal travel time or maximum travel time savings for vehicle route combinations, and modifying the vehicle routing plan by performing the saved cross-exchange resulting in the minimal travel time or maximum travel time savings until all vehicle route combinations are exhausted. The methods and systems may further reduce a number of vehicles in the vehicle routing plan including, eliminating one of the vehicles in the vehicle routing plan, and performing insertions of unrouted customers and exchanges of unrouted customers with routed customers. Performing insertions and exchanges of unrouted customers includes determining a minimum time delay or travel time savings for feasible insertions of an unrouted customer into a vehicle route, saving a feasible insertion of the unrouted customer into the vehicle route resulting in a minimum time delay or maximum travel time savings, determining the minimum time delay or maximum travel time savings for feasible exchanges of an unrouted customer into a vehicle route, saving a feasible exchange of the unrouted customer into the vehicle route resulting in a minimum time delay or maximum travel time savings, modifying the vehicle routing plan by performing the saved feasible insertion resulting in the minimum time delay or maximum travel time savings until all the unrouted customer to vehicle route combinations are exhausted, and modifying the vehicle routing plan by performing the saved feasible exchange resulting in the minimum time delay or maximum travel time savings until all the unrouted customer to vehicle route combinations are exhausted. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106540 | Customizing Products - To customize products, a first entity receives generic products from a supplier entity, wherein the generic products include base software. The first entity provides a customization component for at least a subset of the generic products. Base software in at least the subset of the generic products is executed at the first entity to interact with the customization component to customize at least one feature of at least the subset of generic products. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106541 | Analyzing the Readiness of a Template - Systems and methods for managing templates are described herein. According to one embodiments, a method comprises applying information into a proposed template. In particular, the information is received for the purpose of filling blank portions of the proposed template. The method further comprises performing a readiness analysis on the proposed template to determine whether or not the proposed template is ready to be used by one or more users based on the application of the information into the proposed template. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106542 | TECHNIQUES FOR HELP DESK MANAGEMENT - Techniques for help desk management are provided. A user's experience with a resource is captured via a rating. The rating is recorded along with other metrics associated with a processing environment of the user and proactive action taken in response to configuration or performance problems with the user. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106543 | BUILDING MANAGEMENT CONFIGURATION SYSTEM - An approach to create, deploy and manage separate control system components within a hierarchical context of a multi business and/or multi site environment. This approach may be incorporated into an architecture having one or more workstations, controllers, servers and so forth. Components of the approach may include business groups, sites and executives. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106544 | Systems and methods for implementing an enterprise acquisition service environment - Methods and systems for seamlessly integrating an end-to-end acquisition process using a flexible data structure are disclosed. A flexible data structure consistent with these methods and systems may connect the buyer's requirement to the vendor's proposed solution, facilitating a requirement-by-requirement evaluation process allowing buyers to evaluate content as well as price of a proposal. Embodiments of the present invention standardize the format of proposals, allowing buyers to more easily compare vendors' proposals side-by-side. Still other embodiments of the present invention produce an error checking report to further aid vendors in improving proposals and buyers in evaluating proposals. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106545 | Systems and methods for facilitating evaluation in an acquisition process - Methods and systems for seamlessly integrating an end-to-end acquisition process using a flexible data structure are disclosed. A flexible data structure consistent with these methods and systems may connect the buyer's requirement to the vendor's proposed solution, facilitating a requirement-by-requirement evaluation process allowing buyers to evaluate content as well as price of a proposal. Embodiments of the present invention standardize the format of proposals, allowing buyers to more easily compare vendors' proposals side-by-side. Still other embodiments of the present invention produce an error checking report to further aid vendors in improving proposals and buyers in evaluating proposals. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106546 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EXECUTING BUSINESS PROCESSES OVER A NETWORK - Systems and methods for executing business processes over a network. In an exemplary embodiment of a method of executing business processes via a computer network, the method comprises the steps of creating and installing software resources available over a network, browsing a database of software resources using a process model builder to identify software resource definitions, loading the software resource definitions identified by the process model builder to create a business process model comprising the software resources from the database of software resources, mapping inputs and outputs of the database of software resources to allow the business process model to be executed, saving the business process model on a storage medium accessible by the network, and initiating a collaborative business process by loading the business process model into a process interpreter and executing the software resources defined within the business process model. | 04-29-2010 |
20100114617 | DETECTING POTENTIALLY FRAUDULENT TRANSACTIONS - An approach that detects potentially fraudulent transactions is provided. In one embodiment, there is a fraud detection tool including, an identification component configured to identify a first person present within a zone of interest at a point of sale (POS) device using a set of sensor devices; a transaction component configured to determine whether the POS device has performed a first transaction and a second transaction while the first person is present within the zone of interest at the POS device; an analysis component configured to: analyze a transaction type of the first transaction and the second transaction; and detect whether the second transaction is potentially fraudulent based on a determination of whether the POS device has performed a first transaction and a second transaction while the first person is within the zone of interest at the POS device, and an analysis of the transaction type of the second transaction. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114618 | Management of Variants of Model of Service - A system for developing a computer implemented service, for deployment on computing infrastructure, generates variants of the model by automatically choosing values for a limited set of design variables, and evaluates the variants in operation. A model manager ( | 05-06-2010 |
20100114619 | CUSTOMIZED TRANSFORMATION OF FREE-FORM BUSINESS CONCEPTS TO SEMANTICALLY RICH BUSINESS MODELS - A computer-implemented method for transforming a free-form process diagram into a semantically rich business model based on heuristics. The method includes generating and storing predefined mappings between informal elements to be used in a free-form process diagram and formal elements associated with a semantically rich business model, in a storage medium, receiving a free-form process diagram to be transformed, automatically detecting and mapping the informal elements of the free-form process diagram to the stored predefined-mappings, automatically detecting and mapping connectors positioned between the informal elements of the free-form process diagram, and obtaining user input from a user for generating user-defined mappings for mapping unrecognizable informal elements of the free-form process diagram to formal elements and transforming the unrecognized informal elements into formal elements based on the user-defined mappings. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114620 | Service Description Refinement Based on Actual Service Use - Techniques are disclosed for generation and refinement of service descriptions based on records of invocations of the services, i.e., service description refinement based on actual service use. For example, a method for describing one or more services in a service-oriented environment comprised of one or more clients invoking the one or more services comprises the following steps. An initial description is established for at least one of the one or more services. Information is collected from one or more service invocations including at least one of a client identity, a value of at least one parameter, a return value, and an execution time. The information is analyzed to refine the description. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114621 | System And Methods For Modeling Consequences Of Events - Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for modeling consequences of events on performance indicators. A causality model is provided to define relationships between events and the consequences associated with each one of the events to modify a value of at least one of the performance indicators associated with each one of the events. An algorithm included in the causality model is executable to compute an impact of the consequences on the value. A causality model management system is provided to manage the causality model, including storing, execution of the algorithm, interfacing with other systems, and simulating what-if scenarios of the events and the performance indicators. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114622 | PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS ENHANCEMENT TO ENTITY MOBILITY/PRODUCTIVITY OPPORTUNITIES - Systems and methods are disclosed for assessing a relocation option. More specifically, a line of business may assess a relocation option by generating a geographic model that may be based on data about a relocation option. The system and method of generating a geographic model may include the generation of a reward score based on reward drivers. The model may also include generating a risk score that is based on risk factors. The reward score and the risk score may be compared. The line of business may also conduct an in-country/due diligence visit based at least in part on the geographic model and may assemble a risk mitigation framework. In addition, outputs of the model may be analyzed using portfolio theory analysis. Such portfolio theory analysis may include determining the Markowitz Efficient Frontier of optimal location sets. The analysis may also include obtaining an optimal location set based on a preferably predetermined concentration risk tolerance. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114623 | USING DETAILED PROCESS INFORMATION AT A POINT OF SALE - Techniques for using transactional and visual event information to facilitate loss prevention are provided. The techniques include obtaining video of one or more visual events at a point of sale environment and one or more transaction log entries that correspond to the video, wherein the one or more transaction log entries comprise one or more transactional events, categorizing each event as one of one or more model events, using each categorized event to create a revised transaction log, wherein the revised transaction log comprises a sequence of categorized events, wherein each categorized event is a combination of the one or more transactional events and the one or more visual events, examining the revised transaction log to correct one or more mis-categorizations, if any, and revise one or more model event categories with the one or more corrected mis-categorizations, if any, and using the revised transaction log to facilitate loss prevention. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114624 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE GENERATED BY MARKETING INVESTMENTS UNDER BUDGET CONSTRAINTS - Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for optimizing financial performance. Time series data describing the financial performance generated by corresponding marketing investments is provided to configure an econometric model. Linear coefficients of the econometric model are adjusted in accordance with the qualitative factors received as inputs from experts. The econometric model is transformed into an aggregated non-linear econometric model that includes non-linear factors that cause the financial performance to change at a varying rate as a function of the marketing investments. An allocation of the marketing investments generated by the aggregated non-linear econometric model is adjusted by applying an optimization algorithm to provide an optimized financial performance. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114625 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING A CONSISTENT HIERARCHY OF DECOMPOSITION OF A BUSINESS METRIC - Methods and apparatuses for computing a variance between two business metrics is described. In one embodiment, the method computes a variance for each of a first set of activities based on the corresponding reference state of that activity, wherein the variance for an activity is the change in contribution for that activity between the first and second business metrics and with each of the first set of activities having a reference value. Furthermore, the method computes a variance for each of a second set of activities based on the corresponding start and end values of that activity with each of the second set of activities having a start and end value. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114626 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CAR SHARING - The present disclosure is directed to a method for facilitating ride sharing among a plurality of commuters having a common starting location. The method may comprise receiving a leaving status set by a first commuter; retrieving a set of predefined attributes of the first commuter from a repository; sending a travel request to a central manager, the travel request comprising the set of predefined attributes of the first commuter; analyzing the set of predefined attributes to determine a list of potentially matching commuters; broadcasting the travel request to the list of potentially matching commuters; determining a list of confirmed matching commuters based on responses from the list of potentially matching commuters; forming an agreement between the commuters; and setting a new status for the first commuter and each of the list of confirmed matching commuters, the new status indicating completion of ride sharing matching. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114627 | Processing of Provenance Data for Automatic Discovery of Enterprise Process Information - Techniques are disclosed for capturing, storing, querying and analyzing provenance data for automatic discovery of enterprise process information. For example, a computer-implemented method for managing a process associated with an enterprise comprises the following steps. Data associated with an actual end-to-end execution of an enterprise process is collected. Provenance data is generated based on at least a portion of the collected data, wherein the provenance data is indicative of a lineage of one or more data items. A provenance graph that provides a visual representation of the generated provenance data is generated, wherein nodes of the graph represent records associated with the collected data and edges of the graph represent relations between the records. The generated provenance graph is stored in a repository for use in analyzing the enterprise process. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114628 | Validating Compliance in Enterprise Operations Based on Provenance Data - Techniques are disclosed for validating compliance with enterprise operations based on provenance data. For example, a computer-implemented method for validating that an enterprise process is in compliance with a rule comprises the following steps. Provenance data is generated, wherein the provenance data is based on collected data associated with an actual end-to-end execution of the enterprise process and is indicative of a lineage of one or more data items. A provenance graph is generated that provides a visual representation of the generated provenance data, wherein nodes of the graph represent records associated with the collected data and edges of the graph represent relations between the records. A correlation is generated between one or more entities in the rule and one or more record types in the provenance data. One or more control points are generated in accordance with the generated correlation. A validation is performed as to whether the enterprise process is in compliance with the rule using the one or more control points. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114629 | Extracting Enterprise Information Through Analysis of Provenance Data - Techniques are disclosed for extracting information through analysis of provenance data. For example, a computer-implemented method of extracting information regarding an execution of an enterprise process comprises the following steps. Provenance data is generated, wherein the provenance data is based on collected data associated with an actual end-to-end execution of the enterprise process and is indicative of a lineage of one or more data items. A provenance graph is generated that provides a visual representation of the generated provenance data, wherein nodes of the graph represent records associated with the collected data and edges of the graph represent relations between the records. At least a portion of the generated provenance data from the graph is analyzed so as to extract information about the execution of the enterprise process based on the analysis. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114630 | Influencing Behavior of Enterprise Operations During Process Enactment Using Provenance Data - Techniques are disclosed for influencing behavior of enterprise operations during process enactment using provenance data. For example, a computer-implemented method of influencing a behavior of an enterprise process comprises the following steps. Provenance data is generated, wherein the provenance data is based on collected data associated with at least a partial actual execution of the enterprise process and is indicative of a lineage of one or more data items. A provenance graph is generated that provides a visual representation of the generated provenance data, wherein nodes of the graph represent records associated with the collected data and edges of the graph represent relations between the records. At least a portion of the generated provenance data from the graph is analyzed to generate an execution pattern corresponding to the at least partial actual execution of the enterprise process. The execution pattern is compared to one or more previously stored patterns. A determination is made as to whether or not to alter the enterprise process based on a result of the comparison. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114631 | MANAGING REUSABLE BUSINESS PROCESS MODELING (BPM) ASSETS - A method for managing reusable BPM assets can be provided. The method can include selecting a process in a process model in a process modeling tool, retrieving a list of BPM assets in a repository of reusable BPM assets dependent upon the selected process and selecting individual ones of the BPM assets for importation into the process modeling tool in association with the selected process. Finally, the method can include importing into the process modeling tool the selected individual ones of the BPM assets from the repository of reusable BPM assets over a computer communications network. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114632 | Pattern-based process optimizer - The present invention provides a method, system and computer program product for optimizing business processes in an organization. Each business process to be optimized is characterized by one or more performance indicators. One or more process characteristics are identified corresponding to each of the performance indicators. For each of the process characteristics, at least one transformation pattern is identified. Thereafter, one or more transformation patterns are selected from the identified transformation patterns, for optimizing the process characteristics, and thereby optimizing the business processes. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114633 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PLANNING/REPLANNING COLLISION FREE FLIGHT PLANS IN REAL OR ACCELERATED TIME - A system and method for planning/replanning collision free flight plans in real-time (or accelerated-time) including planning individual flight plans for each flying asset, executing (or simulating) the planned individual flight plans, detecting violations of safety zones of each of the flying assets by negotiation and by other assets monitoring (radar sensing), and repairing the individual flight plans by real-time replanning. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114634 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASSESSING, MANAGING, AND MONITORING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RISK - A method for information technology and information asset risk assessment of a business relationship between a client and a third party. The method includes establishing a database. The database includes a plurality of IT information risk factors stored in the database are associated with certain risks the client may be exposed to based on an action the client follows or based upon who the client uses as their third party provider. The database is configured to receive IT risk information. The IT risk information is associate with the plurality of IT information risk factors. The database is also configured to receive updated risk information for storage thereon. The method includes receiving risk information corresponding to the subset of relationship risk factors. The method continues with generating a relationship risk score. The relationship risk score is determined in response to evaluating the subset of relationship risk factors using the IT risk | 05-06-2010 |
20100114635 | CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS VISUALIZATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF VISUALIZING CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS - A construction progress visualization system, comprising of a scaffolding model creating-unit for creating an area and a form of scaffolding required for a construction operation based on a 3D CAD model and a construction schedule data; a scaffolding schedule extracting-unit for extracting scaffolding schedule data regarding the scaffolding from the construction schedule data; a scaffolding display form determining-unit for determining a completion rate of the scaffolding on a visualization-target date based on a relationship between the visualization-target date and the scaffolding schedule data, and obtaining a display form of the scaffolding; and a display process unit for displaying, concurrently with the CAD model, the scaffolding area based on the obtained display form of the scaffolding. | 05-06-2010 |
20100121663 | System and Method for Maintaining Displayed Pricing at Retail Stores - A system for maintaining displayed pricing at retail stores includes a computer, a printer, an EDSD reader or an EDSD reader/encoder, and at least one portable EDSD reader. The computer includes a database having a record of each product for which displayed pricing will be maintained. Each such record includes a unique identifier for the product and the current price for the product. The printer is in communication with the computer, and is adapted to generate printed pricing material on EDSD enabled media. The EDSD reader or EDSD reader/encoder is associated with the printer. Printed pricing material is generated by obtaining the current price from the product record in the product pricing database, printing the current price on EDSD enabled media, and associating an identifier stored in the EDSD with the product. The printed pricing material is then installed in the store. | 05-13-2010 |
20100121664 | CONDITIONAL DOWNLOAD OF DATA FROM EMBEDDED HISTORIANS - Systems and methods that provide for event driven downloading, via defining storage thresholds in an embedded historian (e.g. micro historian). Upon reaching predetermined thresholds (e.g., low/high water marks), stored data in the embedded historians can automatically down load to a central plant historian. An automatic download engine is provided that down loads historian data based on satisfaction of such conditions defined for the download. The download engine can further include a detector component, which detects whether a predetermined condition (e.g., associated with the storage capacity of the micro-historians have been met. Moreover, a notification component can notify the embedded historians that the data have been permanently persisted in the central historian. | 05-13-2010 |
20100125468 | CENTRALIZED MANAGEMENT OF MAINTENANCE AND MATERIALS FOR COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT FLEETS WITH ACCESS TO REAL-TIME INFORMATION - Turnkey maintenance of a customer's aircraft fleet is managed by a single management service provider (MSP) controlling integrated maintenance and materials services from a central operations site. The MSP converts data received directly from on-board aircraft systems into information it uses to manage maintenance service providers and parts suppliers. The MSP contracts with and manages maintenance, repair and overhaul organizations (MROs) who perform the maintenance on the customers' aircraft at line and base stations. The MSP either remotely manages part inventories at the customer's site, or manages suppliers who deliver the parts to the MROs. Maintenance planning, scheduling and execution information is exchanged between the MSP, MROs, part suppliers and the customers through a shared data communication network controlled by the MSP. The MSP charges the customer for the maintenance services based on a flat rate per unit of aircraft flying time. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125469 | METHODS AND A SYSTEM FOR REMOTELY AUTHORIZING AND MONITORING FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS - The present invention relates to a method and a system for remotely authorizing and monitoring financial transactions, and for automatically performing executing procedures, if required. In particular, the present invention envisages a computer program product comprising program code means for carrying out the present method, a system for authorizing financial transactions and a computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing a program that instructs a computer to perform the steps of the present method. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125470 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING A DECISION MAKING PLATFORM - A method for enriching the data associated with financial transaction card transactions using a computer system is described. The method includes receiving financial transaction data from a plurality of input channels, each input channel associated with a financial transaction data format, converting the received financial transaction data into a common data format, enriching the converted financial transaction data by scoring the converted financial transaction data across a plurality of scoring engines, converting the plurality of scores relating to the financial transaction data from the scoring engines into output data, and transmitting the output data using an output manager, the output manager operable to provide the data into a format appropriate for each intended recipient. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125471 | FINANCIAL JOURNALS IN FINANCIAL MODELS OF PERFORMANCE SERVERS - Architecture that employs a journal assignment that can be created on demand when journal is created, and operates outside the business cycle. The assignment is routed to reviewers and approvers based on predefined company policy that users define. The assignment encloses a changelist of data changes created by the journal. The changelist is used for rendition and calculation for reviewers and approvers (in addition to the journal contributor) to view/verify and modify the data as if the data is already written into the model. At the time that other users access this model, the data is not present. At the end of the successful workflow chain the changelist is written into the model. If failed, the changelist will be used as that basis for correction or the user can discard the changelist. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125472 | RELATING CODE WITH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ASSETS - A method, system, and computer usable program product for relating code with intellectual property assets are provided in the illustrative embodiments. An intellectual property asset is identified. A portion of code is located from an entire code of a software application, such that the portion of code corresponds to the intellectual property asset. The portion of code is marked with information identifying the intellectual property asset. The portion of the code is executed during the execution of the software application. The execution of the portion of code is recorded, the recording indicating a use of the intellectual property asset. Additionally, a set of analysis control factors may be accepted. The recording may be analyzed according to the set of analysis control factors. A recommendation for an intellectual property asset related business decision to develop, invest in, or maintain certain intellectual property assets may be produced. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125473 | CLOUD COMPUTING ASSESSMENT TOOL - A system is described for providing a cloud computing assessment tool. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The processor may receive a data center configuration from the user. The data center configuration may include a compute and storage capacity. The processor may determine a cloud computing configuration equivalent to the data center configuration. The processor may identify a time period for transitioning from the data center to cloud computing. The processor may identify a plurality of trend values representing changes in the compute capacity and storage capacity over the period of time. The processor may generate a strategy to transition from the data center to cloud computing over the period of time. The strategy may account for the changes in the compute capacity and the storage capacity. The processor may provide a graphical output and a numerical output of the strategy to the user. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125474 | SERVICE EVALUATION ASSESSMENT TOOL AND METHODOLOGY - Embodiments of the invention are concerned with providing an integrated data collection platform and for providing an integrated view of relative performance of respective service areas making up an overall service delivery. One embodiment involves a software tool arranged to perform a process for presenting one or more sets of service assessment evaluation data, wherein each set of service assessment evaluation data corresponds to services provided by one or by different service providers; the process comprises the steps of:
| 05-20-2010 |
20100125475 | Internet based achievement & skills management process & method - An Internet Based Achievement Management Process & Method of use thereof which generally comprises computer software, including internet web page based code, and methods of applications that allows a user to mange, track, and record events and or achievements which pertain to professional, educational, and or personal goals as well as the ability to measure or compare the events and or achievements against their peers by means of an impartial third party review and assessment process. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125476 | SYSTEM HAVING BUSINESS AWARE FRAMEWORK FOR SUPPORTING SITUATION AWARENESS - The present invention relates to a system having a business aware framework for supporting situation awareness, which provides an RFID business event modeling system having a modeling function that allows a developer to easily define RFID business events required in developing RFID applications in conformance to EPC network standards so that the user can specify the steps of acquiring and processing data using the RFID technology and define whether to infer a situation, thereby conveniently using the invention for applications based on EPC and sensor data. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125477 | OPERATION CONTROL FOR DEPLOYING AND MANAGING SOFTWARE SERVICE IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT - A system and method can deploy and manage software services in virtualized and non-virtualized environments. The system provides an enterprise application virtualization solution that allows for centralized governance and control over software and Java applications. Operations teams can define policies, based on application-level service level agreements (SLA) that govern the allocation of hardware and software resources to ensure that quality of service (QoS) goals are met across virtual and non-virtualized platforms. The system use a rules engine that can compare administrator defined constraints with runtime metrics; generate events when a constraint is violated by a metric of the runtime metrics and generate events when a constraint is violated by a metric of the runtime metrics. | 05-20-2010 |
20100131310 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CARRIER CAPACITY AND ALLOCATION MANAGEMENT - Generally described, aspects of the present invention are directed at software systems for managing the logistics of one or more voyages. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided for collecting and disseminating voyage data in a computer networking environment. In this regard, the method includes providing a user interface that is accessible in the computer networking environment configured with controls for accepting input from one or more users. Then, a set of voyage data is collected from the user interface that describes the attributes of the cargo scheduled to be shipped on a voyage. As data is obtained from users, the method calculates a set of utilization statistics based on the collected voyage data that describes the extent that the capacity available from a carrier will be utilized. In this regard, the collected voyage data and utilization statistics may be accessed by authorized users from a central location. | 05-27-2010 |
20100131311 | METHOD FOR MODIFYING THE TERMS OF A FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT - A method for modifying the terms of a financial instrument comprising the steps of obtaining organization data, obtaining weighting factors, transforming the organization data by the weighting factors via a computer to obtain an indicator and relating the terms of the financial instrument to the indicator, wherein the terms are determined from the indicator. The organization data is representative of political, economic, social, technological, legal, environmental, charitable, policy, financial and/or regulatory data. Weighting factors are obtained and quantified from perception polls, surveys, questionnaires, pick lists, votes, opinion polls and/or individual opinions. The organization data is then transformed by the weighting factors to obtain a indicator, wherein the indicator is the basis for obtaining the financial instrument or modifying the terms of the financial instrument. | 05-27-2010 |
20100131312 | Management and Administration of Employee Eligibility Verification Forms - Methods and computer-readable media provide for the management and administration of employee eligibility forms, e.g., United States Form I-9. An I-9 Management and Administrative Program (IMAP) maintains an inventory accounting process for United States employee I-9 forms, provides a semi-automated means of contacting employees in specific circumstances using specific dates as a basis, and reports on the status of I-9 forms. An employee eligibility form may assume different medium types, including a paper format, CD-ROM, and electronic format. An employment eligibility document is received from an employee, where the employment eligibility document includes an employee eligibility verification form. The employment eligibility document is verified, and, when a discrepancy is detected, the employee is automatically notified about the discrepancy. The employment eligibility document may include at least one supporting document in order to establish the identity and employment eligibility of the employee. | 05-27-2010 |
20100131313 | SOFTWARE/HARDWARE RANKING METHOD AND SYSTEM - A ranking method and system. The method includes receiving by a computing system, business requirements and associated weighting factors. The computing system receives a list of software/hardware products and associated assessment data. The business requirements are associated with product features of the software/hardware products. The computing system calculates total requirement weighting factors for the product features. The computing system stores the total requirement weighting factors. | 05-27-2010 |
20100131314 | SYSTEM FOR EFFECTIVELY ESTIMATING PROJECT SIZE - A system for effective project size estimation. In response to receiving an input to predict a size of effort required to complete a project, a set of metrics associated with the project is identified. All possible subsets of metrics are constructed from the identified set of metrics associated with the project. One project size prediction model is generated for each constructed subset of metrics from the identified set of metrics associated with the project. An accuracy score is calculated for each generated project size prediction model. A project size prediction model is selected with a highest calculated accuracy score to identify a subset of effective metrics for the project. The subset of effective metrics is associated with the project size prediction model with the highest calculated accuracy score. Then, the project size prediction model with the highest calculated accuracy score is outputted for use by a project developer. | 05-27-2010 |
20100131315 | RESOLVING INCIDENT REPORTS - Techniques for correlating a client incident with one or more enterprise events to facilitate resolution of the incident are provided. The techniques include identifying one or more configuration items relevant to the one or more enterprise events, identifying one or more configuration items relevant to the client incident, and correlating the one or more enterprise events with the client incident using the one or more configuration items to facilitate resolution of the incident. | 05-27-2010 |
20100131316 | CARBON MANAGEMENT FOR SOURCING AND LOGISTICS - Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system and computer program product for carbon management for sourcing and logistics. In one embodiment, the method comprises using a computer for quantifying both a cost and a carbon impact of one or more logistics policies relating to a manufacturing process; and minimizing the cost and carbon impact using a defined equation including a first component representing a transportation cost, and a second component representing a carbon cost. In an embodiment of the invention, the quantifying includes using an analytics engine to quantify the cost and carbon impact. The analytics engine may include a shipment analysis module to calculate an optimal transportation policy, a sourcing analysis module for testing alternate sourcing options, a scenario analysis module to find an optimal order frequency, and a sensitivity analysis module to test the impact of various changes. | 05-27-2010 |
20100131317 | ORGANIZATION ASSESSMENT AND REPRESENTATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - The invention relates to a system and method which allows the performance of an organization to be assessed with respect to data which is generated by the organization. The invention provides for the collation of data representing a number of functions of the organization, and, if necessary reformatting the same, and then processing of the same to generate results to represent the actual activities of the organisation or parts thereof and typically allow comparison with target valves. | 05-27-2010 |
20100131318 | Method of Controlling the Quality of Consumable Animal Primal Cuts - A method of monitoring the production history of consumable animal primal cuts. Data collected from animal breeders and animal feeders is provided to a centralized data management system. An independent auditor also collects data on the operations of animal feeders. The data is analyzed to identify trends or relationships between aspects of the production lifecycle. Quality data on the quality of the primal cuts is also provided to the data management system. Feedback on procedures to be adjusted to improve primal cut quality can be provided to feeders. | 05-27-2010 |
20100138247 | System and method for managing enterprise capabilities - Systems and methods are disclosed for managing enterprise capabilities. The system comprises a database that stores a plurality of capability templates in an asset library. The system also includes a user interface configured to communicate with the database and receive capability data for a user project, and a processor configured to analyze the capability data based on at least one of the capability templates and generate a capability profile of the user project based on the analysis. A display is included in the system to output the capability profile. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138248 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING A COMMERCIAL ECOSYSTEMS BLUEPRINT IN AN ASSET BASED COMPONENT BUSINESS MODEL ARCHITECTURE - A method and system for constructing a business architecture based on a commercial ecosystem blueprint. The commercial ecosystem blueprint provides a layout of components generic to the ecosystem and its participants, each component having an asset type and an associated commercialization mechanism, and all the components providing a mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive representation of the ecosystem. The blueprint provides a common migration target for ecosystem participants seeking a relatively stable asset based business architecture. Each component on the blueprint, and the information technology system supporting implementation of the component, are configurable to adapt to particular participants and business systems. A collaborative network of such components may be assembled to provide a business system, and these components may be performed by other ecosystem participants, as determined by global sourcing and supply-line optimization. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138249 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STRUCTURED COLLABORATION USING REUSABLE BUSINESS COMPONENTS AND CONTROL STRUCTURES IN AN ASSET BASED COMPONENT BUSINESS MODEL ARCHITECTURE - A method and system for using an asset based business architecture having components to operate a business, implementing collaborative interactions between the components by using control structures granular to the level of the corresponding asset based components. To respond to a business opportunity components are assembled into a collaborative network, and the assembled components are configured to the business opportunity. Additional or modified control structures are employed in the collaborative network as needed. Preferably, the collaborative network operates in a business control domain. The components may be adapted from a component business model (CBM) map developed for an industry within which the business competes. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138250 | Governing Architecture Of A Service Oriented Architecture - Governing architecture of a Service Oriented Architecture (‘SOA’) including identifying business requirements for the SOA; establishing an architecture management framework; and creating an SOA reference architecture in dependence upon the architecture management framework and the identified business requirements. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138251 | Governing The Design Of Services In A Service Oriented Architecture - Governing the design of services in an SOA including creating a high level service design from the service model; if the high level service design and the estimated cost of the SOA complies with predetermined service design verification policies, creating a low level service design from the high level service design; and if the low level service design and the estimated updated cost of the SOA complies with predetermined low-level service design verification policies, incorporating the low level service design in a design specification for the SOA. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138252 | Governing Realizing Services In A Service Oriented Architecture - Governing realizing services in a Service Oriented Architecture (‘SOA’) including receiving a preliminary service model and a preliminary SOA service architecture; allocating services in the preliminary service model ( | 06-03-2010 |
20100138253 | All aspect quantification system for the risk rating of operating errors for an advanced boiling water reactor - Based on the discovered operating errors under all basic operating mode s for advanced boiling water reactor, a suitable quantification analytical model is employed to fast assess the risk situation for the discovered operating errors and quantified results are used to differentiate the risk rating for the operating errors. This is used to determine the necessity and urgency for the corrective measures to respond to the errors. The adopted quantification analytical model is the safety assessment (Probabilistic Risk Assessment, PRA) model for all basic operating mode s for advanced boiling water reactor, including power operation, low power operation and shutdown for major repairs. For the discovered operating error during power operation period, the invention uses the specifically developed safety assessment model for plant event, earthquake, flood and fire to determine risk effect for the discovered operating error on different event to manifest the risk characteristics for the discovered operating error and match the quantification results to existing plant design, operation and maintenance conditions. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138254 | Governing Exposing Services In A Service Model - Methods and systems for governing service identification in an SOA governance model according to embodiments of the present invention are provided. Embodiments include receiving a set of input parameters for identifying candidate services for the SOA; determining whether the set of input parameters comply with a predetermined input parameter validation policy. If the set of input parameters comply with a predetermined input parameter validation policy, governing service identification includes identifying in dependence upon the set of input parameters one or more candidate services available for the SOA in existing SOA business applications and determining whether each candidate services available in existing SOA business applications comply with a predetermined service selection policy. If one of the candidate services available in existing SOA business applications complies with a predetermined service selection policy, governing service identification includes selecting the candidate service as a service available for the SOA and communicating the identification of that selected service to relevant stakeholders in the SOA. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138255 | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN FOR MANUAL INVOICING APPLICATION SOFTWARE - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing manual invoicing. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include a Customer Invoice Processing process component, a Due Item Processing process component, a Payment Processing process component, an Accounting process component, a Project Processing process component, and a Balance of Foreign Payment Management process component. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138256 | FREE TRADE QUALIFICATION METHOD AND SYSTEM - A free trade qualification system to determine whether finished products qualify for a given free trade agreement. Bill of materials maintenance uses tables that constitute the bill of materials, including an item master table and an item relationship table. The item master table contains records for the parts and finished products. The item relationship table contains all relationships between items structured as parent to child in a recursive manner. Free trade qualification traverses the bill of materials to calculate whether a given finished product is qualified. The harmonized tariff code for the part or subassembly being processed is evaluated in terms of the appropriate qualification rules to determine which of these rules applies to the part in the context of its relationship to the subassembly being processed. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138257 | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN FOR SELLING STANDARDIZED SERVICES APPLICATION SOFTWARE - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing selling standardized services. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include a Customer Quote Processing process component; a Sales Order Processing process component; a Service Confirmation Processing process component; a Financial Accounting Master Data Management processing component; a Customer Invoice Processing process component; an Accounting process component; a Balance of Foreign Payment Management process component; a Due Item Processing process component; and a Payment Processing process component. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138258 | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN FOR INTRA-COMPANY STOCK TRANSFER APPLICATION SOFTWARE - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing intra-company stock transfer of physical inventory. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service operations, each implemented for a respective process component. The process components include a Supply and Demand Matching process, a Customer Requirement Processing process component, a Logistics Execution Control process component, a Site Logistics Processing process component, an Outbound Delivery Processing process component, an Inbound Delivery Processing process component, an Inventory Processing process component, a Production and Site Logistics Auxiliaries process component and a Freight Documents Processing process component. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138259 | SERVICE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - Service management systems and associated methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a service management system can include a system for delivering various types of services including property management services, residential rental services, social services, low income housing services, and/or the like. One aspect of the disclosure is directed toward a computer implemented service management process (e.g., a property management process) that includes maintaining an inventory of property associated with a rental program, providing information associated with the rental program, processing an application to enter the program from a potential program participant, and administering various program elements of the rental program. In selected embodiments, the method can further include providing products/services and/or providing advertising. In still further embodiments, the method can include terminating the program participant's participation in the rental program/service management process. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138260 | METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING THE OPERATION OF A SYSTEM FOR REALIZING AT LEAST ONE ONLINE POLL AND A SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING THE METHOD - A method for optimizing the operation of a system for distributing at least one poll over the Internet, includes successive steps for: | 06-03-2010 |
20100138261 | Configurable System And Method For Managing Facilities - A system allowing a user to answer a series of questions to generate survey data, associating system data with the survey data to generate a highly accurate report. The user may, customize the survey by selecting categories corresponding to certain series of questions and be presented with a running total of costs associated with each selected action, a total cost for all selected actions, and an impact on the property FCI corresponding to the selected action. The report allows, for example, for targeted assessment of select facilities systems including a time frame within which work to be performed on select facilities systems and/or a cost associated with work to be performed. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138262 | Automated Political Risk Management - A risk management method and system for facilitating analysis and quantification of risk associated with politically exposed persons is disclosed. A computerized political risk management system maintains a database relating individuals to politically sensitive positions and world events. A rating system is used to assess risk based upon criteria such as a position held, historical data and/or interpretation of world events. The system can generate a risk quotient or other rating based upon a weighted algorithm applied to the criteria. The risk quotient is indicative of risk associated with an account. Actions commensurate with a risk quotient can be presented to an institution to help the institution properly manage risk associated with a politically exposed person. A log or other stored history can be created such that utilization of the system can mitigate adverse effects relating to a problematic account. Mitigation can be accomplished by demonstrating to regulatory bodies, shareholders, news media and other interested parties that corporate governance is being addressed through tangible risk management processes. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138263 | CONCISE COMMUNICATION OF REAL-TIME BUSINESS INFORMATION IN AN ENTERPRISE NETWORK - A method, system, computer program product, and related business methods for concisely communicating real-time business information to end users in an enterprise network is described. An integrated business system having at least ERP and CRM functionality is accessed via a browser-based user interface. A plurality of portlet windows are simultaneously displayed within a browser window, each portlet window occupying a relatively small area therein. The portlet windows are selected and arranged according to a customizable user profile for each user, and include reporting portlets displaying up-to-date business results retrieved from the integrated business system. Each reporting portlet further comprises report access links associated with at least one of the business results that, when selected by the user, invoke browser-based displays of up-to-date business data underlying those business results. Preferably, in accordance with a user-customizable alert setting stored in the user profile, regular electronic mail messages are sent to the user communicating up-to-date versions of those business results. Preferably, data labels that identify business items within the browser-based user interface and on the electronic mails are expressed in a business vernacular tuned to each user according to customizable business vernacular settings in their user profiles. | 06-03-2010 |
20100145745 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING SPECTRUM USE RIGHTS - The present disclosure describes systems and methods that facilitate the transfer rights associated with spectrum between parties. Access to spectrum for wireless communications may be transferred from a spectrum holder to a spectrum user while minimizing their role in submitting regulatory agency compliance filings. As a result, parties may transfer spectrum with relative ease, with faster transaction time and lower expense. This leads to more efficient use of the spectrum. | 06-10-2010 |
20100145746 | Vertical Process Merging By Reconstruction Of Equivalent Models And Hierarchical Process Merging - Methods, systems and computer program products for improvement of vertical process merging by reconstruction of equivalent models and hierarchical process merging. Embodiments of the invention include a method for identifying and resolving differences between business process models, the method including receiving a first business process model project, identifying a second business process model project, performing changes to the second business process model project, merging the first and second business process model projects, creating a delta model configured to analyze the differences between the business process model projects, wherein an analysis of the differences between the first and second business process model projects are in the form of low-level changes and auto-applying the low-level changes of the first business process model project to generate a new business process model project. | 06-10-2010 |
20100145747 | AUTOMATED ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE ASSESSMENT - A computer based system for assessing an automated enterprise architecture includes a database for storing artifacts, each artifact representing a portion of the enterprise architecture, the artifacts including a pattern artifact defining requirements for links between a first artifact and one or more additional artifacts, a user interaction module coupled to the database, and an analysis module configured to determine all patterns linked to a component and to determine the level of compliance of the component with the pattern. | 06-10-2010 |
20100145748 | INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PLANNING BASED ON ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE - A method of forming an IT plan for an enterprise utilizing an automated enterprise architecture (EA) system includes creating a project document, the project document describing a particular portion of operations of the enterprise; ranking the criticality of the project as compared to other projects of the enterprise; linking products, including product versions, that are related to the project to the project in the EA system, wherein the link is a two way link; receiving organization technology adoption preferences; and creating a list of products to be upgraded based on the technology adoption preferences and the ranking of the project. | 06-10-2010 |
20100145749 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC CONTINUOUS MONITORING AND ON-DEMAND OPTIMIZATION OF BUSINESS IT INFRASTRUCTURE ACCORDING TO BUSINESS OBJECTIVES - A computer implemented method and system for optimizing performance of a business IT infrastructure, wherein business objectives are obtained as input and the IT business infrastructure and/or business level components associated therewith are optimized according to the business objectives. In one embodiment, an objectives definition is created that defines business objectives and business rules determining how IT level metrics affect the business objectives and, optionally, service level agreements or other contract definitions based on the objectives definition. A runtime performance of the business objectives is determined during runtime of the business IT infrastructure by monitoring the business IT infrastructure, its compliance with the contract definitions, and the business objectives achieved by the business IT infrastructure. If a statistically significant change is detected between the runtime performance and a reference optimization of the business objectives, the business model is updated and the reference optimization of the business objectives is redetermined. | 06-10-2010 |
20100145750 | Evaluating Service Oriented Architecture Governance Maturity - Evaluating service oriented architecture (‘SOA’) governance maturity including receiving, from a plurality of predetermined stakeholders in the SOA for a plurality of SOA governance capabilities, a stakeholder assessed value representing the current maturity of each of the plurality of SOA governance capabilities; determining, for each of the plurality of SOA governance capabilities in dependence upon the plurality of stakeholder assessed values from the stakeholders, a capability value for each of the plurality of SOA governance capabilities; assigning each of the SOA governance capabilities to a domain; determining, in dependence upon the capability values for each of the plurality of SOA governance capabilities of each domain, a domain maturity value for each domain; and communicating the domain maturity value for each domain to the predetermined stakeholders of the SOA. | 06-10-2010 |
20100145751 | VALIDATION METHOD AND SYSTEM - A validation method and system. The method includes receiving, by a computing system, accounting data and an associated purchasing document. The computing system receives a request for validating the accounting data. The computing system determines a purchasing scenario associated with the purchasing document. The computing system receives a configuration table and validation algorithms. The configuration table comprises accounting elements each comprising parameters. The computing system selects relevant accounting elements from the configuration table. The computing system selects relevant algorithms of the validation algorithms. The computing system executes each relevant algorithm of the validation algorithms on an associated set of parameters of the parameters. The computing system generates validation statuses for the relevant accounting elements. The computing system transmits validation statuses to a calling system. | 06-10-2010 |
20100145752 | ADAPTABLE WORKFLOW AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM - A data driven workflow solution that normalizes business communications by systematically recording related business communications from disparate communications channels in a common format such that the related business communications are automatically integrated into the associated business processes and which flow solution is flexible for capturing additional data elements or to adapt to changing tasks associated with the business processes is disclosed. | 06-10-2010 |
20100145753 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR A COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT PROGRAM ASSOCIATED WITH A COMMERCIAL CREDIT CARD - Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for a comprehensive environmental benefit program associated with purchases made by a corporate entity and, more specifically, purchases associated with a commercial credit card. According to embodiments herein disclosed, environmental impact data, such as ecological or carbon footprint data may be determined based on the purchases made by a commercial entity using the commercial credit card and, in some embodiments, purchases made through other purchasing channels. In addition, environmental advisory data, such as suggestions for environmental improvements, environmental educational information or the like may be determined based on the purchases. Additionally, environmental rebates, such as carbon offsets may be determined based on the purchases/purchase amounts and customized based on commercial entity preferences. | 06-10-2010 |
20100153145 | TONER ESTIMATOR AND REPORTER - Systems and methods are described that facilitate presenting estimated toner consumption for a print job to a user. A print job is identified from a print job queue or by a job ticket, and is analyzed to identify print job parameters such as rendering mode, resolution, pages in the job, etc. A user may adjust rendering resolution and/or a job sub-setting such as a page cycle value or multiple thereof (e.g., where every Nth page of the job is the same or similar). Raster image processing is performed on the print job (with or without printing the job) to generate rasters, and a lookup table is accessed to identify an amount of toner required for each page given the rasters generated therefor at the given resolution in the given rendering mode. Toner cost estimation information is summarized in a report that is presented to the user (e.g., on a GUI, a printed page, or via electronic transfer). | 06-17-2010 |
20100153146 | Generating Generalized Risk Cohorts - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating general risk scores for general risk cohorts. Digital sensor data associated with a general risk cohort is received from a set of multimodal sensors. The digital sensor data comprises metadata describing attributes associated with at least one member of the general risk cohort. Each member of the general risk cohort comprises data describing objects belonging to a category. A general risk score for the general risk cohort is generated based on selected risk factors and the attributes associated with the at least one member of the general risk cohort. In response to a determination that the general risk score exceeds a risk threshold, a response action is initiated. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153147 | Generating Specific Risk Cohorts - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating risk scores for specific risk cohorts. Digital sensor data associated with a specific risk cohort is received from a set of multimodal sensors. The specific risk cohort includes a set of identified cohort members. The digital sensor data includes metadata describing attributes associated with at least one cohort member in the set of identified cohort members. Description data for each cohort member in the set of identified cohort members is retrieved to form a set of cohort description data. The description data for each cohort member comprises data describing a previous history of the cohort member or a current status of the cohort member. The cohort member is a person, animal, plant, thing, or location. A specific risk score is generated for the specific risk cohort based on selected risk factors, the attributes associated with the at least one identified member, and the set of cohort description data. A response action is initiated in response to a determination that the specific risk score exceeds a risk threshold. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153148 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MODIFICATION OF SERVICE STATUS OF GEOGRAPHICAL DELIVERY AREAS FOR COMMON CARRIERS - Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for modifying the status for one or more carrier services based on one or more geographical delivery areas. Such embodiments provide an interface module executed by a processor to modify data indicating the status for the one or more carrier services in response to obtaining data indicating the one or more carrier services to be modified, a beginning date for which the status of the one or more carrier services is to be modified, an ending date for which the status will return to its pre-existing state prior to being modified, one or more geographical delivery areas in which the status is to be modified, and a modification for the one or more carrier services. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153149 | SOFTWARE FOR MODEL-BASED CONFIGURATION CONSTRAINT GENERATION - This disclosure provides various embodiments of systems, software, and computerized methods for generating one or more business adaptation constraints. In one aspect, the software identifies at least one business option associated with a business adaptation catalog, and then identifies at least one variable application entity in an application mapped to the at least one identified business option. The software determines one or more application integrity constraints associated with the at least one identified variable application entity, and computes one or more business adaptation catalog constraints associated with the at least one identified business option based on the one or more determined application integrity constraints associated with the at least one identified variable application entity. The software then inserts the one or more computed business adaptation catalog constraints associated with the at least one identified business option into the business adaptation catalog. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153150 | SOFTWARE FOR BUSINESS ADAPTATION CATALOG MODELING - This disclosure provides various embodiments of systems, software, and computerized methods for generating a business adaptation catalog model. In one aspect, the software identifies one of a plurality of solutions associated with a particular application, and identifies a business adaptation catalog associated with the identified solution. The software then retrieves information from the business adaptation catalog defining a set of business elements, and generates a business adaptation catalog model illustrating the one or more business elements. Further, the business adaptation catalog can comprise a data structure defining the hierarchical relationships between the set of business elements and a set of constraints defining at least one relationship between at least two of the set of business elements. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153151 | Method and Apparatus for Determining Applicable Permits and Permitting Agencies for a Construction Project - Systems and methods for providing a computer-implemented interactive system for determining which permits are applicable to a construction project are disclosed. Also disclosed are techniques for reducing the number of questions that are asked to determine the applicable permits by selecting questions for presentation to the user based on a number of permits that are relevant to that question. Still further, disclosed are methods and systems for allowing a user to create the data structure used by the system to determine which permits are applicable to a construction project. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153152 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RECURSION CHECK AND LOW-LEVEL CODE GENERATION FOR DIRECTED GRAPH - A method and a system for fast recursion check and low-level code generation for directed graph. In a directed graph each vertex is connected to at least one other vertex with a directed edge to form an ordered pair of a source vertex and a target vertex. Low-level codes are assigned to the vertices of the directed graph, where for each ordered pair the low-level code of the target vertex is bigger than the low-level code of the source vertex. A new edge is added to connect a first vertex and a second vertex of the graph, where the first vertex is the source vertex and the second vertex is the target vertex of the new ordered pair. The low-level code of the target vertex of the new ordered pair is not bigger than the low-level code of the source vertex. For the new ordered pair and all ordered pairs that descend from the new ordered pair, the low-level codes of the target nodes are changed to values bigger than the low-level codes of the corresponding source vertices, when necessary. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153153 | Stable Linking And Patchability Of Business Processes Through Hierarchical Versioning - A system, method and computer program product is presented for versioning a business process model. The business process model is decomposed into a number of artifacts. A hierarchical dependency graph is generated for the number of artifacts to produce, for each artifact, a set of referencing artifacts and a set of referenced artifacts. The set of referenced artifacts are compiled by creating a runtime format and computing a unique version identifier for each referenced artifacts, and the unique version identifier for each referenced artifact is incorporated into a version identifier of each associated referencing artifact from the set of referencing artifacts. At least one of the referenced artifacts is modified to produce a new version of the associated referencing artifact. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153154 | MANUFACTURING COLLABORATION HUB DATA EXCHANGE INTERFACE - A data exchange system provides an efficient and cost effective way to control and monitor the manufacturing processes of multiple logistics plants in a virtual manufacturing network. The data exchange system provides a way to quickly and efficiently implement a virtual manufacturing network that includes multiple logistic plants and an electronic production execution system. The data exchange system and electronic production execution system together form a manufacturing collaboration hub that unifies internal and external manufacturing processes of multiple logistic plants to implement a virtual manufacturing network. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153155 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS FOR OFFSHORE TESTING - The present invention provides a method and system for evaluating a plurality of software applications for offshore testing. A criteria model including one or more criteria for assessing the viability of offshore testing is defined by one or more tool administrators. Thereafter, one or more experts assign scores to the plurality of software applications with reference to the criteria model. One or more cumulative scores may then be calculated for each of the plurality of software applications based on the assigned scores. Further, a graph may be generated on the basis of the one or more cumulative scores. Subsequently, one or more software applications are identified for offshore testing. A transition plan for offshore testing of the one or more software applications may also be defined. | 06-17-2010 |
20100161358 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TICKETS AND DISPATCHES - A system and method for comparative analysis of tickets and/or dispatches including a receiver, at a baseline engine, configured to receive data associated with at least one of a product and a service corresponding to one or more tickets or dispatches, a processor, at the baseline engine, configured to generate baseline information based on the data, wherein the baseline information represents a comparative analysis of the at least one of a product and a service, and a transmitter, at the baseline engine, configured to transmit the baseline information to an output device for assessing the at least one product and service. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161359 | Risk Management for Cable Protection Via Dynamic Buffering - Devices, systems and methods are disclosed which relate to optimizing a minimum cost function associated with buried asset lines by using a GIS application to generate a “dynamic buffer” around each asset line based on a risk management algorithm. A risk management algorithm, by which a GIS application can generate a “dynamic buffer”, is employed to minimize asset line damage risk and operating costs by balancing potential costs from damage against the fixed labor costs of manually screened and located tickets. Embodiments of the invention utilize the geography of the situation as well as factors for the asset itself. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161360 | STRATEGIC PLANNING MANAGEMENT - An information technology (IT) strategic management system (and corresponding methodology) that enhances efficiency and effectiveness of IT planning processes and projects is provided. In particular aspects, the systems commence with a review of current IT state and strategy influencers. The state is analyzed to establish (or alternatively, to update) a strategy summary. The strategy summary can be presented for leadership approval and subsequently communicated to stakeholders for deployment. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161361 | PERFORMING ENTERPRISE PLANNING AND ECONOMICS ANALYSIS FOR RESERVOIR-RELATED SERVICES - To perform economics management, data relating to reservoir-related services is received from a plurality of data sources. The received data is mapped into a cube-based data structure. In response to a query, data is retrieved from the cube-based data structure. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161362 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MESSAGE-BASED CONTROL AND MONITORING OF A BUSINESS PROCESS - A system for monitoring and controlling a business process involving a plurality of workstations or/and computerized services, the system comprising apparatus for receiving messages exchanged between the plurality of workstations or computerized services and having content, and for deriving from the content of the messages, monitoring information regarding the single business process. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161363 | ENVIRONMENTAL LOAD ANNOUNCING APPARATUS, MULTIFUNCTION PERIPHERAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL LOAD ANNOUNCING METHOD - An environmental-load announcing apparatus calculates, as an execution value, a value of an environmental load required by a printer to print a print target image on a sheet, sets, as a reference value, a value of an environmental load caused if the printer prints, with reference setting content, the print target image on the sheet and calculates a degree of the calculated execution value with respect to the reference value, and causes a display device to display, as a degree of effort with respect to the environmental load in the printing executed by the printer, the degree of the execution value with respect to the calculated reference value. | 06-24-2010 |
20100169132 | EXECUTING A BUSINESS TRANSACTION IN AN ENTERPRISE SYSTEM USING BUSINESS DATA OBTAINED FROM HETEROGENEOUS SOURCES - Disclosed is a method and system for receiving business data regarding an entity from various disparate sources, structuring the received data in an enterprise system and executing a business transaction using the structured data. The method involves receiving business data of an entity from a plurality of sources, determining a part of the business data that is relevant to a business process based on a business context from the plurality of sources and mapping the part of the business data to fields of a business object in an enterprise system. Further, a business object instance of the business object is created and a business transaction is executed using the business object instance. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169133 | METHOD TO ENABLE OPTIMIZING TOWARDS GOALS - A method to provide a goal function solution to an optimization problem. The goal function includes weighted parameters and is performed over a series of data instances. The method includes identifying the parameters of the goal. The method also includes estimating the numerical range each parameter weight factor may take by determining the minimal and maximal numerical value for any realistic solution, normalizing all parameters, setting a maximum weight value, setting a numerical weight for each parameter, searching for a goal function solution by searching for a good assignment of weight for each parameter, analyzing the series of instances, averaging the weights of the best goal functions obtained for each data instance to obtain a single goal function, determining whether one goal function is good for all instances and determining whether more than one goal function is required, so that each goal function is appropriate for at least one operational characteristics, and can be activated when the character of each new instance is recognized. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169134 | FOSTERING ENTERPRISE RELATIONSHIPS - The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can facilitate, enrich, or nurture relationships in a business enterprise environment. In particular, the architecture can construct a set of profiles associated with entities of the enterprise (e.g., employees, teams, departments, or the enterprise) based upon a wide range of transactions (e.g., behavior, activity, productivity, relationships, explicit or implicit feedback from collaborators . . . ) relating to the entity. Based upon these profiles, the architecture can determine a set of tasks and also identify advantageous relationships, wherein the tasks and relationships are deemed to facilitate accomplishing an objective to benefit the enterprise or entity. In addition, the architecture can nurture or cultivate the advantageous relationships by suggesting suitable behavior or performing opportunistic actions. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169135 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSET BILLING RECONCILIATION MANAGEMENT - An approach is provided that includes assigning a unique identification to each individual of a plurality of individuals, compiling hierarchical data relating the individuals to each other, and collecting service data from one or more service providers relating to the plurality of individuals assigned with unique identifications, where the service data includes service charges associated with services provided to the plurality of individuals. Additionally, the hierarchical data and the service data are merged using the unique identifications to generate a table of service charges of the plurality of individuals in a hierarchical format. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169136 | INFORMATION AGGREGATION FOR SOCIAL NETWORKS - A dynamically developed social networking group is defined within a collaborative platform. Information regarding one or more attributes of one or more members of the group is collected. Anonymized statistical data regarding the group is provided, based upon, at least in part, the information regarding one or more attributes of one or more members of the group. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169137 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO ANALYZE DATA USING A GRAPH - In an example embodiment, systems and methods to analyze data using a graph is shown. The system receives account information that identifies a first account and generates a first graph based on the first account. The graph includes a first score. Next, the system communicates a first interface to a first agent that is selected from a plurality of agents. The first interface includes the first graph. The first graph represents the first account as a first node. The first graph further represents a first plurality of accounts as a first plurality of nodes that include the first node. The first graph further represents a first plurality of account associations between the first plurality of accounts as a first plurality of edges that connect the first plurality of nodes. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169138 | DOCUMENT LIFECYCLE TRACKING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE WITH A DOCUMENT PRODUCTION PROCESS - A method for monitoring the status of documents created by a large scale document production and management processes. The production and management process may be comprised of a plurality of different stages including: utilizing a print stream to generate the documents, printing documents on a printer in accordance with the print stream, and forming completed mail pieces on an inserter from the printed documents in accordance with mail piece creation data files. A monitoring system receives information regarding the status of individual documents within these production and management process stages. A user may then select one of the stages for closer inspection of the status of documents. For the selected stage, status of individual documents is displayed | 07-01-2010 |
20100169139 | Smart Building Unified Managed Solutions - Smart Building Unified Managed Solutions identifies and self heals to resolve inefficient facility environmental variables defined by energy, communications, operations, security, fire, video, video transmission and building controls through a single managed business process solution allowing the facility operators to always have a single view of the entire facility maximizing security and energy savings to the facility including introduction and integration of alternate sources of energy i.e. wind, solar, nuclear. | 07-01-2010 |
20100174570 | Method and System for Risk Monitoring in Online Business - A method of risk monitoring in online business is disclosed. The method captures parameters of a user request and business data of processing the request by a business processing system; packs the parameters and the business data into an event object; analyzes the event object according to risk monitoring rules; and generates a risk record if a risk is determined to exist in an operation event that produces the business data. The method further determines a risk processing mode according to the risk record and a risk processing configuration, and processes the risk of the operation event in the risk processing mode. Also disclosed is a system for risk monitoring in online business. | 07-08-2010 |
20100174571 | Open Dealership Management System developed in MySQL, PHP, HTML, and JavaScript - An open browser-based dealership management system and more particularly, a method of using web-based tools (mySQL, PHP, HTML, JavaScript/AJAX) to provide accounting, financial reporting, sales tracking, and customer management for automotive, truck, RV, motorcycle, and boat retail dealerships. | 07-08-2010 |
20100174572 | Methods and Apparatus for Analyzing User Information to Identify Conditions Indicating a Need for Assistance for the User - Systems and techniques for analyzing information relating to a user to determine whether the user requires assistance. Information for a user is received from sources selected to provide information relating to the user's activities and analyzed to determine whether conditions exist indicating a possible need for assistance for the user. User location, motion, and activity information is received and analyzed against expected information stored in the user profile and analyzed to determine if assistance is needed. If a determination is made that the user's behavior indicates that assistance may be needed, communication is initiated to summon appropriate assistance. | 07-08-2010 |
20100174573 | ROUGH ORDER OF MAGNITUDE NARRATIVE SYSTEM - Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer program products for modeling and estimating costs for a project, such as a construction or remodeling project. For example, embodiments of the present invention provide a project cost modeling system having a communication interface configured to receive a first level input for a first level project parameter from a user, a memory configured to store a rule, and a processor operatively connected to the communication interface and the memory and configured to determine a second level project parameter and a second level input for the second level project parameter based at least partially on a comparison of the first level input to the rule. The system is further configured to compute cost estimates and provide cost models based at least partially on the first level input, the second level input, and/or information about other projects stored in the memory. | 07-08-2010 |
20100174574 | Intelligent submittal management related applications - A computer implemented method for managing construction submittal requirements for a construction project. The method provides a first database containing information related to managing a construction project having stored therein a plurality of requirements for the construction project.
| 07-08-2010 |
20100179843 | METHOD FOR ACHIEVING COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNANCE STANDARDS - A method for evaluating and achieving compliance with industrial or governmental standards that includes obtaining client information to identify a client's business operations procedures and a client's needs, reviewing applicable industrial or governmental standard particulars, evaluating the client's business operations in view of industrial or governmental standard particulars, presenting a deliverable component to the client identifying revisions to client business practices to conform to the industrial or governmental standards and implementing a risk assessment policy for the client based on the findings of the deliverable component. The method may be tracked with scheduling and project software. | 07-15-2010 |
20100179844 | INFORMATION REPORTING SYSTEM FOR MANAGING A FLEET OF AN INDUSTRIAL VEHICLES - Operational data are transmitted, by each of a plurality of material handling vehicles at a facility, into a communications system. A computer connected to the communications system processes the operational data and presents reports on a monitor screen. The computer operates in an impact report mode which provides reports about material handling vehicle impacts with objects, a maintenance report mode for reports pertaining to vehicle maintenance, a verify report mode presenting reports about vehicle inspections, and a metrics report mode for reports describing amounts of work performed by the vehicles, and an overview mode summarizes information from each of other report modes. Each report mode has different display modes which summarize data for a group of the vehicles or provide detailed information about one particular vehicle or one specific vehicle operator. | 07-15-2010 |
20100179845 | System and Method for Creating, Managing, Evaluating, Optimizing Creating Business Partnership Standards and Creating Reuseable Knowledge and Business Intelligence for Business Partnerships and Alliances - A system and method for determining business partner value by creating weighted metrics for identifying, evaluating and selecting a business partner for a company; creating a business agreement and weighted metrics for evaluating the agreement; creating weighted metrics for ongoing management of the partner; and managing the partner by ongoing periodic evaluation of the weighted metrics for partner selection, agreement, and management. Both company and partners may participate in the evaluation on an ongoing basis (e.g., once per month or once per quarter) rather than an annual review. In one embodiment, weighted metrics of partner selection, agreement, and management are reported, charted and graphed providing for visual evaluation and side-by-side comparison of the perceptions of company and partner for optimization of the business relationship and prediction of future performance. | 07-15-2010 |
20100185471 | ANALYZING VOYAGE EFFICIENCIES - A method, apparatus, and computer program product are present for analyzing voyage efficiency. Historical data for a completed voyage of a ship is obtained. A baseline voyage solution for a completed voyage is generated with a software application executing on a processor unit using a model of the ship and the historical data. The baseline voyage solution is compared to an actual voyage solution used for the completed voyage to form a comparison. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185472 | Locomotive Assistant - There is provided a system for managing information comprising a network, a hand-held mobile device, and a central server computer. The network is established between the central server computer and the hand-held mobile device to communicate computer readable information between the central server computer and the hand-held mobile device. In an embodiment, the computer-readable information is human interface information related to operation of a train. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185473 | DOCUMENT VAULT AND APPLICATION PLATFORM - Online document storage and/or retrieval techniques are described. In an implementation, one or more computer-readable media comprising instructions that are executable to provide a web service application programming interface (API). The web service API is configured to accept a document and information specified by the document's provider. The information specifying which of a plurality of tabs in a user interface at least a portion of data included in the document is to be associated with for display in which at least one of the tabs pertains to billing data and another one of the tabs does not pertain to billing data. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185474 | Milestone Generation Techniques - Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for generating project milestones. A method for programmatically determining a status of a particular task is described. Project management data for a particular task is retrieved from a data store. Milestone indicators are retrieved from a key word data store. An analysis is performed of the project-related files to determine an actual status of the particular task, using the milestone indicators and project management data as part of the analysis. When the analysis reveals that the project-related files reflect a different status for the project than the project management data reflects, one or more notifications are raised. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185475 | Three Dimensional Virtual Planning - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating maintenance plans. An embodiment of the invention includes obtaining information from a number of databases in response to receiving a request to generate a maintenance plan for a structure. A maintenance need for the structure is determined using the information obtained from the number of databases. A number of tasks required to meet the maintenance need are determined using the information obtained from the number of databases. A three dimensional task simulation for each task in the number of tasks required to meet the maintenance need is identified using the information obtained from the number of databases to form a number of three dimensional task simulations. The number of three dimensional task simulations for the number of tasks required is compiled into a sequence of three dimensional task simulations to form the maintenance plan. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185476 | Shipment Option Selection Method - A computer-implemented method of offering shipment options for selection is disclosed. The method includes receiving shipment-related criteria from a user and defining at one or more one shipment options that meet the shipment-related criteria. Environmental data corresponding to the shipment options are received and an corresponding environmental impacts, based on the environmental data, are determined. The method further includes displaying the shipment option with the corresponding environmental impact to the user and storing a selection by the user of one shipment option of the one or more shipment options. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185477 | WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING A PROGRAM THEREOF - A workflow management apparatus including a workflow table in which tasks are associated with respective users and a task list that is a list of tasks corresponding to a user. The apparatus identifies the user in charge of a target task that is the target of processing in the workflow and determines whether or not the processing of the target task has been completed. If the apparatus has determined that the processing has not been completed, the apparatus determines whether or not the target task meets a predetermined condition. If the apparatus has determined that the predetermined condition is met, the target task is registered in the task list corresponding to the user in charge of the target task, and when the target task has been registered and is thus considered to have been processed, the apparatus advances to the processing of the next task in the workflow. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185478 | Collaborative Working of Business Process Management Methods - The collaborative working of process-oriented and event-based business process management (BPM) methods in a service-oriented architecture (SOA) is supported. The execution models of the business process include process-oriented execution models and event-based execution models. The process-oriented execution models and the event-based execution models are executed at runtime. A bridge implements the interaction between the process-oriented runtime execution and the event-based runtime execution. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185479 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO ANALYZE GPS DATA TO DETERMINE IF A VEHICLE HAS ADHERED TO A PREDETERMINED ROUTE - System and method for analyzing position data from a vehicle equipped with a geographical position system to determine if the vehicle has adhered to a predetermined schedule, where the vehicle is scheduled to arrive at each one of a plurality of predetermined locations during a corresponding predetermined time window, the position data identifying a specific geographical location of the vehicle at a specific point in time. Position data from the vehicle is collected as the vehicle travels to the plurality of different locations, the position data identifying a specific geographical location of the vehicle at a specific point in time. Then the position data is analyzed to determine whether the vehicle was at each predetermined location during the corresponding predetermined time window. An exception report is automatically generated for each instance that the vehicle was not at one of the plurality of predetermined locations during the corresponding time window. | 07-22-2010 |
20100191554 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ROLE-BASED PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION - An approach is provided for utilizing role-based presentation interfaces. A role of a user among a plurality of roles is determined. The user is among a plurality of users that are grouped based on the roles. A presentation interface is populated with sales related information based on the determined role. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191555 | Business service discovery - A business service discovery (BSD) system, implemented as programming on a processor, provides for discovering, formatting, and storing configuration information related to a business service. The BSD system uses a discovery engine to create a search methodology used for discovering the configuration information. The discovery engine controls a number of discovery components, each of which includes a definition of a corresponding BSD class model. The BSD system further includes a universal configuration management database (uCMDB) graph engine that creates a uCMDB graph representing a system discovered by the discovery component, and an input module that receives hints and conditions related to one or more elements of the business service, wherein a completed discovery search produces a business service structure. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191556 | MULTIPLE EMPLOYER PROSPECTIVE JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS POSTING SYSTEM WITH INTEGRATED SERVICE FEATURES - A multiple employer city government jobs posting system includes at least one server connected to a public wide area network that hosts a website accessible over the network. The website includes software that allows multiple city governments to register for use of the website, to post and manage job announcements and prospective job announcements and allows multiple prospective employees to register for use of the website, prepare and save electronic resumes, and submit the electronic resumes to the city governments in response to the prospective job announcements. Electronic job applications are provided and prospective employees can submit online to city governments. The website requires city governments to provide a city profile and links to city government web pages. The system allows prospective employees to search for posted job announcements, prospective job announcements, city hyperlinks and profiles. The system allows city governments to search electronic resumes and to contact prospective employees. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191557 | Usage-Limited Product Warranties - The present disclosure is directed to methods for pricing limited use product warranties to increase profit. Such a method can include selecting a plurality of potential warranty options, where each warranty option has an associated product usage limit and an associated warranty purchase cost; calculating a customer's expected support cost; determining a customer demand for each of the plurality of warranty options; calculating a provider's expected option profit for each of the plurality of warranty options; and calculating a provider's expected total profit for the plurality of warranty options. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191558 | LINEAR-PROGRAM FORMULATION FOR OPTIMIZING INVENTORY ALLOCATION - Computer-readable media for determining whether to accept a candidate order from a content provider, or advertiser, to display a particular number of advertisements within a specified time segment are provided. Initially, the content provider may include placement criteria that, among other things, identify a leaf node at which impressions of the advertisement are expected to be rendered. Generally, the leaf node refers to a location within a topic graph that describes inventory that is permissible to allocate to satisfy the candidate order. To perform the determination, the inventory of impressions available for accommodating the candidate order and a log of booked orders scheduled to be placed within the time segment are identified. Linear programs are then utilized to determine whether the estimated inventory that satisfies the placement criteria is available by predictively placing the booked orders at the estimated inventory. If estimated inventory remains available, the candidate order is accepted. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191559 | Sample Management for a Sales Call - Systems and methods are provided that record details of product samples given to a customer. A request to add one or more product sample records is received, and in response, user interface showing product sample information for available product samples is presented. The user interface may include a field for entering a quantity of each product sample given to the customer. One or more product sample records is recorded corresponding to each product sample for which a quantity was entered in the user interface. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191560 | Pharmaceutical Sample Management for a Sales Call - Systems and methods are provided record details about sample products left with a customer/physician during a sales call presentation. A Pharmaceutical Sample Management (“PSM”) system performs a validation process on call detail data entered by a sales representative. The PSM system performs validation for all applicable rules in one iteration and presents any errors to the user in a unified view. Furthermore, rules may be applied “out-of-the-box,” customized, or created by users themselves. Accordingly, the sales representative may quickly create an accurate record, and the physician can sign off on it in order to comply with government regulations. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191561 | Working Environment Positioning System, Method And Computer Program Product Thereof - In a working environment positioning system, there is comprised an interface unit for receiving information input by users; a characteristic analysis unit coupled to the interface unit for analyzing characteristic indices of each of the users based on the input information; a compatible-degree analysis unit coupled to the characteristic analysis unit for analyzing a compatible degree of each of the users with other users based on the characteristic indices to generate a plurality of corresponding compatibility indices, from which a compatible-degree matrix is obtained; and a report generating unit for receiving analysis results from the characteristic analysis unit and the compatible-degree analysis unit, analyzing a positioning relation of each of the users in a working environment, and generating an analysis report accordingly. A working environment positioning method and a computer program product for implementing the method are also disclosed. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191562 | INTERNAL MATERIAL ACQUISITION AND REPORTING CONTROL SYSTEM - A supply-chain of an enterprise is monitored and managed using a system that acquires information from a plurality of supply-chain databases and generates reports based on the acquired information. In some examples, a plurality of common data fields for the plurality of databases are determined, data regarding one or more procurement items from each of the plurality of databases is acquired, wherein the data for each of the one or more procurement items comprises data corresponding to each of the common data fields, and one or more reports about the one or more procurement items are generated based on the requested data. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191563 | Physician Practice Optimization Tracking - A computer-implemented method for tracking of clinical, demographic, financial and service metrics within a physician practice and comparing such metrics to other physician practices comprising: running a data collection service in the background on at least two separate physician practice modules wherein the data collection service collects data from the particular module on which it is running; establishing a communication mechanism between each data collection service and a host module; at the host module, collecting the data from the data collection services by transmitting the data from the data collection services via the communication mechanism to the host module; storing the data in the host module; comparing the data in the host module against best practices data stored in the host module wherein for each of a predetermined set of data metrics, the best practices data associated with that data metric is computed in relation to the data collected for a plurality of practices reporting that data metric; displaying to a user, via an interface, the data stored in the host module; and allowing the user to filter the data displayed wherein the user can filter the data by predetermined filter criteria comprising practice size, location, and specialty. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191564 | Presentation and Analysis of Patent Information and Other Information - Aggregation, analysis, and presentation of financial and IP-related information in a common interface are described. | 07-29-2010 |
20100198629 | Motor vehicle valuation system and method with data filtering, analysis, and reporting capabilities - A motor vehicle valuation system and method with data filtering, analysis, and reporting capabilities is provided. For example, motor vehicle registration data, pricing data, and auction data may be processed in order to identify one or more types of motor vehicles (e.g., by make, model, year, and trim) for which a particular dealership is likely to generate a gross profit within that dealer's territory. The system may report this information to the dealership electronically, for example, within an interactive interface such as a web page. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198630 | SUPPLIER RISK EVALUATION - Evaluating the risks posed by a supplier of goods and services, wherein the supplier subcontracts the production of the goods or services to a third entity, offshores the production of the goods or services, or uses an offshore subcontractor to provide the goods or services. In at least some embodiments, the invention comprises gathering answers to a series of multiple choice questions regarding characteristics of the goods or services provided by the supplier and calculating a risk score therefrom. An embodiment can be implemented via a stand-alone computing system or such a system interconnected with other platforms or data stores by a network, such as a corporate intranet, a local area network, or the Internet. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198631 | SUPPLIER STRATIFICATION - Provided is a method and system of assigning a level of risk presented to an enterprise by a supplier of goods or services. In at least some embodiments, a tier level and/or a composite supplier risk index (CSRI) is calculated for the supplier based on answers provided to a series of multiple choice questions, wherein the questions are used to provide a measure of the risk elements presented by a supplier. In some embodiments, the risk elements comprise business continuity risk, information security risk, finance risk, operational risk, and supply chain risk. An embodiment can be implemented via a stand-alone computing system or such a system interconnected with other platforms or data stores by a network, such as a corporate intranet, a local area network, or the Internet. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198632 | Method, System, and Apparatus for Categorizing and Presenting Risk Based Analytical Results - A system for computing, categorizing and presenting risk based analytical results to a human user for a cargo port security is presented. The system computes analytical results and presents that to the human user in a variety of configurable displays, allowing the user to evaluate the transaction on particular subset of data elements (also called aspect or facet) and a particular viewpoint (also called perspective or intelligence source). The system also enables the human user to compare the transaction to similar transactions (by allowing the user to define “similar”) from relevant past time periods (by allowing the user to define “relevant” periods). | 08-05-2010 |
20100198633 | Method and System for Obtaining Social Network Information - A method and system for obtaining social network information are provided. The method includes capturing a social environment at a given time including capturing a set of identities in a predefined proximity to a monitored identity at the given time, wherein an identity is an identity of a real person or a virtual identity, and recording parameters of the social environment. The method then combines the captured social environments in a time range for a monitored identity and analyses the combined captured social environments in the time range to provide a social network for the monitored identity including weightings of the relationships between the monitored identity and the captured identities. The monitored identity and the captured identities may be avatars and the predefined proximity may be a proximity to a virtual location. Alternatively or additionally, the monitored identity and the captured identities may be identities of real people or groups of people, and the predefined proximity may be a proximity to a real location. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198634 | Dynamic Calculations in an Employee Compensation System - Systems and methods for setting up dynamic calculations within compensation software are described in the present disclosure. According to one embodiment among many, a compensation module for managing compensation for a number of employees includes a dynamic calculation set-up module allowing a user to set up a dynamic calculation. The dynamic calculation includes a calculation for one column of a worksheet based in part on a value in another column. The compensation module also includes a condition builder allowing a user to enter a condition and a result as part of a dynamic calculation. In particular, a column associated with the result receives a calculated value when the condition is met. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198635 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCT DEPLOYMENT AND IN-SERVICE PRODUCT RISK SIMULATION - Methods and systems are provided for predicting the reliability of a plurality of products that will be deployed during a product deployment period comprising a plurality of time intervals. The method comprises retrieving historical product removal data from a product removal data source, retrieving historical product shipment data from a product shipment data source, identifying a plurality of Weibull parameters based on at least a portion of retrieved product removal data and product shipment data, and performing a plurality of product deployment simulations, wherein each product deployment simulation includes predicting a lifespan for each of the plurality of products and determining reliability metrics for uniform time intervals during the product deployment period. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198636 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUDITING GOVERNANCE, RISK, AND COMPLIANCE USING A PLUGGABLE CORRELATION ARCHITECTURE - Described herein is a system and method for auditing governance, risk, and compliance using an event correlation architecture. In particular, the event correlation architecture may include a solution designer for defining a solution pack that enforces one or more specific governance, risk, or compliance controls, and a solution manager for deploying the solution pack within the event correlation architecture to configure the architecture for enforcement of the one or more controls. Thus, a collection of content defined in the solution pack may be used to enrich one or more events received at the event correlation architecture, and a correlation engine may then correlate the events using the content in the solution pack to enforce the one or more governance, risk, or compliance controls. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198637 | Systems and Methods for Integrated Claims Processing - Systems and methods, such as may be executed by a computer or computer network, for the management of claims related to vehicles owned by an owner of a fleet of vehicles. The systems and methods allow for a single claim record to be accessed by a vehicle repair (VR) division, which is responsible for getting the vehicle repaired and a loss control (LC) division which is responsible for allocating the costs associated with the repair. Each of the divisions works with the same record to provide for an enhanced integrative environment and improved intercommunication. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198638 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE PROPERTIES OF HYDROCARBON RESERVOIRS FROM GEOPHYSICAL DATA - A hydrocarbon exploration method is disclosed for developing a model of at least one effective material property of a subsurface reservoir as a function of the composition and structure of the reservoir rock. In one embodiment, the method comprises: obtaining a 3D image ( | 08-05-2010 |
20100198639 | WORK MANAGEMENT SUPPORT METHOD AND WORK MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SYSTEM WHICH USE SENSOR NODES - A sensor net system including: a plurality of sensor nodes, where each sensor node is held on a person of a differing worker, and each sensor node includes; a sensor which obtains sensor data of a worker; a radio frequency circuit which notifies a server of the sensor data; and a server which includes: a unit for storing a relation list for correlating the sensor data with a work category of the worker; a unit for confirming location of the worker based on the obtained sensor data; and a unit for confirming a work category in which the worker is engaged based on the confirmed location and the relation list. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198640 | ELECTRIC-POWER-GENERATING-FACILITY OPERATION MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SYSTEM, ELECTRIC-POWER-GENERATING-FACILITY OPERATION MANAGEMENT SUPPORT METHOD, AND PROGRAM FOR EXECUTING OPERATION MANAGEMENT SUPPORT METHOD ON COMPUTER - An electric-power-generating-facility operation management support system includes an analyzing unit that calculates operation plan creating basic information based upon received information with regard to lifespan calculating expressions, present electric-power market information, and operation-history information with regard to electric power generation, and an operation plan creating unit that calculates and outputs operational conditions of electric power generating facilities as created operation planning based upon said operation plan creating basic information calculated by said analyzing unit. The analyzing unit includes a lifespan-consumption-costs calculating unit that calculates lifespan consumption costs of said electric power generating facilities, a reserve-electric-power-price estimating unit that estimates the market price of reserve electric power, and a reserve-electric-power supply-probability estimating unit that estimates probability of supply of reserve electric power. | 08-05-2010 |
20100205019 | ARCHITECTURE AND METHOD FOR COMBINING COST DATA IN AUTOMATED MISSION PLANNERS - A system and method for combining cost maps including a multiplicity of cost service components for converting raw planning factors into standardized cost factors. A cost combiner component combines cost factors according to a cost configuration to generate a combined cost map | 08-12-2010 |
20100205020 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING, MANAGING, AND CONTROLLING THE TIME, COST, AND QUALITY OF INFORMATION RETRIEVAL AND PRODUCTION IN ELECTRONIC DISCOVERY - A cost and quality controlled system for transforming collections of computer files and other electronically stored information by iterative culling and sorting so that production of relevant information can be made within estimated time and costs ranges and precision and recall ratios. | 08-12-2010 |
20100205021 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COGNITIVE DECISION SUPPORT IN A CONDITION BASED FLEET SUPPORT SYSTEM - A cognitive decision support fleet management and maintenance decision system may comprise a first cognitive decision support system to process information regarding a plurality of platforms and generate a list of condition based response activities and a weighted ranking of the probability of success of each condition based activity. A second cognitive decision support system may be tasked by the first to, and configured to, provide a plurality of ranked courses of action. A third cognitive decision support system may be tasked by the second to, and be configured to, assess resource availability for each condition based response activity. The second cognitive decision support system may be further configured to generate from the list of condition based response activities and the resource availability assessment for each condition based response, a plurality of recommended courses of action for the platform. The courses of action may be weighted according to an order of preference in carrying out each. | 08-12-2010 |
20100205022 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ANALYZING THE USE OF MOBILE RESOURCES - A system for analyzing the use of a mobile resource, such as a vehicle, includes a central processing unit adapted to receive a plurality of geographic locations and create an optimal travel route between the geographic locations, and an analyzer device incorporating global positioning satellite (GPS) technology being positionable with a mobile resource for comparing an actual route traveled by the mobile resource with the optimal travel route created by the central processing unit. The central processing unit includes mobile resource management software stored therein adapted to use pre-selected criteria for creating the optimal travel route. The pre-selected criteria may include time, distance, cost, load parameters, territory, and customer requirements. | 08-12-2010 |
20100205023 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING DIGITAL CONTENT - A system and method for high speed and convenient delivery of digital content to a user is described. The system and method include systems for providing digital content to a user, monitoring and controlling an interface between the user and the system to provide for purchase or lease of digital content by the user. The system also includes a novel portable digital content storage device for receiving downloaded digital content for later use by the user on the user's playback equipment. The system and method also provide for control of the digital content in accordance with digital rights management and other content usage conditions. Also provided is an adaptor connectable to the portable storage device to convert signals representative of the digital content stored in the portable storage device to a form usable by a user's playback or storage equipment. | 08-12-2010 |
20100205024 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR APPLYING IN-DEPTH DATA MINING TOOLS FOR PARTICIPATING WEBSITES - A method for enabling a Website to provide a ranking formula for data relevant to visitor activities. The method includes aggregating the data, monetizing the activity data and correlating the data, such that information is derived to enable a desired expansion of at least one designated activity. Another method is disclosed for managing an ad campaign for a Website based a visitor's previous activities. This second method includes analyzing a visitor's behavior resulting in observations such as that a visitor is a gadget-lover or is interested in babies' accessories. The method also includes tagging a visitor's profile with the respective observation, deciding by the Website as to the demographic factor to be targeted for an ad. For example, if the Website is selling chairs, people are located who are building new houses or who are interested in furnishings. Finally the most relevant ads are served to each visitor according to his profile. | 08-12-2010 |
20100205025 | Innovation management - A system for management of ideas in a community is provided that includes a database with updatable user profiles for users of the community and means for receiving ideas from users. The system further includes means for receiving input providing information about the idea, means for handling and categorizing the ideas adapted to use the input, means for providing a set of process steps based on the categorization, means for storing the received, handled and categorized ideas, means for distributing the ideas to the other users of the community and means for enabling the users to process and evaluate the ideas. | 08-12-2010 |
20100205026 | INCOMPATIBILITY PROCESSING - A method of processing incompatibilities for a transportation plan comprising the following steps: Receiving data which is descriptive of orders, data which is descriptive of available vehicles, and data which is descriptive of available cross-docking locations; reading a set of compatibility types, and a set of compatibility rules with respect to the plurality of orders, vehicles, and cross-docking locations, each compatibility rule specifying a combination of two values which refer to first and second attributes of a defined compatibility type, and being indicative whether or not they are compatible; associating a value with each order, the value being descriptive of the characteristics of the order, such that orders having the same characteristics have the same value associated therewith; replacing the data descriptive of the characteristics by the value associated therewith; and outputting the order data resulting from the preceding step. | 08-12-2010 |
20100205027 | Business Driven Learning Solution Particularly Suitable for Sales-Oriented Organizations - Disclosed is a business driven learning solution and related methods for managing the learning and training needs of a sales-oriented organization in a manner that is responsive to dynamic business needs. The invention employs modules of interrelated and interdependent business processes for the identification and prioritization of learning needs, the selection of learning approaches, the development of learning content, the coordination and delivery of learning instruction, and the overall management and administration learning efforts. Embodiments of the inventions disclosed include sales training objects to provide a template for sales training that is focused on a solution, and how to position and sell the solution, rather than on the products that make up the solution. As a result, the sales force is educated, understands the customers' business requirements, and is able to craft specific value propositions to a given customer with respect to that solution. Thus, the training is customer-centric as opposed to product-centric. | 08-12-2010 |
20100205028 | DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM - A data processing system comprises a database located on a web site and a plurality of independent generators of raw data signals each associated with a user known to the owner of the web site and each able to be connected to the web site, such as through an internet service provide. The data signals are processed at the database, by means of an analysis engine in accordance with parameters chosen by or specific to each user or group of users, to produce processed data that are stored on a server associated with the database and which are selectively accessible to individual users on conditions prearranged with the owner of the database. The data processing system is particularly one in which the owner of some data-processing software sells licenses to firms or individuals who wish to use that software to analyze results of data-generating equipment sold to them by said owner. | 08-12-2010 |
20100211420 | CONVERTING COMMAND UNITS INTO WORKFLOW ACTIVITIES - One or more available command units can be represented with a computer output device. The available command units can be command units from one or more snapins, such as one or more snapins that include command units to be run with a shell application. User input can be received from an input device, the user input selecting one or more selected command units of the available command units. In response to the user input, source code can be automatically generated from the one or more command units, and the source code can be automatically compiled to generate one or more workflow activities. | 08-19-2010 |
20100211421 | AUTOMATIC QUOTE GENERATION FOR CUSTOM CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS - Automatic quote generation for custom construction projects. In one example embodiment, a method for automatically generating a quote for a custom construction project includes various acts. First, a server system receives, from a kiosk system, data corresponding to customer-selected construction materials for use in a custom construction project. Next, the server system transforms the data into an automatically generated cost quote for the custom construction project. Finally, the server system sends, to the kiosk, the quote for display by the kiosk system. | 08-19-2010 |
20100211422 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR STANDARDIZATION OF PAYMENT REQUESTS TO FACILITATE COMPREHENSIVE PAYMENT HUB PROCESSING - Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for conducting comprehensive payment processing of all payment requests regardless of the payment request channel. Payment requests are transformed from the initial format to a standardized format, which allows for the occurrence of further comprehensive payment processing, referred to herein as payment hub processing. Once the payment request has undergone necessary payment hub processing, the request undergoes further transformation/conversion from the standardized format to a target clearing format. In one embodiment of the invention, the processing hub provides for determining the clearing or remittance channel based on payment routing rules, which may take into account cost, time, risk and any other payment factors. | 08-19-2010 |
20100211423 | Methods and Systems To Estimate Wellbore Events - A method and system for estimating the status of a production well using a probability calculator and for developing such a probability calculator. The method includes developing a probability calculator, which may be a Bayesian network, utilizing the Bayesian network in a production well event detection system, which may include real-time well measurements, historical measurements, engineering judgment, and facilities data. The system also includes a display to show possible events in descending priority and/or may trigger an alarm in certain cases. | 08-19-2010 |
20100217631 | CONSERVATION MODELING ENGINE FRAMEWORK - Methods, including service methods, articles of manufacture, systems, articles and programmable devices provide a conservation modeling engine framework. Programmable conservation modeling engines in communication with different customizable resource conservation modules, each resource conservation module customized to a distinct resource, select one of the modules customized to a resource identified for conservation, and user-defined criteria as a function of the identified resource and the selected module. Input data is selected and collected as a function of the resource identified and the selected module and used to weight the input data. Different optimized conservation plans are created as a function of the weighted input data and the selected module, each of the optimized conservation plans displayed having a different implementation cost, a different time for implementation and a different total amount of the identified resource saved. | 08-26-2010 |
20100217632 | MANAGING SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE SHARED SERVICES ESCALATION - An approach that manages a service oriented architecture (SOA) shared service that fails to meet a set of objectives of the SOA shared service is provided. In one embodiment, there is a management tool, including an evaluation component configured to receive a SOA shared service that is developed as part of a potential SOA shared services project, and evaluate whether a set of objectives of the SOA shared service has been met; and a determination component configured to determine whether the SOA shared service should be developed in the case that the set of objectives of the SOA shared service has not been met. | 08-26-2010 |
20100217633 | SELECTING A SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE SHARED SERVICE - An approach that selects a service oriented architecture (SOA) shared service is provided. In one embodiment, there is a service selection tool, including an input component configured to gather service requirements of a SOA shared service project; an identification component configured to identify a set of candidate SOA shared services that meets the service requirements of the SOA shared services project; an analysis component configured to compare the set of candidate SOA shared services to a set of technical and business requirements, and select a set of SOA shared services from the set of candidate SOA shared services for construction based on a comparison of the set of candidate SOA shared services to the set of technical and business requirements. | 08-26-2010 |
20100217634 | TRANSITIONING TO MANAGEMENT OF A SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE SHARED SERVICE - An approach that transitions to management of a service oriented architecture (SOA) shared service is provided. In one embodiment, there is a service transition tool, including a project component configured to provide a SOA shared service developed as part of a SOA shared services project, and a planning component configured to plan a transition from development of the SOA shared service to management of the SOA shared service. | 08-26-2010 |
20100217635 | PACKAGE SHIPPING METHOD - A package delivery method and enterprise include receiving a shipping request including recipient information indicative of an intended recipient of the package, associating a dynamic address with the recipient, and generating an initial routing plan based on the dynamic address. The initial routing plan may including a plurality of routing segments derived from hierarchical addressing. In response to a change of either (a) a physical address associated with the dynamic address and (b) an availability of at least one of the plurality of routing segments, at least one of the plurality of routing segments may be modified. | 08-26-2010 |
20100217636 | MANAGEMENT OF A SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE SHARED SERVICE - An approach that manages a service oriented architecture (SOA) shared service is provided. In one embodiment, there is a service management tool, including an identification component configured to identify a SOA shared service that needs to be revised; and a revision component configured to develop a revision procedure to address the SOA shared service that needs to be revised, and implement the revision procedure for the SOA shared service. | 08-26-2010 |
20100217637 | METHOD OF CALCULATING CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSION OF STEAM TURBINE CHP PLANT AND SYSTEM FOR THE METHOD - The present invention relates to a method and a system for calculating carbon dioxide emission of a steam turbine CHP plant, and according to the method of calculating carbon dioxide emission of the present invention, the total fuel emission of a plant is calculated. The total greenhouse gas emission is calculated from the total fuel consumption. System thermal efficiency is calculated from the total fuel consumption. Fuel consumption for thermal generation is calculated from the system thermal efficiency. Fuel consumption for power generation is calculated from the system thermal efficiency. Power generation efficiency is calculated from the fuel consumption for power generation. The total carbon dioxide emission in thermal generation is calculated from the fuel consumption for thermal generation. The total carbon dioxide emission in power generation is calculated from the fuel consumption for power generation. According to the method of calculating carbon dioxide emission of the present invention described above, it is possible to separately obtain carbon dioxide emission when generating heat and electricity. | 08-26-2010 |
20100217638 | In service support center and method of operation - In a method for in service support for a vehicle fleet wherein the improvement comprises providing Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM), Conditioned Based Maintenance (CBM), Fleet Management (FM), Vehicle/Component Asset Tracking, Stores/Consumable Inventory, and maintenance management. | 08-26-2010 |
20100217639 | AUTOMATED SOLAR COLLECTOR INSTALLATION DESIGN INCLUDING EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION MANAGEMENT AND DISPLAY - Embodiments may include systems and methods to create and edit a representation of a worksite, to create various data objects, to classify such objects as various types of pre-defined “features” with attendant properties and layout constraints. As part of or in addition to classification, an embodiment may include systems and methods to create, associate, and edit intrinsic and extrinsic properties to these objects. A design engine may apply of design rules to the features described above to generate one or more solar collectors installation design alternatives, including generation of on-screen and/or paper representations of the physical layout or arrangement of the one or more design alternatives. In some embodiments, metadata about the design process, including the process of classifying features and providing user input, generating layouts, and then modifying those layouts, may be generated. The metadata may include information about exceptional conditions in the project state information or design. A list of exceptions corresponding to exceptional conditions may be generated, and the designer may interact with these exceptions in a variety of ways, such as by complying with rules to remove an item from the exceptions list or overriding the application of the rules. The exceptions may be non-blocking relative to other user actions. | 08-26-2010 |
20100223081 | VIRTUAL BUSINESS MODEL FOR SPECIFIC BUILDING ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY AUDITS - An energy audit and sustainability analysis business model, comprising an equipment/appliances/materials database, a member/audits/sales member customer database, a certification Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design/Energy Star consulting services/construction services database, a programming computer, and an auditing system computer software that produces a report. The energy audit and sustainability analysis business model allows comparisons of a non-green building structure to a potential green building structure. The auditing system allows for data in three areas to be analyzed to give a real comprehensive view of overall saving, sustainability, and individual reductions in environmental footprints. | 09-02-2010 |
20100223082 | COMPANY AND CONTACT INFORMATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A user interface for providing information regarding a subject company to a user. The user interface may comprise a company tile, which may have an indicator of the subject company. A state of the company tile, such as, for example, its color, may indicate a property of the subject company. The user interface may also comprise a financial information module displaying financial information regarding the subject company, and a subject individual module displaying information regarding a subject individual related to the subject company. According to various embodiments, the user interface may also include a navigation toolbar including a second company tile comprising an indicator of a second company. Selecting the second company tile may cause the second company to become a new subject company. | 09-02-2010 |
20100223083 | Method and Apparatus For Monitoring and Responding to Land Use Activities - The invention provides a method and apparatus for monitoring the use of land. More specifically, the invention monitors the use of land at a specified site, as well as at adjacent sites. The invention answers the question of how to manage risks resulting from external activities and how to intervene proactively. | 09-02-2010 |
20100228579 | Method and System for Quantitatively Expressing a Decision in a Multiple Risk Environment - Aspects of the invention may include an exemplary system comprising one or more computers and one or more software applications running on the one or more computers, wherein the one or more software applications quantify the decision and the one or more computers may include a user computer or a computer server. The system further comprises one or more electronic databases, connected to the one or more computers, storing different factor values used in quantifying the decision. The one or more software applications may identify each risk factor in the multiple risk environment and determine a value for one or more risk coefficient factors and opportunity coefficient factors. Further, the one or more software applications may calculate a weighted average for risk coefficient factors based on each risk factor, an opportunity cost coefficient based on opportunity coefficient factors, and calculate the decision quantitatively based on the weighted average for risk coefficients and the opportunity cost coefficient. | 09-09-2010 |
20100228580 | FRAUD DETECTION BASED ON EFFICIENT FREQUENT-BEHAVIOR SORTED LISTS - A computerized method for detecting fraud includes obtaining frequency information on entities in transaction data for at least one individual account, converting frequency information to a frequency variable, and predicting whether an activity is fraudulent in response to the frequency variable. In some embodiments, the frequency variable is used with at least one other variable to predict fraudulent activity. | 09-09-2010 |
20100228581 | COMPLAINT TRACKING, IMAGING AND PROCESSING SYSTEM - The present invention relates to an insurance complaint document management and processing system that interfaces with a state Department of Insurance. According to some embodiments, an insurance complaint document is received at a document conversion system. The received document may be converted to a document image may be automatically matched to insurance policy information. It may then be arranged to provide the document image and the insurance policy information for resolution. | 09-09-2010 |
20100228582 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTEXTUAL ADVERTISING BASED ON STATUS MESSAGES - A system and method for contextual advertising based on status messages. A plurality of status messages sent to a user via at least one socially aware messaging service are retrieved where the user is a member of the socially aware messaging service, has defined at least one social contact on the service, and where each of status messages was sent to the user by one of the user's social contacts. The status messages are analyzed to determine the user's status update context, where the user's status update context comprises a set of social, topical, spatial and temporal data present in the messages. The user's status update context is matched to targeted advertisements. The user's status update context is matched to the targeting criteria of targeted advertisements. Matched advertisements are transmitted to the user. | 09-09-2010 |
20100228583 | ENERGY MODELLING - There is provided a system for use in physically reconfiguring a supply chain. The system includes a memory for storing energy-related components within a supply chain, and a processor for evaluation of energy consumption within the supply chain in accordance with a current scenario and at least one alternative scenario in which at least one energy-related component or physical parameter within the supply chain is changed. A user interface displays the energy consumption of the current scenario and the at least one alternative scenario. | 09-09-2010 |
20100228584 | PREDICTIVE RISK INTELLIGENT SAFETY MODULE - Systems and methods for assessing and reporting fatigue risk in real time and for providing fatigue countermeasures are disclosed. The system includes electronic and software systems that predict and preempt fatigue risk by calculating, based on historical work schedule patterns, risk ranges or levels, and provides in real time a graphical risk output and countermeasures to reduce risk. High risk personnel can be automatically reported to management for further evaluation. A lifestyle plan based on historical work schedules and planned work scheduled are generated and provided to personnel. Risk assessment can be performed at any time, including when beginning or ending work, or on-demand. | 09-09-2010 |
20100228585 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING AND AUTHENTICATING THE PRESENCE OF HIGH VALUE ASSETS AT REMOTE LOCATIONS - A system, method, and apparatus for identifying and authenticating the presence of high value assets at remote location includes associating an identification tag with the asset. The identification tag includes identification information that can be electronically read and sent to a remote location for verifying the authenticity of the asset. | 09-09-2010 |
20100235202 | IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS - The present invention relates to a management system for assisting a user in the management of a complex workflow process, the system being arranged to generate and record data regarding a sequence of events occurring over time constituting the complex workflow process. The system comprises a communications server which is arranged to output to a remote user terminal, and which is also arranged to output data relating to a current event of the complex workflow process. The communications server is also arranged to receive inputted user data from the remote user terminal, relating to the current event. The system also comprises a data store for storing the complex workflow process, storing the output data relating to events of the complex workflow process and storing the inputted event-related user data in corresponding user data records. The data store also stores a set of event data rules, linked to the workflow process, that govern which output data is to be provided at each particular event of the complex workflow. In addition, the system comprises composing means, operable in accordance with the event data rules, for composing a collection of output data. The composing means being arranged to compose the collection of output data from predetermined event data, relating to a current event, from a database of predetermined event data and historical event-related user data from an appropriate user data record. | 09-16-2010 |
20100235203 | Engineered management system particularly suited for maintenance and repair (M&R) management of structure such as pavement - An automated user-implemented method for optimizing cost, schedule and performance of maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) on manmade structure, such as pavements. The method utilizes a database containing information on the condition of the manmade structure, the information on condition further including a condition index; applies one or more algorithms to data in the database to yield schedule and budget for M&R of the manmade structure; correlates the type of M&R and schedule for performing the M&R with alternative budgets that a user may enter into the software supporting the method and outputs and displays work plans associated to each of the alternative budgets for use by managers in planning future M&R work and predicting performance thereof by evaluating past work on the manmade structure. The system may be implemented by a user on the internet as well as on individual personal computers. Specific implementations include PAVER™ and microPAVER™ software. | 09-16-2010 |
20100235204 | IMPROVED APPARATUS AND METHOD USING A MATRIX REPOSITORY - A method of operating an apparatus. Points of interest of an operational subject are mapped into matrix elements of one or more result matrices. Result matrices internal dependency such that a matrix operation targeted to at least one matrix element of the result matrix induces a corresponding matrix operation directed to at least one other, internally dependant matrix element of the matrix. A matrix element state being identifiable by a combination of a result matrix, matrix operation and previous state of the targeted matrix element, and associated with a specific computing rule. At matrix operation the factor value is computed and factor value and/or state is aggregated according the computing rule associated with the factor state. Operation of the apparatus is determined on the basis of a combination of values in a result matrix. | 09-16-2010 |
20100235205 | METHOD OF ENSURING SAFETY OF FOOD PRODUCTS - A method is disclosed comprising: assigning a unique batch number to a batch of food processed in a processing facility; obtaining a first sample and a second sample from the batch of food and storing at least the second sample; testing the first sample with a safety test to obtain a first test result; making the first test result available in association with the unique batch number to a downstream user who receives from the processing facility food from the batch of food in association with the unique batch number; upon receipt of a request to verify the first test result in the event that the first test result indicates an unsafe risk to a final consumer of the food, testing the second sample with the safety test to obtain a second test result, and making the second test result available in association with the unique batch number to the downstream user; and disposing of the food if the second test result also indicates an unsafe risk to the final consumer. | 09-16-2010 |
20100235206 | Methods and Systems for Modular Buildings - The present invention provides a multifunctional building panel which may comprise a sensor to measure an interior condition and an exterior condition and generate a signal in response, along with systems and methods for designing, optimizing and constructing modular buildings, including buildings constructed at least in part of multifunctional building panels, by utilizing a priority distribution ranking as an optimization constraint. | 09-16-2010 |
20100235207 | SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATING POS SYSTEM AND BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - According to one embodiment, there is provided a system integrating a POS system and a central management system in a building that houses many shops. A POS server performs an accounts calculation for each shop, using the POS data input from POS terminals and the variable expense data items transmitted from a POS interface unit. | 09-16-2010 |
20100235208 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR BALANCING BINARY TREES - Systems and methods for balancing the length of the down-line legs of the binary tree of a distributor in an MLM organization, and providing at least two down-line customers to each of the distributor's customers. The method for adding a new member to an organizational head being part of an MLM organization, includes identifying the node in the MLM organizational binary tree representing the organizational head, thereby determining the current root node, determining the primary side and the secondary side of the binary tree of the root node, and determining the number of children of the root node. Upon determining the number of children to be zero, creating a new leg with a new node at the primary side of the root node. Upon determining the number of children to be one, creating a new leg with a new node at the secondary side of the root node. Upon determining the number of children to be two, determining the next root node. | 09-16-2010 |
20100235209 | Method and System of Applying Environmental Incentives - Information relating to electrical energy usage for a given account is associated with a time segment that corresponds to a period when the electrical energy was received from an electrical energy distribution system. Electrical energy generation carbon impact information is retrieved for the corresponding time segment specifying when the electrical energy was received from an electrical energy distribution system. A carbon credit is calculated according to the retrieved electrical energy generation carbon impact information, and the retrieved electrical energy usage information associated with the time segment. The calculated carbon credit is then used to update a display of carbon credit related information, such as account balance, rate of carbon credit usage, currently applicable “cost” for carbon credit usage. Notifications can be provided to the consumer if any of this information crosses a threshold value. In addition, or alternatively, the carbon credit related information can be used to automatically control the operation of devices that consume electrical energy. | 09-16-2010 |
20100241468 | System and method for measuring social capital index in an online social network - A system and method for measuring social capital index in an online social network has developed to measure competitive power, coherence, etc. with social capital index by a plurality of element (trust, integrity, solidarity, openness, importance, intimacy) towards specific network with each individual, and the whole network; to set up standards of route search in the social network map (GUI which expresses the social connection network as a graphic map); perform innovative services with obtaining asymmetric information of the link, the object of network analysis of the social connection network, and to establish a stable network. | 09-23-2010 |
20100241469 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING SOFTWARE DUE DILIGENCE USING A BINARY SCAN ENGINE AND PARALLEL PATTERN MATCHING - A system and method is provided for performing software due diligence review, which may include reviewing software for compliance and compatibility with software licenses, export regulations, or other compliance issues. In one implementation, the system may include a binary scan engine configured to analyze binary objects and extract dependency information identifying source code that may be associated with the binary objects. Upon identifying relevant source code, the system may use parallel pattern matching techniques to identify certain keywords in the source code and/or to match the keywords to text patterns that contain excerpts of language relevant to software due diligence. The system may then check for permissions and obligations associated with any matching relevant language to draw inferences regarding potential compliance problems. | 09-23-2010 |
20100241470 | SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR RAPID RECHARGING OF ELECTRIC BATTERIES - A system for rapid recharging of a battery includes a charging system including a first portion of a connector. A material exchange pipe is joined to the first portion. A pump passes battery materials through the material exchange pipe. A tank receives battery materials. A tank supplies battery materials. A vent pipe is joined to the first portion and is joinable to the receiving tank and to the supplying tank. A charge on battery material passing through the material exchange pipe is measured and a means receives data from the battery. A battery system includes a material level sensor. A data connection transmits the material levels to the receiving means. A material exchange pipe is joined to the battery and a second portion of the connector. A vent pipe is joined to the battery and the second portion where battery materials can be exchanged between the battery and charging systems. | 09-23-2010 |
20100241471 | INTEGRATION SYSTEM SUPPORTING DIMENSIONED MODELING SYSTEM - The disclosed inventions and embodiments relate to the propagation of information among workflow applications used by a design project such as a construction design project and the creation and use of dimensioned and animated models for such projects. The workflow applications may be extended to enable participation in the information sharing or the system may provide functionality external to the tools that facilitates the participation of the tools. Information from various sources, including the workflow applications and third party sources, can be represented and modeled in an animation system. Sometimes the propagation is enabled in part by a store of information that also enabled reuse and reporting. Information used and generated by the various workflow applications is kept consistent among the different workflow applications and among the different representations of that information. | 09-23-2010 |
20100241472 | ILLNESS SPECIFIC DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM - A method for diagnosing diseases in human subjects and a computer system implementing the method. The novel method uses historical patient medical records to create tables, which are used by a medical center to determine what diagnostic test is associated with confirmation of a disease in question. The method provides nonparametric, retrospective, disease cohort, rank ordered, weighted concatenation tables, which are unique to a disease and specific to the medical center where they are created, with prospective application. The method is more efficient and effective than presently used methods. | 09-23-2010 |
20100241473 | METHOD OF MANAGING LIGHT ENERGY AND SYSTEM OF THE SAME - A system and method of managing light energy are provided. A detecting apparatus detects input information related to input light energy and environmental information related to efficiency of inputting light energy. Then, an analysis and management apparatus calculates, analyzes, classifies, manages or optimizes the input information and environmental information by predetermined parameters or rules, and determines whether to take a corresponding action according to results of analysis or management. Accordingly, drawbacks of prior arts, that the source of light energy cannot be handled accurately and difficulties in controlling and optimizing light energy persist, can be solved. | 09-23-2010 |
20100241474 | ASSEMBLY SUPPORT APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLY SUPPORT - A assembly support apparatus for promotion of an information system, includes a memory for storing design information of the information system including information of a plurality of components necessary for the production of the information system; and a processor for generating instructions for procurement of the components in accordance with a process comprising; discriminating the components into those available as inventory items and those that need to be procured from the exterior on the basis of the design information stored in the memory, urging information of persons responsible to procure the component to be inputted in association with those components to be inputted in association with those components to be produced respectively, and generating instructions directed to the responsible persons for procurement of those components to be procured from the exterior respectively. | 09-23-2010 |
20100241475 | Digital Online Exchange - A method of dynamically pricing media content is operatively coupled to one or more clients over a network. The system dynamically adjusts prices of media content and delivers the media content to the clients that order the media content at a dynamically adjusted price. items using a processor based upon the category to which the item is assigned is disclosed. The price can be dynamically adjusted based on profit optimization. Alternatively or additionally, the price can be adjusted based to time between purchases. Further the system is capable or rewarding institutions for allowing members to access the system. | 09-23-2010 |
20100250293 | SOA POLICY VERSIONING - Methods, including service methods, articles of manufacture, systems, articles and programmable devices are provided for controlling versioning of a service. A programmable policy broker is configured to communicate with a service registry and a policy repository comprising different service levels of a service. A location lookup is centralized in the service registry for different versions of the service. A call for a service by a consumer is mediated by causing the policy broker to select and return a correct service level from the policy repository as a function of a requirement of the consumer, look up a proper version of the service in the service registry from the different versions as a function of the returned correct service level, and call the looked-up proper service from a location associated with the proper service in the service registry. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250294 | TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY EXPLORATION FOR SERVICE-ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE ENVIRONMENTS - Methods, including service methods, articles of manufacture, systems, articles and programmable devices are provided for performing a technical feasibility exploration for a service-oriented architecture. A challenge associated with enabling a service-oriented architecture service is identified, and an impact of the challenge identified and analyzed. A potential solution of the identified challenge is identified as a function of analyzing the impact and analyzed to determine if a new challenge associated with enabling a service-oriented architecture service arises as a function of the potential solution. If determined that a new challenge arises, challenge identifying, challenge impact identifying and analyzing, potential solution identifying and the analyzing is repeated. If analyzing determines that a new challenge does not arise, a potential solution is used as an input during an implementation phase. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250295 | SOA LIFECYCLE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT - Methods, including service methods, articles of manufacture, systems, articles and programmable devices are provided for implementing a service-oriented architecture governance framework. A programmable device configured by a logic component identifies a gap within a service-oriented architecture service orientation enterprise of concern as a function of a service-oriented architecture governance dimension. The service-oriented architecture governance dimension may be a service-oriented architecture business and information technology alignment dimension, a service-oriented architecture ownership and decision rights dimension, a service-oriented architecture asset lifecycle enablement and management dimension or a service-oriented architecture operational management and monitoring dimension. Some methods also identify and select a process within a service-oriented architecture governance dimension applicable to an identified enterprise of concern, apply the selected process against a stage of a service-oriented architecture business service lifecycle management component of the enterprise of concern, and customize and enable a change management process and capability corresponding to the enterprise of concern. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250296 | CALIBRATION FRAMEWORK FOR EFFORT ESTIMATION - Methods, including service methods, articles of manufacture, systems, articles and programmable devices are provided for calibrating and customizing an estimation model as a function of a service-oriented architecture environment. A programmable calibration engine device configured by a logic component generates a service-oriented architecture solution effort estimate as a function of a business available resource input and a required business functionality input. Some methods also include managing a calibration constraint, a policy, an end-user access control, an output scope and an output format and providing a programmable effort estimation engine, providing a set of a predefined constraint, a boundary value and historical calibration data to the effort estimation engine, and generating a service-oriented architecture solution effort estimate as a function of the provided set, the policy and an input of a solution parameter within the scope of a service-oriented architecture transformation. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250297 | CAPABILITY AND MATURITY-BASED SOA GOVERNANCE - Methods, including service methods, articles of manufacture, systems, articles and programmable devices are provided for a service-oriented architecture governance model. Each of a plurality of governance dimension attributes of a service-oriented architecture are calibrated and mapped to each of a plurality of governance evolution element attributes. A maturity and capability assessment is performed for the service-oriented architecture as a function of the mapping, and a maturity-based and capability-based governance model is generated for the service-oriented architecture as a function of the maturity and capability assessment. In one aspect a programmable device is configured to perform at least one of the calibrating, the mapping, the performing the maturity and capability assessment and the generating the maturity-based and capability-based governance model. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250298 | PRIORITIZATION ENABLEMENT FOR SOA GOVERNANCE - Methods, including service methods, articles of manufacture, systems, articles and programmable devices provide a service-oriented architecture prioritization enablement framework. Business objectives and principles indicative of a service-oriented architecture enterprise are defined and categorized with respect to a plurality of business objectives and principles categories, and groupings of individual measurable business goals are categorized with respect to the categories. Total weight values are determined for each business goal as a product of an individual weighting values and base weightings of the categories. The business goal total weight values are iteratively applied priority values of a service of the service-oriented architecture associated with each business goal to generate a weighted priority values, which are aggregated to produce an aggregated priority weighting value for the service used for service prioritization. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250299 | SELECTING A SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE SERVICE - An approach that selects a service oriented architecture (SOA) service is provided. In one embodiment, there is a service selection tool, including an identification component configured to identify a process that affects a business objective, and identify a set of functional capabilities of the process. A selection component is configured to select a set of candidate SOA services based on the set of functional capabilities of the process. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250300 | METHOD FOR TRANSFORMING AN ENTERPRISE BASED ON LINKAGES AMONG BUSINESS COMPONENTS, BUSINESS PROCESSES AND SERVICES - A business consulting company performs an assessment of a client business enterprise. The assessment includes use of a computer implemented tool for performing business component modeling techniques for creating a heat map. The heat map is used with the tool to form a domain decomposition, form a goal-service modeling structure, and perform an existing asset analysis based to linkages to the heat map. The assessment is delivered to the client company. A service oriented architecture, SOA, solution plan based on the assessment may also be delivered. The consulting company may implement the SOA plan for the client. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250301 | Automated Assessment Service-System And Solution MRI - A system and method are disclosed for automatically providing an assessment related to the usage of a plurality of information handling system (IHS) resources. Survey information related to a user of IHS resources is collected and processed to generate survey information. IHS resources used by the user are determined and associated configuration and operational information is collected and processed to generate imported information. The survey information and the imported information are then processed to generate a set of user usage scores, which are in turn are processed to produce a composite usage profile. Comparison operations are performed between the composite usage profile and a target reference usage profile to generate a usage weighting value, which is then used to perform sizing, return on investment (ROI) and total cost of ownership (TCO) calculations. The results of the sizing, ROI, and TCO calculations are then used to generate an assessment of usage related to the IHS resources. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250302 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING OPTIMUM PLATFORM COUNT AND POSITION - Systems and methods for determining the optimum number of platforms to be used in a hydrocarbon field development and their position. The systems and methods determine the least valuable platform(s) and eliminate them from use in the hydrocarbon field development. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250303 | COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED RECRUITMENT SYSTEM - A computer-implemented recruitment system comprising a server in communication with clients across a global computer network. The server supports a candidate database containing, in respect of each employment candidate, a candidate data record and a computer-renderable audio-visual file. In response to a view request by a first client in respect of one of said employment candidates, the server provides to the first client the respective audio-visual file and the respective candidate data record, such that said respective audio-visual file and candidate data record may be rendered together to a user at said first client. During registration of a candidate, data concerning the candidate is received in a structured manner according to data type and this facilitates searching by employers. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250304 | DYNAMIC PROCESS MEASUREMENT AND BENCHMARKING - Process studies are performed to determine improvements to processes, such as manufacturing or service related processes. One or more instances of a process may be captured (e.g., recorded) and annotated. A user is enabled to interact with a recording included in the process instance of a process being performed. The user is enabled to apply a process step tag selected from a plurality of process steps to a section of the recording. The user may be enabled to interact with the recording to apply an attribute value selected from a list of attribute values to the process instance. The user may be enabled to interact with the recording to apply discovery information to the process instance. Annotation information associated with the process instance is generated that includes the process step tag, any applied attribute values, and any applied discovery information. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250305 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MONITOR SHOPPERS IN A RETAIL ENVIRONMENT - Methods and apparatus to monitor shoppers in a retail environment are disclosed herein. In a disclosed example method involves collecting location information indicative of a measured path of travel of a person through a monitored environment. The example method also involves collecting person detection event information associated with a plurality of zones in the monitored environment. The person detection event information is indicative of detections of the person in each of the zones. In addition, the example method involves determining an adjusted path of travel of the person through the monitored environment based on the location information indicative of the measured path of travel and the person detection event information. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250306 | System and method to determine root cause constraints and resolution options to solve order promising exceptions - A system and method is disclosed for determining root cause constraints and resolution options to solve order promising exceptions. The system includes a database storing order promise data associated with one or more enterprises. The system further includes a computer coupled with the database, the computer is configured to receive an order promise from the one or more enterprises, define one or more constraints, and create one or more strategy models comprising one or more strategy changes. The computer is further configured to execute the one or more strategy models to relax the one or more constraints using the one or more strategy changes and generate a report of the reasons for lateness and shortness of the order promise and store the generated report in the database. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250307 | Electronic Enterprise Monitoring Apparatus - An automated and interactive system that facilitates efficient capitalization/liquidation and monitoring of private enterprises through a network-driven marketplace is disclosed. The system may be comprised of a dynamic process for enterprise characterization, a customizable computational engine that utilizes statistical reference information to quantify a multi-factor scoring value for each unique enterprise, a customizable system for investor-users to filter, rank, and screen enterprise prospects, a customizable system for monitoring the performance of enterprises, an integrated internal system for electronic communication between market participants, and an empirical feedback system that provides a dynamic knowledge base of statistical reference information for various computational components of the invention. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250308 | INITIATING COLLECTION OF DATA IN AN ELECTRONIC DISCOVERY SYSTEM BASED ON STATUS UPDATE NOTIFICATION - Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for improved electronic discovery. More specifically, embodiments relate to initiating collection of data from electronic discovery custodians and/or devices associated with the custodian based on status update notification. The status update may include, but are not limited to, changes/updates in employment status of a custodian and/or changes/updated in the use status of a device associated with the custodian. As such, present embodiments of the method monitor status update on timely predetermined schedule, such as once every business day or the like, to insure that status updates/changes are recognized within the electronic discovery system as they occur or immediately thereafter. Once status changes are recognized that affect a custodian, embodiments of the present invention, provide for automated initiation of data collection. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250309 | ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE - An asset management system identifies assets required for a selected task and determines whether those assets are in a vicinity of a vehicle. The assets include wireless identification tags. The system includes one or more radio frequency transmitters and receivers, a processor and an interface. The interface may be remote from the vehicle. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250310 | MONITORING ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION FOR FAST DECISION MAKING - An organizational monitoring system is described herein that continuously monitors existing data sources to identify select data to organizational decision makers more quickly. The system may pull information from existing databases and other data sources within an organization, and monitor the information for relevant changes. The system analyses the data to determine events and trends that potentially merit attention of organization leaders. The system provides a rapid organizational information dashboard that decision makers can view on a display device to continuously monitor the organization. Organizational leaders can use the information to make faster business decisions and to get on top of trends that affect the business at an early time when action can be much more effective. Thus, the organizational monitoring system allows faster response to trends and events and more effective management of organizations. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250311 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING ACCURATE AMOUNT OF TOTAL EMISSIONS - A computer-implemented method for determining an accurate amount of total emissions or other attributes of an internal entity within a regulated jurisdiction for a specified time period that includes calculating an amount of emissions or other attributes produced by the internal entity for the specified time period; calculating an amount of emissions or other attributes associated with purchases from other entities for the specified time period; and combining the calculated amounts of emissions or other attributes to yield an amount of total emissions or attributes of the internal entity for the specified time period. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250312 | System to Facilitate Pipeline Management, Program Product, and Related Methods - Systems, program code, and methods to facilitate pipeline management, are provided. An example of a method can include the steps of forming digitized map segments to provide for display of a geographical relationship between terrain featured in the map segments and a pipeline network, forming pipeline equipment records to provide for detailed engineering analysis on associated pipeline equipment, functionally linking each digitized map segment and each pipeline equipment record to at least one geographically associated pipeline operational area, identifying a rupture exposure radius coverage area of the rupture, identifying an immediate upstream and downstream valve from the pipeline rupture, identifying pipeline valves potentially needing to be closed, determining potential lost inventory, forecasting a potential environmental impact of the rupture, and displaying critical engineering data and drawings for the effected portion of the ruptured pipeline, the identified immediate upstream valve, and the identified immediate downstream valve. | 09-30-2010 |
20100262442 | System and method of projecting aircraft maintenance costs - A method of projecting aircraft maintenance costs is disclosed and includes generating a plurality of reliability models associated with a plurality of aircraft mechanical systems. The method also includes performing a plurality of simulations, where each simulation is related to operating one of the plurality of aircraft mechanical systems over a period of time and each simulation based on one of the plurality of reliability models. The method also includes projecting a maintenance cost of each of the plurality of aircraft mechanical systems over the period of time based on each simulation. The method also includes determining a total maintenance cost of the plurality of aircraft mechanical systems over the period of time based on the maintenance cost of each of the plurality of aircraft mechanical systems over the period of time. | 10-14-2010 |
20100262443 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS ASSOCIATED WITH A COLLABORATIVE STRATEGY EDITOR - According to some embodiments, a system, method, means, and/or computer program code are provided to facilitate implementation of an enterprise strategy. In some cases, information defining a strategy map is received from users via a graphical user interface collaborative strategy editor. An at least partially structured strategy hierarchy may then be established wherein elements are arranged in multiple levels (e.g., a perspective may be associated with a plurality of objectives and each objective may be associated with a plurality of key performance indicators). Moreover, information associated with the strategy map may be automatically transmitted to a plurality of other users. | 10-14-2010 |
20100262444 | RISK ANALYSIS SYSTEM AND METHOD - In one embodiment the present invention includes a computer-implemented method comprising retrieving user account data records from an external system. Each user account data record comprises actions a user is authorized to perform in the external system, and for each action, permissible data manipulation activities the user is capable of performing for a corresponding action. Risk analysis rules may be applied against the user account data records. Each risk analysis rule may include different function-based sub-rules. Each risk analysis rule may apply a different function-based sub-rule to each different action in a particular user account data record, and each function-based sub-rule may be verified based on a particular action and the permissible data manipulation activities associated with said particular action. The risk analysis rule is verified if all of the different function-based sub-rules for the different actions are verified. | 10-14-2010 |
20100262445 | Product Sustainability Indicator - The system and method of this disclosure calculates an indicator of a product's sustainability (i.e., green-ness) based on an algorithm that considers membership of a component(s) of the product in regulatory lists (grouped by regulatory category), the percentage of the component in the product and weighting factors for the regulatory categories. The algorithm can run the calculation for every component of the product, and for every regulatory category to determine a sustainability indicator for a classification, such as a health related classification, environmental related classification, physical hazard classification, etc. | 10-14-2010 |
20100262446 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVISIONING AND MANAGING NETWORK ACCESS AND CONNECTIVITY - Systems and methods for providing distributed network solutions to end user customers by acting as a neutral demarcation point between the last mile and the long haul portion of a telecommunications network. A network provisioning platform evaluates transport alternatives to identify routes and networks having the highest reliability metrics. Access circuits are aggregated to the optical level at the earliest possible point in the network. Service to on-net networks are provisioned rapidly. | 10-14-2010 |
20100262447 | Method and System for Asynchronous and Timed Data Collection Using a Handheld Device - A visual emissions field observation system enables the observation and recording of concurrent visual emissions material processing sources with a mobile handheld device executing a software application. A mobile electronic recording system provides a method to support the timed asynchronous collection of data for clustered emission sources in parallel, by providing access to the necessary recording functions for multiple observation sources concurrently, within the same unified view on a handheld computer screen. This can yield significant time savings for the observer. | 10-14-2010 |
20100262448 | DETECTION OF PROCEDURAL DEFICIENCY ACROSS MULTIPLE BUSINESS APPLICATIONS - A method includes retrieving a plurality of data extractors to extract data across a plurality of business applications. The plurality data extractors are executed to generate a plurality of individual results sets. The plurality of individual results sets are combined into a combined result set. A rule is applied to the combined result set to detect a procedural deficiency across the plurality of business application. | 10-14-2010 |
20100268557 | ENROLLMENT SERVER - Systems, methods and apparatus for processing enrollment requests are provided. Enrollment requests may be sent from a user to an enrollment server. The enrollment server may verify the information in the enrollment request with entities that may contain authoritative data reflecting the validity of the information in the enrollment request. The authenticity of devices involved in the enrollment request may also be verified. In addition, the user's transaction history can be reviewed to determine if the enrollment fits the user's transaction history profile. Based on the verified information and a level of risk associated with the enrollment, the enrollment server may allow or deny the enrollment request. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268558 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VENDOR MANAGMENT - A method and system for managing business transactions, such as mortgages or other financial transactions. A business transaction between an end user and a financial institution includes sub-transactions between the end user and a vendor. A software system performs functions to complete the business transaction. Automated ordering allows an end user to quickly and easily order a sub-transaction without input from the financial institution or the vendor, and also automatically orders sub-transactions upon satisfaction of a trigger event. Vendor management functionality allows a financial institution to manage the transactions of a vendor. Qualitative performance analysis functionality allows an end user to monitor and evaluate a vendor's price, turn-around time, quality score, and overall score. Vendor distribution functionality distributes sub-transactions among vendors. Vendor management company functionality allows a vendor management company—a vendor that outsources some or all of its sub-transactions to independent service providers—to effectively use the system. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268559 | Compensation Data Prediction - A method of predicting compensation data includes obtaining compensation data, associated with a job category, with at least one datum being associated with each of a plurality of characteristics associated with the job category, determining values of factors, associated with respective ones of the characteristics, and a base value that when used as operands of a function yield estimates of the obtained data such that relationships between the estimates and corresponding obtained compensation data satisfy at least one criterion, and using a portion of the values of factors and the base value by a computer to automatically obtain estimates of compensation data. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268560 | DISTRIBUTED INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS THEREFOR - A distributed intelligent system. The distributed network includes at least one gateway server configured for receiving meter data from one or more nodes of a distributed meter network and at least one subscriber station in communication with the at least one gateway server via a communication network. The at least one gateway server is further configured to selectively distribute the received meter data to the at least one subscriber station in accordance with a policy. | 10-21-2010 |
20100274596 | PERFORMANCE DASHBOARD MONITORING FOR THE KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system, computer program product, or a combination of the foregoing for creating a knowledge management system including a performance dashboard monitoring system that is standardized and centralized across the channels and sub-channels in an organization. The performance dashboard monitoring system is used to track, measure, and resolve incidents that occur throughout the channels, sub-channels, systems, and applications of an organization. The system receives information related to two or more incidents, where each incident is associated with one or more of a business channel, sub-channel, or application. The system stores the information on a memory device. The system tracks the status of at least one incident between the occurrence and the resolution of the incident. The system displays on a user interface the information related to the incident on a channel, sub-channel, application, or individual incident level. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274597 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ESTABLISHING AN IDENTITY CONFIDENCE DATABASE - The invention provides various systems and methods for establishing an identity confidence scoring system. The method includes gathering identity information about the customers from physical locations and from remote locations. The method updates the identity profiles with the gathered identity information, and based on the gathered identity information, generates an identity confidence score associated with each identity profile. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274598 | NOTIFICATION OF RESOURCES OF INTEREST TO MEMBERS OF A CONSUMER GROUP - An announcement distributor distributes, or auctions an opportunity to distribute, an announcement to an announcement recipient such as a consumer, issuer, merchant, or acquirer within a payment processing system. The announcement when there has been a satisfaction of an announcement condition, such as the consumer being determined to be located within a predetermined spatial zone. The content of the announcement may, in turn, facilitate a subsequent cashless transaction for resources of merchants. Implementations describe various permutations of the content of the announcement, the announcement condition, and the announcement recipient. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274599 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING USAGE POLICY BY MANIPULATING USAGE GOVERNANCE LOGS - A method and system suitable for monitoring usage behaviors of a plurality of users, the usage behaviors related to a plurality of multifunction devices (MFDs), including a storage station for storing information related to a plurality of attempted tasks transmitted to the plurality of MFDs by the plurality of users; and a processor module for analyzing, at selected time intervals, the information related to the plurality of attempted tasks for user compliance to evaluate one or more preset rules based on the user compliance, the analyzing including automatic print governance alerting, where one or more alerts are configured to be triggered for any of the one or more preset rules. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274600 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING FIELD CONVERTIBLE CUSTOMER REPLACEABLE COMPONENTS - A method and system for managing field convertible operator replaceable components associated with a rendering device. A file that defines a set of operator replaceable components can be created and remotely installed on the device. The replaceable components associated with the device can be easily changed from a designation as a customer service engineer replacement component to an operator replacement component and vice versa. A determination that an operator is allowed to replace the component can be made based on a training level provided to the operator, the component availability, a usage pattern, and/or a security level. Such an approach enables the operator to perform the majority of maintenance on the device without requiring the services of a field engineer. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274601 | SUPPLY CHAIN PERAMETER OPTIMIZATION AND ANOMALY IDENTIFICATION IN PRODUCT OFFERINGS - An illustrative embodiment of a computer-implemented method for maintaining a product offering suite, identifies a subset of proposals from a proposal database maintained on a data processing system, using selected criteria stored on the data processing system, analyzes the subset of proposals using conformance criteria also stored on the data processing system to form an analyzed subset of proposals, and identifies a set of alert instances from the analyzed subset of proposals. The computer-implemented method further updates the product offering suite on the data processing system using information using the set of alert instances. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274602 | REAL TIME ENERGY CONSUMPTION ANALYSIS AND REPORTING - The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can facilitate analysis, processing, or reporting in connection with energy consumption data and/or emissions or sustainability factors associated with an automation process. In particular, the architecture can obtain process-level or machine- or device-level energy consumption data collected during execution of an automation process. The data can be analyzed or processed, with general or application-specific results output to a specified recipient and/or formatted (e.g., parsed, filtered, or transformed) according to a general or application-specific scheme. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274603 | DYNAMIC SUSTAINABILITY FACTOR MANAGEMENT - A dynamic sustainability factor management system that can facilitate scoring of sustainability factors associated with an industrial environment is provided. Particularly, the system can evaluate factors related to the ‘planet,’ ‘people,’ and ‘profits’ to establish a sustainability rating. This rating can be generated and applied in most any level of granularity as desired. Additionally, weighting factors can be individually applied to sustainability factors in computation of the sustainability score. These weighting factors facilitate individualization or personalization in calculation of a score. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274604 | Position Based Operational Tracking Of A Transport Refrigeration Unit - Disclosed herein is a method and system for position based tracking of operation of a transport refrigeration unit (TRU). A client application is provided on a data logger connected to the TRU. The client application determines position data of the TRU with respect to predefined geographic zones, acquires operational data of the TRU when the TRU is within the predefined geographic zones, and communicates with a remote server via wired communication or wireless communication. When the TRU arrives at a new facility that has not been defined as a geographic zone that the TRU operates in, a new geographic zone for the new facility is defined. The client application notifies a user of the TRU regarding control of the TRU's operating conditions based on the position data and the operational data. The control of the operating conditions ensures compliance of the user with TRU airborne toxic control measures. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274605 | System and method for managed distribution of publication assets - A system and method is disclosed for managed distribution of publication assets. The method discloses: protecting a set of assets, retrieved from the server system, in a publication component; transferring the publication component with the protected assets from the server to client computers; previewing the publication component on one client computer based on the set of protected assets; and producing the publication component on another client computer based on the set of protected assets. The system discloses: a server system; a publication management module for: applying a set of fonts to a publication component; and transferring the publication component with the protected fonts from a server to client computers; a preview module for previewing the publication component on one client computer based on the set of protected fonts; and a production module for producing the publication component on another client computer based on the set of protected fonts. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274606 | COMPUTER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SUPPORTING AN E-COMMERCE ENTERPRISE HAVING ONLINE E-FRANCHISES - In one embodiment, a centralized website may be generated, stored, and executed on servers, where the centralized website has a particular “look and feel” (e.g., a template). In association with granting online e-franchise rights to a secondary entity, a secondary website may be generated, stored, and executed (e.g., on the servers) for the secondary entity and its particular field of endeavor, where each secondary website has the same particular look and feel as the centralized website. Stored content for the secondary website may be managed and monitored to ensure that it (in addition to the business practice of the secondary entity) is operated in accordance with standards set forth by the centralized entity. In this manner, novel e-commerce models may be created and operated, such as a virtual community of associated alliance members that may be accessed by outside users familiar with and confident in the community. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274607 | METHOD OF IDENTIFYING POSITIONS OF WHEEL MODULES - There is provided a method of identifying locations of modules ( | 10-28-2010 |
20100274608 | METHOD FOR CREATING AND DELIVERING NEW CARRIER PRODUCTS - The invention creates new carrier products under control of a computer. This is achieved via formal representations of postal and carrier products. It should be understood that the term new product applies to both a completely new product containing an entirely new set of features as well as an update to an existing product with possibly only a few new features or modifications are added. | 10-28-2010 |
20100280855 | Management of a first stand-alone system used as a subsystem within a second system - Embodiments of the present invention are directed to management of stand-alone systems that are included in larger, complex systems as components or subsystems. Embodiments of the present invention use pre-existing functionality of stand-alone-system components for managing the stand-alone-system components within the context of managing the complex systems that include them. One approach common to many embodiments of the present invention is to manage the stand-alone-system subsystems, using the management interface of the complex systems that include them, as components of the complex systems. | 11-04-2010 |
20100280856 | IDENTIFYING SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE SHARED SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES - An approach that identifies a service oriented architecture (SOA) shared service opportunity is provided. In one embodiment, there is an opportunity tool, including an identification component configured to identify a plurality of projects from each of a plurality of lines of business; a selection component configured to select a set of projects common to more than one line of business from the plurality of lines of business; and an evaluation component configured to evaluate the set of projects common to more than one line of business from the plurality of lines of business to identify a SOA shared service opportunity. | 11-04-2010 |
20100280857 | MODELING MULTI-DIMENSIONAL SEQUENCE DATA OVER STREAMS - One embodiment is a method that builds a model of multi-dimensional sequence data in real-time with cuboids that aggregate the multi-dimensional sequence data over both patterns and dimensions. The model provides search results for a query. | 11-04-2010 |
20100280858 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A SMALL FORM PLUGGABLE ETHERNET DEMARCATION DEVICE - A system and method for monitoring network traffic utilizing a small form pluggable (SFP). The SFP is activated in a customer premise equipment (CPE) device in response to a user inserting the SFP in the CPE device. A determination is made whether a service provider is authorized to access the SFP. Monitoring is implemented for the service provider in response to the determining. | 11-04-2010 |
20100280859 | FUTURE CHECKS INTEGRATION - Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods for a system that captures check data as the check is drafted or thereafter, and before the check is presented to the paying bank. Generally, a customer will use a data capture device to capture future check data from a check as the customer drafts the check. The future check data captured includes information drafted, printed, encoded, etc. on the check. Generally, the data capture device is a device, such as a digital pen, a scanner, a camera device, a device included in a customer's personal display assistant (“PDA”), or other data capture system. After the customer captures the future check data, the data is compared to the customer's account information at a financial institution. Alerts are sent to the customer if the customer is in danger of over drafting the account or if potential fraud is detected. | 11-04-2010 |
20100280860 | CONTEXTUAL SOCIAL NETWORK BASED ON THE SEMANTIC WEB - A social network built around objects viewed over the Internet. A user interacts with a web page presenting a recognizable object (for example, a book, a restaurant or a stock quote). A plug-in in the user's browser extracts information from the web page, creates an identifier for the object, and records the interaction at a network node for the object and a network node for the user. The plug-in further creates a toolbar that is displayed with the web page, which identifies other viewers who recently viewed the object on the Internet and, in particular, other viewers who have been selected by the user as friends. The user may view a profile for any of the other viewers that provides links to the web page where the selected viewer viewed the object, to other objects viewed by that viewer and to other viewers linked to the viewer. | 11-04-2010 |
20100280861 | Service Level Agreement Negotiation and Associated Methods - A method for minimizing risk of a service level agreement (SLA) is provided. Such a method can include creating a risk profile for a key performance indicator based on a collection of data, determining a service level objective (SLO) cost for a SLO by correlating the SLO with the risk profile, and computing a cost of a SLA by analyzing the SLO cost for the SLO associated with the SLA. | 11-04-2010 |
20100280862 | System and method of performing an engineering-based site development and risk assessment process - A system and method is provided for on-site site risk assessment and to encourage collaboration between professional disciplines related to land development and construction projects. A graphical risk analysis system is provided based on answers to interdisciplinary questions related to risks. Use of the system promotes a complete checklist of interdisciplinary and informational consultation which, when completed for a project, assesses the risk related to land development and allows for reduction in risk as the project progresses. | 11-04-2010 |
20100280863 | Automated Model Generation For Computer Based Business Process - A system for generating a model representing an existing computer based business process involves analysing existing source content ( | 11-04-2010 |
20100280864 | QUALITY FUNCTION DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT METHOD AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A method of supporting creation of a quality function development chart which converts customer requirements to product characteristics urges input of customer requirements, urges input of product characteristics associated with the customer requirements, urges input of a degree of association of the customer requirements and the product characteristics, and urges input of a design quality for each of the product characteristics. | 11-04-2010 |
20100287010 | System, method and program for managing disaster recovery - System, method and program product for prioritizing a multiplicity of management services which support physical disaster recovery operations. Criticality of each of the management services is determined. An urgency of recovery of each of the management services is determined. Respective numbers of services which support or depend on each of the management services is determined. A priority to perform each of the management services based on (a) the criticality of each management service, urgency of each management service and number of services which support or depend on each management service is determined. In one example, the priority to perform each management service is based on the criticality multiplied times the urgency multiplied times the number of services which support or depend on each management service. | 11-11-2010 |
20100287011 | Method and System of Location-Based Game for Improving Mobile Operator's Profit - This invention provides a method for telecommunication carriers to generate revenues from location-based services (LBS) through a location-based game (LBG). Also provided is a method for administrating a location-based game and mobile terminals configured with LBG of the present invention. Games of the present invention may be played in stationary mode, mobile mode, or any combinations thereof; they may also include a scoring system that is based on token collection and, therefore, does not require real-time update or fast response from the LBS. | 11-11-2010 |
20100287012 | Method and system for measuring carbon dioxide reduction - A system and method is provided for managing energy data. The system includes a energy transformation device, a central energy data management system and a database containing carbon dioxide credit information. Managing the energy data includes measuring an amount of power produced or consumed by an energy transformation device, measuring an amount of carbon dioxide emitted, converted or sequestered by the energy transformation device, creating a dataset of the power produced or consumed and the amount of carbon dioxide emitted or sequestered, and transmitting the dataset and characteristic data to a central energy data management system. The method also includes, receiving energy measurements and characteristic data from an energy transformation device, obtaining carbon dioxide credit information and comparing the received energy measurements and the characteristic data with the received carbon dioxide credit information to obtain a carbon dioxide credit for the energy transformation device. | 11-11-2010 |
20100287013 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM FOR DETERMINING USER ATTENTION AREA FROM USER INTERFACE EVENTS - During an interaction with a web page, user interface events are recorded and augmented with page layout data from the document object model. An event stream is formed with the page layout data and communicated to an event server. The event server processes the event stream to determine a location at which the events were generated, which can be used to predict an area of a user's attention. | 11-11-2010 |
20100287014 | CONTEXTUALIZING BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE REPORTS BASED ON CONTEXT DRIVEN INFORMATION - Disclosed are methods and systems for displaying a business intelligence report on a client computing device in the client-server network according to a change in contextual information. The methods and systems involve receiving a context update message from a context acquisition module associated with the client computing device through one or more software interfaces provided by the context acquisition module. The context update message includes a contextual type for identifying a contextual business object, defining the business intelligence report at least in part. The business intelligence report is updated by applying the change in the contextual information provided by the context update message. The updated business intelligence report is transmitted to the client device and the updated business intelligence report is displayed on the display client-computing device. | 11-11-2010 |
20100287015 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE COST OF EVALUATING CONDITIONS - A method for determining the cost of evaluating queries against a database. The method includes receiving a condition, or query; determining the cost of one or more fixed cost operators within the condition; and determining the cost of one or more variable coefficients within the condition. The method may also be extended to determine the cost of successive conditions within a set of conditions as a function of the cost of a current condition and the combined selectivity of previous conditions within the set of conditions; and to determine an optimal order of conditions within a set of conditions. To determine an optimal order of conditions within a set of conditions, the method comprises determining the cost of one or more conditions within the set of conditions; determining the selectivity of one or more conditions within the set of conditions; and determining an optimal order of at least some of the conditions based at least partly on the determined cost and determined selectivity of one or more of the conditions. | 11-11-2010 |
20100287016 | METHOD OF MONITORING A COMBINED WORKFLOW WITH REJECTION DETERMINATION FUNCTION, DEVICE AND RECORDING MEDIUM THEREFOR - A rejection determination is made taking into consideration of an agreed service level for a combine workflow executed on a combine workflow system wherein a plurality of business application are collaborated with one another for business collaborations. A state is expressed which will appear when the combined workflow is hypothetically rejected, based on the progress thereof. A processing operation of the combined workflow is predicted based on the expressed state, taking into consideration the influence exerted on the plurality business application systems and the plurality of workflow systems in respect of response performance. A processing operation, which is the result of the prediction, and historical information of event information from the event information recording means are retrieved, and an evaluation value is calculated based on the result of the statistical processing of the historical information. It is determined whether or not the evaluation value satisfies a condition defined by said agreed service level. When the evaluation value does not satisfy the condition defined by the agreed service level, a rejection-target-specific progress for selecting/specifying an execution which has an arbitrary progress equal to or less than a maximum progress, is generated as a rejection target. | 11-11-2010 |
20100287017 | INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, PROGRAM, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - The object of the invention is to easily maintain conformity among pieces of data in a product development project. Provided is an information processing system comprising a risk value acquiring section that acquires risk values indicating implementation possibilities for a plurality of requirements needed for a product under development and risk values indicating degrees of reliability for a plurality of components included in the product under development; a dependency degree acquiring section that acquires degrees of dependency for the requirements and the components; a requirement/component dependency relationship information generating section that generates requirement/component dependency relationship information indicating dependency relationships of the requirements and the components, based on the risk values and the degrees of dependency; and a risk value conformity determining section that judges whether the risk values that are used in the requirement/component dependency relationship information conform with each other, based on the risk values and the degrees of dependency. | 11-11-2010 |
20100293014 | DISPLAY ADS TESTING TOOL FOR RICH MEDIA DEVELOPERS - An ad test tool allows rich media developers to test ads in both a stand-alone environment and within live web pages. The ad test tool includes a stand-alone ad test tool, a live site ad test tool, and a rules and compliancy engine. The stand-alone ad test tool tests ads in a stand-alone environment by providing the ad rendering framework necessary to render ads on the user's local device. The live site ad test tool tests ads on live web pages. The live site ad test tool includes a proxy that intercepts ad requests from web pages and replaces the ads on the web pages with test ads. The rules and compliancy engine checks test ads for compliancy for security and privacy purposes and also verifies that click tracking and/or impression tracking operate properly. | 11-18-2010 |
20100293015 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPLIANCE SERVICES USING PRE-CALCULATED RULE EVALUATION - The present invention relates to a compliance system that allows users to verify that trading rules and regulations are being followed throughout the intraday trading activity. In particular, the systems and methods of the present invention allow a user to verify compliance with trading rules locally at a trading terminal. | 11-18-2010 |
20100293016 | CONTENT ACTIVITY FEEDBACK INTO A REPUTATION SYSTEM - Various embodiments provide an evaluation module that is configured to monitor activities of new users and ascertain, from monitored activities, a reputation associated with the new users. In at least some embodiments, the evaluation module comprises an activity store and/or a reputation service. The activity store can monitor different types of actions associated with new users. For example, the activity store can monitor content-based actions that pertain to particular pieces of content and/or user behaviors associated with new users. The reputation service, which may or may not comprise part of the evaluation module, can ascertain from information provided from the activity store, information, such as a reputation category, associated with content-based actions and/or user behaviors associated with new users. Based on a new user's information, e.g. reputation category, the new user can be assigned an activity type which, in turn, defines allowed and disallowed activities for the new user. | 11-18-2010 |
20100293017 | MICROPAYMENT AND WEBSITE CONTENT CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An online monetization system can include a website registration module, a user registration module, a user billing module, a website monitoring module, and a micropayment determination module. The system can also include a micropayment processing module and, in some embodiments, a website content configuration module. | 11-18-2010 |
20100293018 | Test Model Abstraction For Testability in Product Line Engineering - Product line engineering testing is provided by segmenting a workflow into variable and common activity areas. A workflow decision node can be generated to isolate the segmented variable area, and a stub activity is generated and substituted into the workflow in place of the segmented variable activities. The stub activity can be configured to generate valid output for the substituted variable activities, and can be configured for black-box, gray-box, and white-box behavior. | 11-18-2010 |
20100293019 | ECONOMIC CALCULATIONS IN A PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEM - A process control system includes economic models disposed in communication with process control modules, as well as with sources of economic data such as cost, throughput and profit data, and uses the economic models to determine useful economic parameters or information associated with the actual operation of the process plant at the time the plant is operating. The economic models can be used to provide financial statistics such as profitability, cost of manufactured product, etc. in real time based on the actual current operating state of the process and the business data associated with the finished product, raw materials, etc. These financial statistics can be used to drive alarms and alerts within the process network and be used as inputs to process plant optimizers, etc. to provide for better or more optimal control of the process and to provide a better understanding of the conditions which lead to maximum profitability of the plant. | 11-18-2010 |
20100293020 | EMBEDDED WARRANTY MANAGEMENT - Methods and systems for obtaining and analyzing data from embedded sensors in electronic products for warranty management. A data collection unit in an electronic product collects and reports data about environmental factors that is relevant about a warranty agreement and transmits the data over a communications link to a data interpretation unit. The data interpretation unit may obtain warranty information from an electronic product and query a database to determine if the electronic product has been exposed to environmental factors outside the ranges that are specified in the warranty agreement. The data interpretation unit may query a database to determine an estimated warranty cost of an extended warranty based on the condition of the electronic product and historical warranty value. | 11-18-2010 |
20100299164 | Human Capital Management Computer System and Method - The invention relates to a computer system, and associated operating method, for determining a training program to be taken by an individual to reach desired skills, comprising:
| 11-25-2010 |
20100299165 | VALUE NETWORK PERFORMANCE COMPARISON ANALYSIS - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to modeling value networks and provide a method, system and computer program product for a comparative analysis different value nets. In an embodiment of the invention, a value net analysis method can include loading data for CBM components of a first value net for a first collection of business enterprises, and loading data for CBM components of a second value net for a second collection of business enterprises. The method also can include mapping relationships between different business enterprises in the first value net to relationships between different business enterprises in the second value net. Relative underperformance can be identified in a mapped relationship in one of the value nets based upon a comparison of the loaded data for the CBM components of the value nets. Consequently, the under-performing mapped relationship can be visually distinguished in an enterprise view to a corresponding one of the value nets. | 11-25-2010 |
20100299166 | GENERATING RELEVANT KEYWORDS FOR MONETIZATION IN AN ELECTRONIC MAP ENVIRONMENT - A method, system and computer readable medium directed towards generating relevant keywords for monetization from a user's experience in an electronic map environment. A user command to view a desired geographic area of an electronic map is received. The geographic area within the user's field of view is selected. Based on the geographic area, specific entities within the user's field of view are determined. A keyword phrase is generated based on information associated with the specific entities. | 11-25-2010 |
20100299167 | TECHNOLOGY ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREFOR - A technology enterprise management apparatus comprises a processing resource ( | 11-25-2010 |
20100299168 | IT ASSET MANAGEMENT TREND CHARTING FOR COMPLIANCE OVER TIME - Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention provide to store and display, in a trending analysis graphical user interface, the data for each execution of the underlying metric data alongside the date for which the metric was run. As the metrics are run, calculations may also take into account user setup (role access) for the assets for which they have control to view. Additional run control parameters could be set, for example for managing reconciliation discrepancies, to control whether or not to include exceptions that have been ignored by the user. | 11-25-2010 |
20100299169 | Planning Device and Method for Planning a Technical Installation - A planning device for planning a technical installation comprising modules having mechanical components and electrical components, where every module has a desired functionality. In accordance with the invention, a library of sets of electrical components include the properties of the mechanical components and electrical components from which a component set can be allocated to a module by allocation function, and the properties of the allocated component set, which is defined in component parameters, is usable to determine whether the module functionality resulting from the allocated component set corresponds to the desired functionality with a definable accuracy. | 11-25-2010 |
20100305985 | Contract management system - A contract management system is disclosed for managing a contract between a supplier and a purchaser, the system comprising a stage payment management unit for receiving contract information from a supplier terminal and creating a payment schedule and an interface unit for providing a communication interface between the contract management system, the supplier terminal and a purchaser terminal. The system also includes a foreign exchange pricing engine for receiving a request from the purchaser via the communication interface for an exchange rate for making one of the payments in a second currency, retrieving a current exchange rate between the second and first currencies from a exchange rate database and notifying the purchaser of the exchange rate via the communication interface. A foreign exchange hedging engine is also provided, for purchasing an amount of the first currency corresponding to the payment based on the exchange rate. | 12-02-2010 |
20100305986 | Using Service Exposure Criteria - Techniques for performing service exposure for reuse of one or more services are provided. The techniques include analyzing applicability of service criteria for a candidate service, identifying one or more services that are contextually-related to the candidate service, and using the service criteria applicable to the candidate service to expose the one or more services contextually-related to the candidate service. | 12-02-2010 |
20100305987 | PROJECT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A project management system comprising a first, second, third, fourth and fifth processing sequences embodied in a computer readable medium. The first processing sequence is operable to provide a user interface to display a plurality of alert indicia corresponding to a plurality of alert status of a plurality of project requirements. The second processing sequence is operable to convert an incomplete requirement to a complete requirement upon completion of a task corresponding to the incomplete requirement. The third processing sequence is operable to determine the alert status of the requirements of the plurality of projects based on a time difference between a current date and a target date corresponding to each requirement. The fourth and fifth processing sequences are operable override the alert status based on user selections. | 12-02-2010 |
20100305988 | Enhancing Quality of Contact Lists for Direct Marketing Campaigns - A method, system, and computer program product are used for enhancing quality of contact lists for direct marketing campaigns. An embodiment of the method includes receiving a contact list that includes a plurality of customer profiles, and performing at least one of a counts verification check, a criteria outlier check, a data values check, and an output file check on the contact list. The method performs the aforementioned checks based at least partially on one or more quality check (QC) parameters. Further, the method includes generating a QC report that includes error statistics pertaining to at least one of the aforementioned checks. The method further generates an exceptions report based on the QC report and the QC parameters, and modifies the QC parameters based on the exceptions report. | 12-02-2010 |
20100305989 | METHOD FOR FINGERPRINTING AND IDENTIFYING INTERNET USERS - Various aspects of the present system provide methods and systems for authenticating online purchase by tracing internet actions to a remote computer and to an individual who operates the computer. One aspect provides a technique to generate fingerprint of computer and its user based on the information collected through the actions a user conducts on internet. Another aspect of the system provides a technique to compute the fingerprints and find relations between users and computers. Another aspect of the system provides a trust ranking to a user based on the consistency of information collected from the user's various actions. | 12-02-2010 |
20100305990 | DEVICE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM - Systems and/or methods include obtaining device information for devices within a network and determining a business function for each of the devices. The systems and/or methods further include assigning a criticality score to each of the devices based on the determined business function and generating a report for the devices based on the determined business function and the assigned criticality score. | 12-02-2010 |
20100305991 | Complexity Reduction of User Tasks - An exemplary method for reducing complexity of at least one user task includes steps of calculating a complexity metric for the at least one user task; identifying one or more usability issues having a measurable impact on the complexity metric for the at least one user task; determining one or more recommendations for addressing at least one of the one or more usability issues; and displaying a representation of at least one of the one or more usability issues and of at least one of the one or more recommendations. In an illustrative embodiment, implementing any one of the one or more recommendations reduces the impact of the usability issue on the complexity metric of the at least one user task and thereby reduces a complexity of the at least one user task. | 12-02-2010 |
20100305992 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ELECTRONIC INVESTIGATION MANAGEMENT - Systems and methods to manage and mechanize investigations and associated evidence gathering, documentation and retention. Methods for using barcodes for processing and storing evidence in an investigation are provided. | 12-02-2010 |
20100305993 | MANAGED REAL-TIME TRANSACTION FRAUD ANALYSIS AND DECISIONING - A system, apparatus, and method for providing real-time or pseudo real-time processing of transactions for a set of clients using a common or partially common rule base. Each client is assigned to a tier or category with the tier or category defined by specified performance criteria. In some embodiments, the specified performance criteria includes a false positive ratio (FPR). A rule for processing transactions is defined as a combination of an interval of a scoring range of a first risk assessment scoring system and an interval of a scoring range of a second risk assessment scoring system. A proposed rule is tested by determining if its performance falls within a defined range of the performance criteria when applied to data for previous transactions. If application of the rule satisfies the performance criteria, then the rule is accepted as part of the rule base for that tier or category of clients. | 12-02-2010 |
20100305994 | Project Management Tool - A project management system comprises a means for storing each of a plurality of process definitions, a plurality of phase definitions, a plurality of task definitions, an association between each task definition and a selected process definition and a selected phase definition, and task status information associated with each task, and a display means for displaying a two-dimensional grid arrangement in which a first dimension is subdivided according to process definitions and a second dimension is subdivided according to phase definitions, thereby to define a plurality of cells at the intersection of the two dimensions, a plurality of the cells thus defined therefore representing tasks, in respect of which task status information is displayed.; A means for storing user identities and user rights associated with the user identities will allow the display means to be adapted to limit the display according to the user rights, either by withholding information relating to processes and/or phases not defined in the user rights, and/or by aggregating a plurality of cells and displaying a composite task status. This project management system is preferably provided via a suitable computer system, and a software module is arranged to implement this. Further, a project management summary view can comprise a two-dimensional grid arrangement in which a first dimension is subdivided according to processes and a second dimension is subdivided according to phases of work, thereby to define a plurality of cells at the intersection of the two dimensions, a plurality of the cells representing tasks in respect of which task status information is displayed. This project management system is particularly (but not exclusively) useful in the design of an engineered item. The proper oversight of the project permitted by the invention allows a more optimal design to be arrived at, and can also improve the project timescale and budget. | 12-02-2010 |
20100305995 | METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR GENERATING PROJECT-RELATED REQUIREMENTS - In a system for generating project-related requirements for a project, a prototype which implements the project based on initial project requirements is run iteratively to derive updated project requirements for forming an updated prototype which implements the project based on the updated project requirements. | 12-02-2010 |
20100305996 | Method for Creating Timetables for Transportation Systems Taking Into Account Time Limits - A method for the computer-aided automatic creation of timetables for transportation systems takes into account time limits, which are used in the framework of planification tools and online for the planning of timetables as a component of control systems. The invention broadens the method for creating timetables as described in WO 97/09218 (German patent application DE 195 33 127). The object of the invention is to ensure that in particular upper time limits are regarded as operational boundary conditions. A non-linear model of penalty costs is used to achieve this object. | 12-02-2010 |
20100305997 | WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A workflow management system for managing workflow within one or more entities is provided. The workflow management system may include a first drop-box application program executed on a first computing system including a first input object directory configured to receive an input object electronically outputted from an application program. The first drop-box application program may further include a first workflow engine configured to generate and send a workflow package to a second drop-box application program executed on a second computing system, the workflow package including the input object, a plurality of workflow tasks, and a set of predetermined workflow rules defined by a user via the first drop-box application program. In some examples at least one workflow task may be implemented via the second drop-box application program based on the set workflow rules. | 12-02-2010 |
20100305998 | Evaluating Energy Saving Improvements - A computer is used for obtaining information about a plural number of energy-saving measures. This can include information about costs of combinations of said energy-saving measures, said costs include first information about costs of making the measures, second information about rebates for the measures, and third information about energy-saving that will occur from the measures, where at least some of said third information will depend on said combinations of said energy-saving measures. An iterative algorithm is used which determines combinations and which determines which of the combinations produce maximum savings by combinations of the said first, second and third information. A report can be created. | 12-02-2010 |
20100305999 | Device and Method for Creating, Distributing, Managing and Monetizing Widgets in a Mobile Environment - A computerized development method, system, and device for creating a widget to be distributed in a mobile environment is disclosed. The method, system and device include allowing a user to create a widget suitable for distribution in a mobile environment, the widget including a widgetized existing code element, distributing the created widget in the mobile environment, tracking the distributed widget in the mobile environment, wherein the tracking the distributed widget enables access to how the created widget is being used via analytics of the created widget, and monetizing the widget to generate revenue based on the created, distributed, and tracked widget. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306000 | UNIFIED MODEL FOR AUTHORING AND EXECUTING FLOW-BASED AND CONSTRAINT-BASED WORKFLOWS - Designing and executing a workflow having flow-based and constraint-based regions. A user selects one or more activities to be part of a constraint-based region. Each constraint-based region has a constraint associated therewith. The workflow is executed by executing the flow-based region and the constraint-based region. The flow-based region executes sequentially. The constraint is evaluated, and the constraint-based region executes responsive to the evaluated constraint. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306001 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION OF MACHINE SELECTION, INTEGRATION AND UTILIZATION - The invention provides control systems and methodologies for controlling a process having one or more motorized pumps and associated motor drives, which provide for optimized process performance according to one or more performance criteria, such as efficiency, component life expectancy, safety, emissions, noise, vibration, operational cost, or the like. More particularly, the subject invention provides for employing machine diagnostic and/or prognostic information in connection with optimizing an overall business operation over a time horizon. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306002 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CALCULATING AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCORE FOR A BUSINESS UNIT - A computer system is provided for calculating an environmental impact for a separately accountable business unit. The system accesses accounts data indicative of internal costs for the separately accountable business unit and supplier costs comprising costs paid to suppliers for goods or services used in the economic activities of the separately accountable business unit. The internal costs and supplier costs of the accounts data are processed to determine the environmental impact for the separately accountable business unit, wherein the environmental impact comprises the impact on the environment as a consequence of the economic activities of the separately accountable business unit. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306003 | Method And System For Determining The Relative Priority Of In-Process Work And Focusing Process Improvements - A method and system for determining the relative priority of in-process work and focusing process improvements wherein the method comprises selecting a particular item that is in a predefined process flow, utilizing transaction data that was provided at regular Reporting Intervals and at Reporting Points and which relates to the particular item and its movement through the predefined process flow, providing a planned movement of the selected item along the predefined process flow, processing the transaction data to determine the selected item's actual movement along the predefined process flow and comparing the actual movement to the planned movement, determining the difference between the actual movement and the planned movement, providing a total planned Time Buffer for the movement of the selected item along the predefined process flow, using the determined difference to compute the actual amount of downstream Time Buffer Remaining in relation to the total planned Time Buffer, comparing the actual amount of downstream Time Buffer Remaining to the planned amount of downstream Time Buffer Remaining at each Reporting Point and computing the ratio TBR/TBRP wherein said ratio yields a Buffer Recovery Percent for the selected item, and determining the Buffer Recovery Percent for every item as it moves in a process flow from one Reporting Point to another Reporting Point and setting relative priorities to all the items wherein the item with the lowest | 12-02-2010 |
20100312591 | Automatic Vehicle Dispatch System and Method - An automatic chauffeured vehicle dispatch system and method are disclosed. In the vehicle dispatch system, audio signals and an automated management system are used. The automatic chauffeured vehicle dispatch system of the present invention comprises a service system, a dispatch system, a dispatch center server, an address analysis module, a databank server and a voice conversion module. The dispatch center server is connected with a telecommunication network, the internet, a databank server, a voice conversion module, the service system and the dispatch system. The address analysis module is able to analyze patrons' addresses and store the addresses in the databank server in the order of frequency of use. The voice conversion module is connected with the databank server and is able to covert the addresses stored in the databank server into audio signals, which may be sent to clients via the dispatch center server and a communication network. | 12-09-2010 |
20100312592 | CONFIRMING ENFORCEMENT OF BUSINESS RULES SPECIFIED IN A DATA ACCESS TIER OF A MULTI-TIER APPLICATION - Confirming enforcement of business rules specified in a data access tier of a multi-tier enterprise application. In an embodiment, a testing tool programmatically identifies the attributes in the data access tier that are accessible from a set of higher/interface tiers and provides the identified attributes to a user using a suitable interface. The user then specifies a set of test cases based on the provided attributes, with each test case including data elements associated with respective attributes and an expected result if the data elements are sought to be stored in the respective attributes of a data storage. The testing tool determines a validation result of operation of business rules against the combination of data elements and respective attributes. The testing tool then indicates that the business rules are enforced as desired, if the validation result is the same as the expected result. | 12-09-2010 |
20100312597 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING IT ASSETS - A system configured to manage IT assets associated with an entity (e.g., a company, an institution, etc.), in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. The IT assets may include hardware assets, software assets, telecommunications assets, and/or other IT assets. The system enables substantially all of the information relevant to the individual IT assets to be organized within a single repository throughout the life cycle of the IT assets (e.g., from order to disposal). By organizing the relevant information within a single repository, automation and dynamic system interaction may be leveraged during the life cycle of a given IT asset to track and/or monitor the given IT asset with an enhanced efficiency. In some embodiments, the system may include a common database, and an asset implementation manager, an asset ownership manager, an asset process manager, a service manager in operative communication with the common database. | 12-09-2010 |
20100318388 | Native American Indian Compliant Financial Services Methodology - A financial services method formulated in accordance with the principles of the current invention supports the implementation of certain Native American Indian compliant financial instruments that are beneficial for trading and possess like qualities to those traded on traditional markets. A financial association is created under which the parties in the system take on several financial responsibilities in high-quality financial offerings. The financial services system will provide an institutional mechanism for the worldwide implementation of Native American Indian guiding principles and policies as policed by a centralized Native American Indian Compliance Office, a Native American Indian auditing and supervising organization. Such a Native American Indian compliant financial structure would prohibit the imposition of foreign levies on activities on Native American Indian sovereign lands, thus enabling the successful implementation of an operational mechanism possessing a pecuniary effect similar to traditional fiscal products that would regularly be precluded under Native American Indian financial guiding principles. Such a method will spawn the maturity of a centralized worldwide Native American Indian financial marketplace purposefully formulated with respect to the monetary services requirements of the participating financial services organizations in bringing financial opportunities to the Native American Indian investment economy for placement. | 12-16-2010 |
20100318389 | BUSINESS FLOW PROCESSING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A business flow processing method includes: extracting data of a series of works carried out for each case from a database storing results of the works, generating process instances in which work names of the works carried out are arranged in time series; judging, for each of the process instances, whether or not a backtracking from a first work to a second work carried out prior to the first work occurs; deleting, for each type of backtracking patterns, an additional backtracking from the process instance in which the backtracking occurs; counting, for each process type, the number of process instances after the deletion of the additional backtracking, which belong to the process type; and identifying, based on counting results, a process whose counted number of process instances is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference, and outputting the identified process as a main business flow. | 12-16-2010 |
20100318390 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A PLANNER - A planning system and method is disclosed. The planning system includes at least one business rule remote from at least one client, a meeting editor, and at least one tracker communicately connected to the meeting editor, wherein the at least one tracker tracks at least two data items selected from the group consisting of invitees to at least one of the at least one meetings, respondents to invitations to the meeting, at least one speaker of the meeting, at least one host of the meeting, finances of the meeting, and a venue of the meeting, and wherein the at least one tracker communicates the at least two data items with the meeting editor. | 12-16-2010 |
20100318391 | METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR CHANGING AN IT SYSTEM - A method of changing an information technology system comprising a plurality of interacting components is provided. In an embodiment, the method comprises defining ( | 12-16-2010 |
20100324947 | System and method for creating and using energy credits derived from the construction industry while maintaining green certificateion - A system and method for creating and using energy credits derived from the construction sector while maintaining green certification. The system and method uses buildings. The energy consumption of a building or buildings is first reduced by identifying and placing predetermined components in the buildings. That energy reduction is then designated as an energy credit derived from and associated with the construction sector. The credit is then marketed and sold. The remaining or residual energy consumption associated with use of the building is then offset through the purchase of outside energy credits. The building or buildings are then certified as green. | 12-23-2010 |
20100324948 | MANAGING EVENT TIMELINES - The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for managing event timelines. Embodiments of the invention can be used to generate a dynamic task list (or progress indicator) that shows what tasks have been completed, tasks that can be done now, and remaining tasks. Thus, the task list acts as a guide and a measure of progress. The task list also increases the chance that tasks are completed in the proper order. Accordingly, the configuration of a task list provides utility to both experienced, professional producers as well as the do it yourself producer. Users can use the task list to drive their event management or they can ignore it. | 12-23-2010 |
20100324949 | TRANSFORMING GENERIC BUSINESS MEASURE DEFINITIONS INTO EXECUTABLE MONITORING SPECIFICATIONS - A business process management (BPM) data processing system can be provided. The system can include a business process modeler executing in memory of a host server and a process generation engine coupled to the business process modeler and configured to generate an executable business process execution model from a business process model defined by the business process modeler. The system further can include a monitoring generation engine coupled to the business process modeler and configured to generate an executable monitoring model using business measures mapped to emittable events in the executable business process execution model and using logic enabled to compute metrics for the business measures from data in the events, both the business measures and logic being defined separately from and irrespective of the business process model. | 12-23-2010 |
20100324950 | OPTIMAL MAPPING OF A SPATIAL PRINT INFRASTRUCTURE - Disclose are embodiments for selecting an advantageous, feasible and suitable location for placing a selected printing device within a space. A mathematical formula identifies a most advantageous location for placing the selected printing device. Next, successive contour regions surrounding this most advantageous location are defined such that any inner contour region is considered more advantageous than any outer contour region. A mark representing the most advantageous location and contour lines indicating the successive contour regions are plotted onto a floor plan of the space. The edited floor plan is then evaluated (e.g., either visually by a user or automatically) to determine whether the mark overlaps any fixed shapes and/or restricted-use areas. If the mark overlaps a fixed shape or restricted-use area, a different location can be selected that is within a closest possible contour region without overlapping any other fixed shapes or restricted-use areas. | 12-23-2010 |
20100324951 | System and Method for Automated Compliance with Loan Servicing Legislation - A computer-based system, technology architecture design, business process model, method, computer readable medium comprising software, and associated set of business services, for automatically determining business resolutions to municipal, state, and federal compliance rules, guidelines and legislation relating specifically to Mortgage and Credit Servicing (“Servicing”). Generic resolutions and normalized legislative information will be provided in human readable form via the internet by proprietary web search and querying applications. Specific resolutions for a loan or loan portfolio will be provided in computer readable via system interfaces. Resolutions are determined by means of rule-based processing technologies. Business Rules evaluate factors such as the location of a property or person, the life-cycle phase, status and disposition of the loan (e.g. 30 days delinquent, in foreclosure, subject to a modification program, etc.), and such additional criteria as may be required to determine accurate resolution in compliance with legislation. Preliminary industry research has indicated that these services and technologies do not currently exist in support of the Servicing industry. | 12-23-2010 |
20100324952 | CONTINUOUS GOVERNANCE, RISK AND COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT - A method for managing Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) within an integrated framework includes inventorying assets and relationships with business components of an organization structure ( | 12-23-2010 |
20100324953 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING ENTITLEMENTS TO RESOURCES OF AN ORGANIZATION - The invention relates to a method and system for determining one or more valid entitlements for one or more persons or roles to one or more resources of an organization. Person classification data, role classification data, role constraint data and/or entitlement constraint data are supplied to an inference engine that provides an inference result set defining valid entitlements of a person or role to one or more resources. | 12-23-2010 |
20100324954 | COMPUTER - IMPLEMENTED METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING QUALITY IN PRODUCT AND/OR SERVICE ASSOCIATED PROJECTS BY APPLICATION OF IMPROVEMENT IN SIX SIGMA METHODOLOGY - A computer-implemented method and system for monitoring quality in product and/or service associated projects by the application of improvement in Six Sigma methodology. The method involves accepting as input values associated with a product and/or service to be improved, subsequent to the completion of the project. Then, the values associated with the product or service to be improved are measured over a timeframe having a plurality of time segments, such that each value corresponds to one among the plurality of time segments. Subsequently, a set of values among the plurality of values are determined, corresponding to the plurality of time segments, which correspond to a predefined criterion. By applying predefined comparison criterion, a resultant parameter, whose variation indicates level of quality, is obtained. An output representing the resultant parameter is obtained in the form of a Capability Measurement Diagram and a Moving Loss table. | 12-23-2010 |
20100324955 | ASSET INFORMATION REPORTING - A computer-implemented method for asset operation information services is described. In one example embodiment, the method can comprise receiving data related to operation of an asset, the data including positional data and at least one machine operational data, interpreting the positional data with the machine operational data to accurately determine an operational characteristic of the machine, performing analysis of the operational characteristic in view of a stored target to produce a performance output, and providing a report that includes the operational characteristic and the performance output. | 12-23-2010 |
20100324956 | Automated pricing and/or "Green" indicating method and system - The present invention comprises a rapid and automated creation of a price schedule and/or a “green” schedule comprising steps and an implementation for providing a set of construction (or other) plans created with an architectural, civil, industrial or other software design tool, such as CAD, and optionally a palette of 2-dimensional and/or 3-dimensional architectural parametric symbols that correspond to respective construction plan elements, such as windows, doors, acrylic glass blocks and/or sky lights. At least one parametric symbol corresponding to a construction plan element is preferably inserted into the construction plans. A cost value and a statement indicating whether or not a parametric symbol is “green” for each of the inserted parametric symbols is calculated and/or determined corresponding to respective plan elements. A price schedule, a “green” schedule or both are then created, which can include the total cost for all of the inserted parametric symbols corresponding to respective plan elements, and a statement for each of the inserted symbols indicating whether or not they are certified as being energy efficient or rated “green.” | 12-23-2010 |
20100324957 | System and Method for Program Management Using Systems Engineering Management Model - The present invention solves the problems associated with traditional systems engineering process using a Systems Engineering Management Model (SEMM) which takes in to consideration all of the systems engineering capabilities critical to success (technical solution, risk, requirements, IPTs and interfaces, etc.) and provides for these capabilities in a timely and relevant manner using a single user interface to promote informed program execution. The SEMM automates the data manipulation processes and provides a single user interface and focal point to facilitate timely and informed decision-making. Such contemporaneous insight can help focus activities and resources to prioritize current issues, address critical ones, and provide indications of impending risks. Hence, the marginal utility of all program control activities is maximized. | 12-23-2010 |
20100324958 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRAVEL, ASSET, AND PERSONNEL INFORMATION AND RISK MANAGEMENT - A system(s) and method(s) for providing travel, asset, and personnel information accumulation, analysis, and reporting for improved risk assessment and management are disclosed. In various embodiments methods and systems may provide travel information to a consumer, by for example, acquiring information from at least one information source, characterizing the acquired information by its pertinence to travel, transforming the characterized travel information into a useable format, applying rules to this transformed travel information in connection with the consumer-specific travel profile, and delivering a report to the consumer. In various embodiments, risk assessments(s) may be provided and may include receiving intelligence from at least one intelligence source, receiving information about one or more asset(s), and generating a risk assessment report. Various embodiments may also include receiving intelligence from at least one intelligence source, receiving asset information, and generating a risk assessment report based on the intelligence and a personnel or employee profile. | 12-23-2010 |
20100332269 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MODELING THE FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS OF AN INDUSTRIAL MACHINE - An embodiment of the present invention may provide an integrated platform for assessing the current profitability of a previously executed service contract. Essentially, the present invention provides a user a simple yet effective means to evaluate and reassess whether a service contract for an industrial machine may remain profitable over the duration. An embodiment of the present invention may provide a method or system for forecasting and modeling the financial and operational requirements of an industrial machine. An embodiment of the present invention may integrate engineering data, equipment data, financial information, contractual information, and asset utilization information to reassess the financial and operational requirements of the industrial machine, for a current environment. | 12-30-2010 |
20100332270 | STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF DATA RECORDS FOR AUTOMATIC DETERMINATION OF SOCIAL REFERENCE GROUPS - A social reference group of a set of customers may be determined based on the interaction of customers. Using a portion of database of a service provider, interactions between customers may be determined. The interactions are analyzed to provide an at least one social reference group. A social reference group comprises a portion of the set of customers that are deemed socially similar. A behavior of a customer may be predicted based on past interactions and/or properties of the social reference group. The predicted behavior may be prevented by performing an action such as for example offering a customer about to churn an improved deal. | 12-30-2010 |
20100332271 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR RESOURCE AND ORGANIZATION ACHIEVEMENT - Methods and systems for resource and organization achievement are described. In one embodiment, outcome data associated with a resource may be received. The outcome data may include an outcome time period, an outcome title, an outcome priority, an outcome status, and an outcome access level. The outcome status may identify progress by the resource toward an outcome. The outcome access level may define resource access to an outcome item. The outcome data may be stored in a database. A display of an outcome item associated with the resource may be generated based on at least a portion of the outcome data. The outcome item may represent the outcome for the resource. Additional methods and systems are disclosed. | 12-30-2010 |
20100332272 | Method and a system for controlling operation of a wind turbine - A method and a system for controlling operation of a wind turbine are provided. The method includes determining at least one failure mode relating to one or more components of the wind turbine, estimating a remaining lifetime of the component under current operating conditions, determining one or more control schemes to control the operation of the wind turbine in order to adjust the remaining lifetime of the component to a desired remaining lifetime of the component, determining a power production yield for the determined one or more control schemes and selecting a determined control scheme for controlling the operation of the wind turbine that maximizes the power production yield. | 12-30-2010 |
20100332273 | TOOLS FOR ASSISTING IN PETROLEUM PRODUCT TRANSPORTATION LOGISTICS - A tool to assist decision-making in the logistics of bulk product transportation. For example, the tool may be used to solve a problem involving the transportation and the inventory management of crude oil, in which the transportation of crude oil between supply ports and discharge ports are performed by a fleet of ships. The tool is capable of handling a typical petroleum product transportation problem, which can be quite complex. The tool uses advanced modeling and optimization technology to find a solution (either optimal or near optimal) for the allocation of bulk products, vehicle routing, vehicle scheduling, and/or bulk product blending operations. | 12-30-2010 |
20100332274 | ESTIMATING TRAINING DEVELOPMENT HOURS - In one aspect, a method to estimate training development hours includes receiving data on factors selected by a user using a user interface and using a computer processor to estimate training development hours based on the data on the factors. The method may further include determining the training development hours based on the data on the factors an assigned base development hours, estimated contact hours and an analysis percentage. | 12-30-2010 |
20100332275 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND MEDIA FOR TRADING OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY - A method for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by promoting more efficient energy use, by establishing a measure of efficiency, defined as a ratio of a measure of energy use to a measure of production; establishing a reduction schedule that sets limits on the energy efficiency ratio, with the schedule covering a series of compliance time periods and requiring efficient energy use during those time periods; establishing a transferable credit representing an amount of energy and establishing a tradable financial instrument representing a number of energy efficiency credits; issuing a plurality of energy efficiency credits to the entities; establishing a trading system to facilitate the sale and purchase of the financial instruments; and requiring entities to comply with the reduction schedule by making operational improvements or acquiring and surrendering credits to thus increase the efficiency of energy use in turn reducing greenhouse gas emissions. | 12-30-2010 |
20100332276 | INTEGRATED ENERGY MERCHANT VALUE CHAIN - Methods and systems for structuring and operating an integrated energy merchant enterprise are provided. Enterprise core value creation functions are first identified. The core value creation functions are those that are primary profit and loss drivers and are generally market facing entities. The core value creation functions are then integrated with one or more integration functions. The integration functions and core value creation functions are controlled with one or more governance functions. | 12-30-2010 |
20110004498 | Method and System for Identification By A Cardholder of Credit Card Fraud - A method for fraud detection leverages an existing financial institution's fraud classification functionality, which produces a first level detection, with a “user-centric” classification functionality, which produces a “second” or more fine-grained detection regarding a potentially fraudulent transaction. After passing through an existing (“institution-centric”) fraud detection technique, a transaction that has been identified as potentially fraudulent is then subject to further analysis and classification at the “user” level, as it is the user is presumed to be the best source of knowledge of the legitimate credit card use. Information about the transaction is shared with the consumer, preferably via one or more near real-time mechanisms, such as SMS, email, or the like. Based on the user's response (or lack thereof, as the case may be), one or more business rules in the institution's fraud detection system can then take an appropriate action (e.g., no action, reverse the transaction if complete, deny the transaction if in-progress, or the like). | 01-06-2011 |
20110004499 | Traceability Management for Aligning Solution Artifacts With Business Goals in a Service Oriented Architecture Environment - A method and system for providing traceability management to align IT solution artifacts with business goals in a service oriented architecture environment. A pattern matching framework is provided for generating patterns and transformation enablers for architectural artifacts based on specific business requirements. Patterns that are applicable to a selected set of artifacts or model are provided to an architect, who may then select a particular subset of the patterns to apply to the set of artifacts or model in the SOA solution design to speed up and simplify the design process. Providing applicable or candidate patterns for selection to the architect in the views reduces the possible ambiguity in architectural artifact-pattern matching and selection. These solution patterns may be used as a guide when configuring and linking architectural artifacts and models. | 01-06-2011 |
20110004500 | ALLOCATING A RESOURCE BASED ON QUALITY-OF-SERVICE CONSIDERATIONS - A system is described for allocating a resource (such as available power) among components (such as virtual machines) within a computing environment (such as a data center). The system allocates the resource by taking account of both a system-wide consumption budget and the prevailing quality-of-service expectations of the components. The system distributes its management functionality between a main control module and agents provided in one or more components (e.g., virtual machines). The main control module includes a budget controller, while each component includes a bid-generation controller. A main resource manager module (within the main control module) generates allocations of resource based on an output of the budget controller and bids provided by respective bid-generation controllers. | 01-06-2011 |
20110010207 | Optimized component selection for project completion - A method is provided for determining the best combination of components/supplies/goods matched to a price provided by a supplier of those components/supplies/goods, such that costs are minimizing subject to a given supply function, fixed costs and various considerations that can be factored into a selection criteria. More specifically, a Lagrangian function is minimized subject to the supply function and an ensemble of costing formulations are considered subject to weighting factors as applied to a variety of criteria to arrive at an optimized selection of components/supplies/goods. | 01-13-2011 |
20110010208 | METHOD FOR INTEGRATED CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION & ADAPTATION - A method for integrated climate change mitigation and adaptation including analyzing available energy sources and grading said energy sources in terms of both climate change mitigation factors and climate change adaptation factors, and choosing and implementing energy sources that score highest in terms of both mitigation and adaptation. | 01-13-2011 |
20110010209 | STATISTICAL CONDITION DETECTION AND RESOLUTION MANAGEMENT - A statistical condition detection and resolution management method includes sampling data and performing statistical analysis on the sampled data, the sampled data representing events detected by an event profiling engine. The method also includes generating, a profile from results of the statistical analysis, the profile indicating a normative value of an attribute identified in the sampled data, and any outliers identified in the sampled data. Upon discovering an outlier, the method includes creating, via a rule engine in communication with the event profiling engine, a rule that defines an action to be taken for a condition identified as a result of the statistical analysis, and monitoring, via an event processing engine in communication with the rule engine, real-time operational data corresponding to attributes of the profile. When in response to the monitoring the condition is met, the method includes implementing the action identified in the rule. | 01-13-2011 |
20110010210 | EDUCATIONAL ASSET DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - An educational asset distribution system including an asset registration module which obtains information about a plurality of educational assets, said information including fixed metadata descriptive of an educational asset, and information for accessing the educational asset; a learning management system interface which receives context data descriptive of a user of a learning management system; a dynamic metadata storage which stores a portion of the context data in association with the fixed metadata; and an educational assets management module for managing the plurality of educational assets based on the context data, the information about the plurality of educational assets, and data stored in the dynamic metadata storage. | 01-13-2011 |
20110010211 | AUTOMATICALLY PRESCRIBING TOTAL BUDGET FOR MARKETING AND SALES RESOURCES AND ALLOCATION ACROSS SPENDING CATEGORIES - In one embodiment, a computer-readable medium is provided for performing a method for automatically prescribing a budget for sales expenses including, determining lift factors for sales expenses and other promotion activities, establishing a relationship between the determined lift factors, budgets for the promotion activities to which the lift factors correspond, and a projected value of the distinguished business outcome; and using the established relationship to solve for a value of the sales expenses budget that tends to optimize the projected value of the distinguished business outcome in accordance with the selected optimization. | 01-13-2011 |
20110010212 | Trainee Incentive and Reward Method - The invention is a method and system that provides for efficiently incentivising and rewarding employees for their successful use of the training system or other employer metrics by utilizing rewards such gift cards or discount coupons redeemable for goods and/or services at retail/service centers. | 01-13-2011 |
20110010213 | METHOD FOR CAPTURING AND REPORTING RELEVANT CROP GENOTYPE-SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE INFORMATION TO SCIENTISTS FOR CONTINUED CROP GENETIC IMPROVEMENT - A system for obtaining crop data from crop growers and using the crop data to assist in providing crop genetic improvements is provided. The system receives, from a producer or crop grower, geo-referenced crop data that indicates a yield of a crop at a production location and a particular hybrid or variation of the crop at the production location. The genetic element data is associated with the geo-referenced crop data. Performance data is then determined which indicates the performance of a genetic element of a crop, based on the association of the genetic element data with the geo-referenced crop data. | 01-13-2011 |
20110015956 | Merging Contract Versions - Proposed revisions to a contract can be selectively merged with provisions included in a base version of a contract to generate a merged contract. To determine whether a particular provision in the merged contract should be selected from the base contract or the proposed revision to the contract, a check can be made to determine if an event affecting a provision in the base contract has occurred. If such an event has occurred, the contract provision from the base contract can be chosen for the merged contract. Otherwise, a provision from the proposed revision to the contract can be used in the merged contract. A graphical user interface (GUI) can be used to present various contract versions. | 01-20-2011 |
20110015957 | License Tracking System and Related Software for Complex License and Compliance Requirements - A license tracking system has been developed that comprises: a) at least one set of license requirements, b) at least one form, questionnaire, prompt series, survey interface or combination thereof that requests at least one piece of input data related to a licensee, the license requirements or a combination thereof from a user, c) at least one database that collects and compares the at least one set of license requirements and the at least one piece of input data to produce a set of compliance instances and a set of alert instances, d) a compliance notice component that provides the set of compliance instances to the user, and e) an alert notice component that provides at least one of the alert instances to the user. Methods of tracking licenses and license-related information have also been developed, along with network systems capable of executing software programs comprising license tracking software. | 01-20-2011 |
20110015958 | STRATEGIC WORKFORCE PLANNING MODEL - Systems, devices, and methods are provided for workforce planning models. Technologies are described to manage human capital decisions. Decision making models and related tools are described that support the development and implementation of workforce strategies, programs and policies. In one model, resources may be allocated to specific practices (policies, programs, initiatives, organizational culture) used to attract and retain valued employees. Resources may be increased or decreased until the optimal allocation of resources is found that is most likely to enable the achievement of specific goals (e.g., attraction, retention, readiness, and representation). | 01-20-2011 |
20110022429 | Resource reporting - A method of communicating a consumer's usage of a resource is disclosed. The consumer's usage of the resource is compared to usage of the resource by a relevant cohort that is not based solely on geography. A result of the comparison is communicated to the consumer. | 01-27-2011 |
20110022430 | Method and an apparatus for calculating a risk reserve value for a machine - A method and a respective apparatus for calculating a risk reserve value for a machine is provided. A risk reserve value for a machine is a potential penalty the manufacturer of a machine has to pay to the owner or operator of the machine in case the machine does not start at a guaranteed success probability value. The method and respective apparatus can be used in business considerations as well as the construction of machines with regard to provide guarantee values to a customer. | 01-27-2011 |
20110022431 | Adaptive Synchronization of Business Objects - In some implementations, a method includes changing a master business object that is resident at a first location on a network, generating a change message for changing a replicated business object, the replicated business object being based on the master business object and being resident at a second location on the network remote from the first location, determining an update duration for updating the replicated business object, incorporating the change routine into a synchronization message when the update duration is less than a temporal constraint, and transmitting the synchronization message from the first location to the second location to update the replicated business object based on the synchronization message. | 01-27-2011 |
20110022432 | WORK INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, PROGRAM, AND WORK INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - To measure an action of a worker and analyze the measurement data to determine the type of the action and also determine the type of a work, thereby providing information for improving the work itself. A work information processing apparatus ( | 01-27-2011 |
20110022433 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ASSESSING LOCATE REQUEST TICKETS - Locate and/or marking operations involve detecting and/or marking a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. One or more attributes of a locate and/or marking operation requested in a locate request ticket are assessed to provide one or more ticket assessment outcomes. Ticket information is obtained from the locate request ticket at least in part by parsing the locate request ticket. One or more business rules are applied to at least some of the ticket information to generate the ticket assessment outcome(s) for the attribute(s) of the locate and/or marking operation. The ticket assessment outcome(s) is/are transmitted and/or stored so as to facilitate clearing the locate request ticket and/or dispatching a locate technician to perform the locate and/or marking operation. | 01-27-2011 |
20110022434 | Method for evaluating operational and financial performance for dispatchers using after the fact analysis - A method is provided for evaluating operational and financial performance for dispatchers in power grid control centers associated with utility systems. A comprehensive operating plan is provided that applies after the fact analysis for performance metrics, root-cause impacts and process re-engineering. after the fact analysis of past events and practices is performed. Actual system and resource conditions are captured. the system and resource conditions are supplied to a relational database. A scheduler engine receives the actual system and resource conditions from the relational database and processes it to calculate system performance. At least one of the following is displayed, transmission evaluation application displays, reference and scenario cases and associations between them, results presented with a graphical or tabular displays, comparison results between scenario cases and a reference case, a family of curves where each curve is a performance metric, comparison of scenario input data, study results and statistical analysis and historical data. | 01-27-2011 |
20110022435 | Systems and Methods for Workflow Automation, Adaptation and Integration - Systems and methods for implementing complex and disparate workflows, wherein a flexible framework (system architecture) is used for workflow automation, adaptation and integration. | 01-27-2011 |
20110022436 | RAPID KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER AMONG WORKERS - A system and method enable rapid knowledge transfer, for example between a plurality of experts and a plurality of apprentices located remotely from the experts. The system makes use of unique tools to facilitate transfer of knowledge and collaboration between individuals, even among remotely located individuals. An input to the system is a Knowledge Transfer Plan which has been designed to orchestrate the knowledge transfer. The knowledge transfer system integrates a shared repository and collaboration tools for use by the expert and apprentice. The collaboration tools may be accessed through role-specific portals which are automatically created from the Knowledge Transfer Plan. In one embodiment, the system is configured with a World Wide Web-based interface and an integrated suite of tools to support knowledge transfer activities on a global basis to facilitate knowledge transfer among workers engaged in an outsourcing business process. | 01-27-2011 |
20110029337 | PROVIDING A POLICY TOPOLOGY MODEL THAT INTERCONNECTS POLICIES AT DIFFERENT LAYERS - A policy topology model that relates policies at different layers associated with an enterprise is provided, where the layers include a higher-level business layer and at least a lower-level layer. The policy topology model includes a policy topology map of the policies and corresponding policy engines to implement the respective policies. A connection module of the policy topology model is used to interconnect the policies at the different layers and to associate multiple domains. The connection module under a particular condition also transforms at least one of the policies. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029338 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING A VALUATION OF ONLINE USERS AND WEBSITES FROM USER ACTIVITIES - An improved system and method for generating a valuation of online users and websites is provided. The revenue and cost for a user's activities on a website may be calculated for a time period. To calculate the revenue and cost for activities of a user on a website, values for each type of activities of a user on website may be accumulated and input into a function with the value of a revenue type or cost type associated with activities of users on the website. The monetary value of an online user for a website may be calculated as the difference of the revenue for a user and the cost for a user on the website. And the monetary value of a user for a website may be used to generate a valuation of the online user and a valuation of the website. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029339 | Enterprise and Sales Management Platform - Systems and methods that perform one or more enterprise management and/or sales operations according to a selected player chain strength paradigm are provided. In an illustrative implementation, an enterprise management and sales environment comprises a computer implemented enterprise management and sales engine having a processor executing one or more instructions, and an instruction set comprising at least one instruction to process data representative of a sales/project opportunity according to a selected player chain strength paradigm. Illustratively, the enterprise management and sales engine can cooperate with an advertising engine to identify one or more advertisements for electronic communication to one or more users and a sales assistant engine to generate one or more sales/project opportunities action item lists using one or more generated sales/project management processed data sets and data about a user of the enterprise management and sales environment. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029340 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALCULATING THE ENVIRONMENTAL SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL PRINTING METHODOLOGIES - The present invention relates to a system and method for calculating environmental savings achievable as a result of using environmentally friendly paper and environmental printing methodologies when completing a printing job. The system and method receives information describing the characteristics of a given printing job. This information, is used as the basis to calculate one or more environmental savings. The environmental savings could include, but are not limited to, number of trees saved, amount of water saved, amount of energy saved, number of household equivalent power saved, amount of carbon emissions saved, number of automobile equivalent carbon emissions saved, and number of acres saved. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029341 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GATHERING AND UTILIZING BUILDING ENERGY INFORMATION - A system and method for gathering and utilizing building energy information. A central management server communicates through a wide area network to one or more client devices. The central management server maintains a set of measured or calculated audit data for a plurality of buildings and facilities, with icons and text representing auditing and analysis tasks that may be performed in the process of auditing the structures and related energy-consuming equipment and shell characteristics. The client device communicates with the central management server through the wide area network and is operative to receive user input and display user data. The client device is operative to receive a login request from a user and in response thereto, transmit a message containing the user specified and calculated information, including any related images. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029342 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING RETAIL AUDIENCE TRAFFIC FLOW AND DETERMINING PLACEMENT OF ELECTRONIC DISPLAYS TO ESTABLISH RETAIL AUDIENCE METRICS - A system and method for determining audience viewership of airtime segments substantially synchronously displayed on displays of an electronic display network in a retail environment may include determining zones through which a shopping cart being pushed by a customer traveled during a shopping trip. Times that the shopping carts spent in respective zones may be computed. A number of airtime segments that the customers had the opportunity to view while passing through the zones based on the times spent in the respective zones may also be computed. A report may be generated that includes the computed number of airtime segments that the customers had the opportunity to view while passing through the respective zones. Also, locations for the electronic displays to be positioned to enable the electronic display network to be viewed by at least a predetermined amount of customers that visit the retail environment may be determined and reported. | 02-03-2011 |
20110035241 | Anonymous Separation of Duties with Credentials - A system for anonymous separation of duties with credentials includes an identity provider, the identity provider configured to issue anonymous credentials to a user based on one or more attributes of the user; a service provider, the service provider configured to issue a pseudonym to the user based on the user's anonymous credentials, and to associate the user's pseudonym with a step of an instance of a business process hosted on the service provider, the step being completed by the user; and an auditor, the auditor configured to determine if the completion of the step of the instance of the business process by the user is compliant with a separation of duties policy. | 02-10-2011 |
20110035242 | EVENT DRIVEN AUDIT LOGGING - This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for implementing event driven audit logging. The method includes establishing, at an audit logging system, audit logging framework configured to provide application independent connectivity and further configured to provide event driven audit logging. The method further includes receiving, at the audit logging system, a selection of an application to provide event driven auditing, enabling event driven auditing for the selected application, and receiving a selection of event types to enable for auditing by the audit logging framework. Furthermore, the method includes based on the selected event types, tracking the application actions associated with the selected events, creating an event log for the application, and providing access to the event log. | 02-10-2011 |
20110035243 | TECHNOLOGY REPLACEMENT COST ESTIMATION USING ENVIRONMENTAL COST CONSIDERATIONS - In a method of estimating a replacement cost associated with an existing technology performed by a processor, one or more costs associated with implementing the existing technology are obtained, in which the one or more costs include an environmental cost and a utility cost associated with implementing the existing technology. In addition, an existing net benefit of continuing implementation of the existing technology based upon the obtained one or more costs are calculated. | 02-10-2011 |
20110035244 | Project Management System for Integrated Project Schedules - A simulation system and technique for simulating a project is described. The simulation system includes a work detail database having stored therein a plurality of attributes for the project, and a schedule generator coupled to receive information from the work detail database and having a push processor and a pull processor coupled thereto. The push and pull processors utilize different techniques/methodologies to establish dates and activities in a schedule produced by the schedule generator. | 02-10-2011 |
20110035245 | METHODS, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEMS FOR PROCESSING TECHNICIAN WORKFLOWS FOR LOCATE AND/OR MARKING OPERATIONS - Processing a workflow for a locate and/or marking operation to detect and/or mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. A workflow for the locate and/or marking operation is acquired, wherein the workflow comprises a series of tasks to be performed in connection with the locate and/or marking operation. One or more workflow outputs are displayed on a display device in accordance with the workflow, wherein each workflow output is generated based at least in part on at least one of the series of tasks in the workflow. A status of at least one task of the series of tasks is determined based on at least one input received in connection with the locate and/or marking operation, and an updated workflow is generated based at least in part on the determined status. | 02-10-2011 |
20110035246 | DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR AIDING IN PEST MANAGEMENT DECISIONS - A computer device is provided for implementing a system configured to provide pest management information used in pest management decision-making related to a site-specific crop of interest. The computer device receives a pest input value for each of a plurality of pest populations. The pest input values correspond to pest sampling data associated with the pest populations for the site-specific crop. The computer device further determines a multiple-pest economic threshold value associated with the site-specific crop from the pest input values. The computer device further determines a predicted investment cost value from the multiple-pest economic threshold value, wherein the predicted investment cost is indicative of the return on investment associated with use of a pest control strategy for the site-specific crop. The computer device further provides an indicia of the predicted investment cost value according to the pest input values. Associated systems and methods are also provided. | 02-10-2011 |
20110040586 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING SOCIAL NETWORKING-BASED ADVERTISEMENTS - Methods and systems for providing social networking-based advertisements are provided. In accordance with some embodiments, methods for providing social networking-based advertisements to users are provided, the method comprising: collecting user information relating to a user from a user profile on a social networking website, wherein the user information includes relationship data that describes a social network of members of the social networking website connected to the user; determining whether the user information has missing attributes; in response to determining that the user information has missing attributes, deriving the missing attributes from users profiles associated with the members of the social network; using the collected user information and the missing attributes to select an advertisement; and providing the selected advertisement to the user and at least one member of the social network associated with the user. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040587 | System and Method of Measuring Process Compliance - In one embodiment the present invention includes a computer-implemented method of measuring process compliance. The method includes storing an adopted reference model of a business process and storing process instances of the business process. The method further includes generating an as-is model from the plurality of process instances. The method further includes calculating a sequence-based compliance measurement between the adopted reference model and the as-is model. The method further includes outputting the sequence-based compliance measurement. The sequence-based compliance measurement may be used to evaluate or to improve the business process. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040588 | VIRTUAL MEETING AGGREGATOR SYSTEM AND METHOD - A meeting aggregator system and method enables the formulation of various meeting plan options, analysis of the return on investment and costs associated with each option. The meeting aggregator system accesses an inventory of meeting facilities (e.g., telepresence facilitites, web conference rooms, conference rooms for live meetings, etc.). The meeting aggregator accesses a variety of data sources and implements custom cost calculations to consider travel costs, cultural factors, environmental factors, travel policies and user preferences. A decision tool provides users access to interactive planning, analysis and resource booking. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040589 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ASSESSING COMPLEXITY OF LOCATE REQUEST TICKETS - Locate and/or marking operations involve detecting and/or marking a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. One or more attributes of a locate and/or marking operation requested in a locate request ticket are assessed to provide one or more ticket assessment outcomes. Ticket information is obtained from the locate request ticket and analyzed so as to assign at least one complexity designation to the ticket. The complexity designation(s) is/are transmitted and/or stored so as to facilitate clearing the locate request ticket and/or dispatching a locate technician to perform the locate and/or marking operation. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040590 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING A TICKET ASSESSMENT SYSTEM - Locate and/or marking operations involve detecting and/or marking a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. A record of a completed locate and/or marking operation is analyzed, and one or more information assets used for assessing locate and/or marking operations requested in locate request tickets is updated. The information asset(s) include one or more business rules to be applied to ticket information to obtain one or more ticket assessment outcomes. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040591 | VIRTUAL MEETING AGGREGATOR PRICE COMPARISON SYSTEM AND METHOD - A meeting aggregator system and method enables the formulation of various meeting plan options, analysis of the return on investment and costs associated with each option. The meeting aggregator system accesses an inventory of meeting facilities (e.g., telepresence facilities, web conference rooms, conference rooms for live meetings, etc.). The meeting aggregator accesses a variety of data sources and implements custom cost calculations to consider travel costs, cultural factors, environmental factors, travel policies and user preferences. A decision tool provides users access to interactive planning, analysis and resource booking. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040592 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING PRICING OPTIONS IN A CONSULTATION SYSTEM - In exemplary embodiments, an apparatus and method for providing pricing options in a consultation system is provided. In one embodiment, user input from a user is received. The user input is directed to a question the user intends to post to the consultation system. Pricing factors are determined in part from the user input. A pricing option is then determined by analyzing the pricing factors with pricing attribute data whereby the pricing attribute data may be based on current consultation system dynamics, user history, and completed transactions on the consultation system. The determined pricing option is presented. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040593 | INTEGRATION OF THE MANAGEMENT OF INTERVENTIONS ON EQUIPMENT WITH A DAILY LABORATORY ANALYSIS WORK IN A LIMS - A method and a system for managing in a laboratory information management system (LIMS) at least one intervention on at least one piece of equipment managed by the LIMS, and in particular with at least a daily analysis work. The system contains at least one equipment intervention management module integrated to the LIMS, a device for defining in the equipment intervention management module, intervention management rules for the equipment managed by the LIMS, a device for defining in the equipment intervention management module, at least one intervention process for the equipment, and a device for executing the intervention. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040594 | Measure selecting apparatus and measure selecting method - A measure selecting apparatus includes, a measure candidate selecting unit that calculates, evaluation values indicating the degree of effectiveness of each measure and selects candidates for a measure to be performed. This calculation is performed on the basis of measure data or the like in which a resource included in the business, a measure performed on the resource, and information indicating the length of recovery time of the resource at the time of performing the measure are defined. Measure selecting apparatus also includes an optimum measure selecting unit that selects, in accordance with the evaluation values and the number of same measures included in the candidates selected by the measure candidate selecting unit, a measure to be performed from among the candidate selected by the measure candidate selecting unit. | 02-17-2011 |
20110046990 | Model for Long-Term Language Achievement - The Model for Long-Term Language Achievement is the framework for the National Language Achievement Framework, the Plan for Long-Term Language Achievement, and the associated national, individual and synchronized data management and reporting systems. The National Language Achievement Framework represents the processes for a nationwide system assessment, national coordination, transformation, and administration. The Plan for Long-Term Language Achievement includes materials and procedures for data collection, analysis, and reporting to provide a process and guide to conduct individual, program, organizational, system, and national assessments. The data management and reporting systems are designed to manage and report data to facilitate these processes. The reporting system includes a feature to develop customized national frameworks and process models. | 02-24-2011 |
20110046991 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMPARING AND IMPROVING SALES PERFORMANCE OVER HETEROGENEOUS GEOGRAPHICAL SALES REGIONS - A method of improving sales performance over multiple geographical sales regions includes determining ( | 02-24-2011 |
20110046992 | System and methods for management of external dependencies associated with a project portfolio - The present invention applies concepts from the graph theory in mathematics and computer science to the management of external dependencies associated with a project portfolio. By viewing components of a project portfolio as nodes (vertices) of a graph, which may also include activities that are external to the project portfolio but depend or impose dependencies on it, a significant and unique business value can be realized. An exemplary embodiment of these concepts is described, demonstrating comprehensive, generic, and flexible system and methods. | 02-24-2011 |
20110046993 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ASSESSING RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH LOCATE REQUEST TICKETS - Locate and/or marking operations involve detecting and/or marking a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. One or more attributes of a locate and/or marking operation requested in a locate request ticket are assessed to provide one or more ticket assessment outcomes. Ticket information is obtained from the locate request ticket and analyzed so as to assign at least one risk designation to the ticket. The risk designation(s) is/are transmitted and/or stored so as to facilitate clearing the locate request ticket and/or dispatching a locate technician to perform the locate and/or marking operation. | 02-24-2011 |
20110046994 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MULTI-STAGE ASSESSMENT OF LOCATE REQUEST TICKETS - Locate and/or marking operations involve detecting and/or marking a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. One or more attributes of a locate and/or marking operation requested in a locate request ticket are assessed to provide one or more ticket assessment outcomes. In a first stage of assessment, a first assessment outcome is produced by analyzing at least some ticket information obtained from the locate request ticket. In a second stage of assessment, a second assessment outcome is produced based at least in part on the first assessment outcome. The first and/or second ticket assessment outcome(s) is/are transmitted and/or stored so as to facilitate clearing the locate request ticket and/or dispatching a locate technician to perform the locate and/or marking operation. | 02-24-2011 |
20110046995 | METHOD FOR TROUBLE MANAGING OF EQUIPMENT - A method for trouble managing in equipment is provided, with which optimal timing of repairing the equipment and occurrence of malfunction probable to occur concurrently with present malfunction or later stage can be inferred with sufficient accuracy, and which can be adopted for large-scale equipment used in a plant. The method for trouble managing of equipment by monitoring operation condition of the equipment with a monitoring means and inferring cause of malfunction of the equipment by an inference means which infers the cause of the malfunction using measured data concerning the operation condition obtained by the monitoring means when malfunctions occur as nodes of the inference means, comprises selecting acoustic data most similar to sound emitted from the equipment in which malfunction has occurred from among a plurality of acoustic data provide beforehand, selecting morphologic data most similar to a pattern of operating condition in the equipment from among a plurality of morphologic data provide beforehand, adding the selected acoustic data and the selected morphologic data to the nodes, and performing inference of cause of the malfunction of the equipment by a first Bayesian network base on the nodes. | 02-24-2011 |
20110046996 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE OPERATING FORECAST FOR A SYSTEM - According to the invention, to determine an operating forecast for a system, measurements are taken of an environmental value in an environment surrounding the system. Then these measurements are processed in a processing unit in order to determine how much of the system's lifetime has been consumed. The consumed lifetime is based on a history of the system in the environment. This is used to calculate a forecast of a good operating lifetime. According to the invention, this forecast determination is made by adaptive linear regression. Thus, all forecast calculations are simplified and can be performed by the system itself and in real-time. | 02-24-2011 |
20110054958 | Method and Apparatus for Automatically Reconfiguring Tooling Based on Downloaded Solution Asset Classification, Decompisition and Semantics - Provided is a method for the management of actionable assets with respect to a computing solution. Assets and corresponding artifacts are located and downloaded from a tool repository and incorporated into existing computing tooling. The repository may be located on any computing system connected to an appropriately configured host system via a network such as a local area network (LAN) or the Internet. Downloaded assets are analyzed and parsed into corresponding artifacts. The asset is disassembled into the corresponding artifacts and loaded into the computing tooling. The tooling is then reconfigured with respect to the newly loaded asset and artifacts. Reconfiguration may, but is not limited to, the reconfiguration of palettes, menus and auto model loading. Automatic reconfiguration of the tooling is also executed based upon the availability of the asset the asset type and classification of the asset. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054959 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A STANDARDS-BASED JOURNALISM MARKETPLACE - A system and method for a standards-based journalism marketplace that allows entrepreneurial journalists to distinguish themselves as professionals operating under professional journalists' code of ethics and sell their content directly to the public. The standards-based journalism marketplace system may include a rating mechanism that allows the public audience to hold journalists accountable to standards of fairness, accuracy, and purity from conflicts of interest and corrupting advertising influences. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054960 | DYNAMIC WEB PAGE CREATION - Briefly, in accordance with at least one embodiment, a method or apparatus capable of creating or generating web pages dynamically (or a portion thereof) is disclosed. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054961 | Adaptive Risk Analysis Engine - A method for characterizing risk using an adaptive risk analysis engine. Following a user request for a risk analysis, online and/or offline factual information is retrieved by the engine and is used to produce risk indicators. The risk indicators are mapped onto risk ontology to produce risk factors which are then used to assess the level of risk. Parameters for the likelihood, impact, and external threat of the risk are calculated, and a risk assessment report is produced for the user. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054962 | TRANSFORMING SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHTECTURE MODELS TO SERVICE ORIENTED INFRASTRUCTURE MODELS - Described herein are methods and systems for SOA to SOI transformation. The transformation is performed by a transformation engine, driven by a transformation algorithm. A “used case database”, to provide the current know-how information for such transformations, and a “performance database”, to describe new hardware parts with more powerful metrics are incorporated into the transformation algorithm. In addition, a business engine supports the transformation engine with business analyzing features using a “business value database”. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054963 | PRACTICE SELECTION SCHEMES - A practice selection method is provided. The method comprises recording first information describing one or more characteristics of a first project in at least one storage medium; determining whether a first practice is likely to have a successful impact on the first project based on the first information; and suggesting the first practice, in response to determining that the first practice is likely to have a successful impact on the first project. The first information may comprise subjective and objective information and may also be used to select a second practice for a second project. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054964 | Automatic Documentation of Ticket Execution - Techniques for automatically documenting activity data in connection with execution of a ticket are provided. The techniques include receiving activity data in connection with execution of a ticket, processing the activity data to generate an output, and appending the processed activity data output to the ticket for ticket enrichment. Techniques for identifying a wrong choice of resolution code in connection with a ticket are also provided. The techniques include analyzing one or more previous tickets to determine a category in which a ticket belongs, determining whether a user-defined code is in variance with a system-suggested code, and sending an alert to a system administrator if the user-defined code is different than the system-suggested code. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054965 | Power Plant Life Cycle Costing System and Power Plant Life Cycle Costing Method - The power plant life cycle costing system for costing a power plant life cycle according to the present invention includes a flow chart generation unit for generating a power plant system flow chart based on specifications and cost information of major components of the power plant stored in a major component specifications storage unit, and plant specifications input from a plant specifications input unit; a power plant planning unit for calculating and generating a power plant life cycle cost, a plant efficiency and an operation plan including a maintenance plan as optimization indexes of a power plant configuration based on information from the flow chart generation unit, specifications and cost information of auxiliary devices of the power plant stored in a piping and device specifications storage unit, and optimization conditions of a power plant configuration input by an optimizing method selection unit; and an optimized result output unit for outputting a calculated value and a planned result calculated and generated by the power plant planning unit. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054966 | CONCISE COMMUNICATION OF REAL-TIME BUSINESS INFORMATION IN AN ENTERPRISE NETWORK - A method, system, computer program product, and related business methods for concisely communicating real-time business information to end users in an enterprise network is described. An integrated business system having at least ERP and CRM functionality is accessed via a browser-based user interface. A plurality of portlet windows are simultaneously displayed within a browser window, each portlet window occupying a relatively small area therein. The portlet windows are selected and arranged according to a customizable user profile for each user, and include reporting portlets displaying up-to-date business results retrieved from the integrated business system. Each reporting portlet further comprises report access links associated with at least one of the business results that, when selected by the user, invoke browser-based displays of up-to-date business data underlying those business results. Preferably, in accordance with a user-customizable alert setting stored in the user profile, regular electronic mail messages are sent to the user communicating up-to-date versions of those business results. Preferably, data labels that identify business items within the browser-based user interface and on the electronic mails are expressed in a business vernacular tuned to each user according to customizable business vernacular settings in their user profiles. | 03-03-2011 |
20110060611 | MEDIA OPTIMIZATION USING TRANSCRIPTION ANALYSIS - A system and method for optimizing the price of a call to a business and the placement of a business' information within an ad buy on a Web page are disclosed. A call is received by a client from a potential consumer of a product. The call is transcribed into a text call stream on both the consumer and the client sides of the call. Patterns are extracted from the call. The patterns extracted may be applied against patterns relevant to the client. Patterns relevant to the client may be tied to certain goals of the business of the client that indicate successful business transactions between the consumer and the client or that indicate a service provide by the client. Extracted patterns may be used to adjust the price of the call based on the client's willingness to pay for a call containing patterns relevant to the client. | 03-10-2011 |
20110060612 | System and Method for Evaluating Sustainability Projects of an Organization - According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for evaluating sustainability projects of an organization is disclosed. The method may include retrieving from a computer system a sustainability objective of the organization. In certain embodiments, the method may include retrieving from the computer system a plurality of project submissions of the organization. Each of the plurality of project submissions may be associated with the sustainability objective of the organization. The method may further include retrieving from the computer system a plurality of first scores, each first score being associated with at least one of the plurality of project submissions. In particular embodiments, the method may include generating at the computer system a displayable output representing an expected contribution of each one of the plurality of project submissions towards the sustainability of the organization. The displayable output may comprise a plurality of second scores. Each of the plurality of second scores may be associated with at least one of the plurality of project submissions. In addition, each of the plurality of second scores may be based at least in part on at least one of the plurality of first scores. The method may further include storing in the computer system an identification of one or more potential projects from among the plurality of project submissions. Each potential project may be adapted to advance the sustainability objective of the organization. At least one of the one or more potential projects may have a highest comparative second score of the plurality of second scores. | 03-10-2011 |
20110060613 | System and Method for Aligning Projects with Objectives of an Organization - According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for aligning projects with an objective of an organization is disclosed. The method may include storing in a computer system a representation of an objective of an organization. The method may further include storing in the computer system a plurality of sustainability projects of the organization. Additionally, the method may include establishing a computer-based logical link between the objective of the organization and at least some of the plurality of sustainability projects of the organization. In certain embodiments, the method may include receiving from the computer system data representing one or more respective metrics for each of the at least some of the plurality of sustainability projects of the organization. The method may further include generating one or more key performance indicators for each of the at least some of the plurality of sustainability projects of the organization. Each key performance indicator may indicate a contribution of a particular sustainability project of the organization towards achieving the objective of the organization. | 03-10-2011 |
20110060614 | System and Method for Managing Sustainability for an Organization - A computer-implemented method for managing sustainability for an organization is disclosed. The method may include storing in a computer system a plurality of characteristics of an activity. The activity may contribute to the carbon footprint of an organization. The plurality of characteristics may include a unit of measurement, an activity category, a plurality of hierarchical descriptors, and a respective multiplier for each hierarchical descriptor. The method may further include receiving from the computer system data representing a number of the unit of measurement. Additionally, the method may include receiving from the computer system data representing a first one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors. The method may further include calculating, using a processor of a computer unit, a carbon emission value based at least in part by multiplying the number of the unit of measurement by the respective multiplier of the first one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors. The method may further include storing in the computer system the carbon emission value and receiving from the computer system data representing a second one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors. The method may further include, in response to the received data representing the second one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors, automatically updating the stored carbon emission value with a recalculated carbon emission value at least in part by the processor of the computer unit multiplying the number of the unit of measurement by the respective multiplier of the second one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors. | 03-10-2011 |
20110060615 | System and Method for Managing Assessments for an Organization - According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for managing assessments for an organization is disclosed. The method may include storing in a computer system a plurality of instances of an assessment object. Each of the plurality of instances of an assessment object may be configured to track progress of a plurality of assessment attributes. The method may further include receiving an input associated with a plurality of at least a subset of the assessment attributes. Additionally, the method may include generating an assessment plan based at least in part on the received data. In certain embodiments, the method may include establishing a computer-based logical link between the assessment plan and least one sustainability project of the organization, the at least one sustainability project of the organization stored in the computer system. The method may further include receiving from the computer system data for each of the plurality of at least the subset of the assessment attributes. In various embodiments, the method may include generating using a computer unit an assessment report based at least in part on the received data for each of the plurality of at least the subset of the assessment attributes, the assessment report indicating progress of each of the plurality of at least the subset of the assessment attributes. The method may further include transferring the assessment report from the computer unit in a desired format. | 03-10-2011 |
20110060616 | System and Method for Managing Stakeholder Impact on Sustainability for an Organization - A computer-implemented method for managing stakeholder impact on sustainability for an organization is disclosed. The method may include storing a plurality of instances of a stakeholder object. Each instance may define a plurality of characteristics of a stakeholder of the organization. In certain embodiments, the characteristics may be selected from the group consisting of: a description of the stakeholder, a category of the stakeholder, a description of a relationship with the stakeholder, an owner of the relationship with the stakeholder, a description of a stakeholder investment in the organization, a first indication of an extent to which a stakeholder interest actually aligns with an organizational interest, a second indication of an extent to which the stakeholder interest is optimally aligned with the organizational interest, a description of an approval power granted to the stakeholder, an importance rating of the stakeholder relationship from a perspective of the organization; and an anticipated effect of a sustainability project of the organization on the stakeholder relationship. The method may further include establishing a computer-based logical link between at least one instance of the stakeholder object to at least one sustainability project of the organization. The method may also include generating a progress report of the sustainability project and determining that a particular stakeholder of the organization is logically linked to the sustainability project. In certain embodiments, the method may include, automatically transferring the progress report to the stakeholder of the organization, wherein the progress report is transferred in a desired format. | 03-10-2011 |
20110060617 | System and Method for Managing Sustainability for an Organization - A computer-implemented method for managing sustainability for an organization is disclosed. The method may include storing on one or more memory modules of a computer system a plurality of instances of an ecoActivity object. Each instance of the ecoActivity object may represent an activity of the organization affecting environmental sustainability. The method may further include storing a plurality of instances of an emission factor object. Each instance of the emission factor object may at least partially quantify one or more green house gas emissions as a function of one or more respective metrics. The method may include establishing a computer-based logical link between each one of the plurality of instances of the ecoActivity object and at least one of the instances of the emission factor object. In certain embodiments, the method may include receiving data representing the metric(s) for the logically linked instance(s) of the emission factor object. For each one of the plurality of instances of the ecoActivity object, the method may include calculating one or more green house gas emission quantities based at least in part by applying, for the logically linked at least one of the plurality of instances of the emission factor object, the function of the metric(s) to the received metric(s). Additionally, the method may include aggregating together at least some of the green house gas emission quantities. In various embodiments, the method may include transferring data representing the aggregation of the calculated green house gas emission quantities. | 03-10-2011 |
20110066455 | SIMPLIFIED CONFIGURATION OF TOUCHLESS BUYING - In one embodiment, controls for an agreement from a supplier are set up. The agreement includes a plurality of items for purchase. The controls may be used to determine a degree of touchlessness in the buying of the items. The controls may be configured at the agreement level. A requisition from a requester for a target item is received. In one embodiment, sourcing rules and ASLs may be searched to determine if a sourcing rule and ASL applies to the item. If so, then the sourcing rule and ASL may be used to determine an agreement. If a sourcing rule and ASL do not apply, agreements can be searched to determine an agreement for the target item. Once the agreement is determined, controls are determined from the agreement, where the controls govern the plurality of items of the agreement. | 03-17-2011 |
20110066456 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DYNAMIC PROCESS MODEL CONFIGURATION BASED ON PROCESS EXECUTION CONTEXT - Methods and systems to dynamically configure a process model based on process execution context are described. In one example embodiment, a system to dynamically configure a process model can include a context engine, a rules engine, and a business process engine. The context engine can maintain context information related to an executable business process model. The context information is dynamically extensible during execution of the executable business process model. The rules engine can obtain a relevant context form the context information. The relevant context can be associated with a step and a rule to control the step within the executable business process model. The business process engine can execute the executable business process model and can dynamically configure the executable business process model during execution based on application of the relevant context by the rules engine. | 03-17-2011 |
20110066457 | ANALYTICS INTEGRATION SERVER WITHIN A COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK FOR COMPOSING AND EXECUTING ANALYTICS APPLICATIONS IN BUSINESS LEVEL LANGUAGES - Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for building and executing analytics solutions. Such a solution may provide a comprehensive analytics solution (e.g., a risk assessment, fraud detection solution, dynamic operational risk evaluations, regulatory compliance assessments, etc.). The analytics solution may perform an analytics task using operational data distributed across a variety of independently created and governed data repositories in different departments of an organization. A framework is disclosed which allows a user (e.g., a risk analyst) to compose analytical tools that can access data from a variety of sources (both internal and external to an enterprise) and perform a variety of analytic functions. | 03-17-2011 |
20110066458 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING COMPLIANCE WITH RETAIL DISPLAY REGULATIONS ACROSS A PLURALITY OF JURISDICTIONS - Compliance with retail display regulations that retailers are subject to within a plurality of jurisdictions is managed. Retail display regulations may differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. To facilitate compliance, retail display regulations for a plurality of jurisdictions are centrally maintained. The regulations may then be used to dynamically generate retail display materials for locations across a plurality of jurisdictions with different regulatory schemes. The central storage and/or maintenance of the retail display regulations may facilitate compliance with disparate regulatory schemes that retailers are subject to based in part of retail location. Central storage of the retail display regulations may facilitate certification of compliance by regulating entities associated with the jurisdictions. | 03-17-2011 |
20110066459 | Correlated Analytics For Benchmarking In Community Shared Data - Exemplary embodiments of this invention provide a method that includes estimating an empirical distribution of a metric for a company. The method includes estimating a distribution of the metric for a plurality of companies. The method further includes determining whether the company is an outlier, based on the empirical distribution of the metric for the company and the distribution of the metric for the plurality of companies, and generating at least one recommendation based determining whether the company is an outlier. | 03-17-2011 |
20110071866 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING SUSPECT METER READS IN A PRINT ENVIRONMENT - A system for detecting suspect meter reads in a print environment may include a computing device and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for receiving historical meter read values associated with a print-related service, selecting a model set including one or more of the historical meter read values, using a predictive model to determine an anticipated meter read value and a corresponding forecast error value from the model set, determining an updated forecast error value, determining a threshold value, identifying an actual meter read value, determining an average rate associated with the actual meter read value, and flagging the actual meter read value as suspect based on a comparison of the average rate and the threshold value. | 03-24-2011 |
20110071867 | TRANSFORMATION OF DATA CENTERS TO MANAGE POLLUTION - A system and method for identifying green transformation initiatives for an organization use data for analysis, the data including at least one or more industry practice values associated with metrics for determining pollutions from greenhouse gases and organization's values associated with the metrics. One or more components in the organization producing the organization's values that are worse than the industry practice values are identified at least based on the analysis. One or more transformation initiatives are discovered, for instance, using daisy chain analysis technique, for transforming the identified one or more components to at least meet the industry practice values. Benefits associated with the one or more transformation initiatives may be also determined using a calculator module. The one or more components may be transformed by implementing the one or more transformation initiatives. | 03-24-2011 |
20110071868 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TAILORING THE DELIVERY OF HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS TO PATIENTS - A computer implemented method may be used for tailoring communications to a plurality of patients. The clinical priority of each communication, the likelihood of a patient responding to the communication if received at a particular time, and the available resources for performing the communications may be analyzed in order to prioritize and schedule the plurality of patient communications. | 03-24-2011 |
20110071869 | PROCESS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A business process or project management system provides for creation of a project or process definition which includes all activities required to complete the process as well as any dependencies, conditions, and deadlines for each activity, and participants designated to carry out the activities. Once the process is started, activities are carried out in turn when the dependencies and conditions are met, and the system updates when any activities are complete so that any activities dependent on completed activities can be started. A reporting module creates status reports for each activity which are displayed to a user such as an administrator on a user interface. Stored information on previous instances of an activity are used to predict when an activity is likely to be late and to provide alerts to users prior to starting the activity. | 03-24-2011 |
20110077985 | ARCHETYPES MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A system includes a sales tool which may provide a first portion of a functionality, an implementation tool which may provide a second portion of the functionality, a development tool which may provide a third portion of the functionality, and a normalization module which may integrate the first portion, the second portion and the third portion to provide the functionality. | 03-31-2011 |
20110077986 | DECISION COST ANALYSIS FOR ENTERPRISE STRATEGIC DECISION MANAGEMENT - A method of managing decisions. The method can include identifying decision costs expended or projected to be expended for each of a plurality of decisions in a decision network and determining whether a sum of the decision costs expended or projected to be expended exceed at least one assigned cost threshold warning level. When the sum of the decision costs expended or projected to be expended exceed the assigned cost threshold warning level, a cost warning alert can be automatically generated and electronically communicated. The cost warning alert can indicate that the cost threshold warning level has been exceeded or is projected to be exceeded. | 03-31-2011 |