Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080201190 | System and method for electronic processing of default case files - A system and method for automated processing of default case files including foreclosure and bankruptcy related documents is disclosed. The system and method increases efficiency and reduces errors in the volume processing of case files for issuing foreclosure notices and for generating various documents related to bankruptcy proceedings such as MFR and POC. The method includes receiving a default case file, inputting default information from the default case file to a computer system, the default information comprising data records and digital images from the default case file, reviewing the data records and digital images to verify the validity and accuracy of the default information, electronically signing a notice for issue, and producing the notice using a printer connected to the computer system. The system includes a database server networked to other components in the system such as workstations, printers, scanners, and other document processing equipments. The system provides high level security, such as encryption and protection from malicious code, commensurate with the requirements of a financial institution such as a bank or a mortgage lender. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201191 | DYNAMIC WORKFLOW RESOURCE AUTHENTICATION AND DISCOVERY - Techniques for dynamic workflow resource authentication and discovery are presented. A processing workflow is augmented with a dynamic resource that becomes available and is authenticated as the workflow is processed. A reference to the newly discovered resource is provided and permits tasks of the workflow to be handled by the newly discovered resource via the dynamically supplied reference. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201192 | CALCULATION APPARATUS, PROGRAM, CALCULATION SYSTEM AND CALCULATION METHOD FOR PRODUCTION PLAN - A technique that can make a flexible production plan adaptable to circumstances of a production request-issuing side. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201193 | Method of Commercializing Technology From Research Entities - Methods of business designed to commercialize technology from academic institutions, research laboratories or other early stage sources on a self-sustaining and positive cash generation basis. Methods herein provide an independent operating company the line of business of which is the process itself of commercialization of technologies for profit and cash generation endpoints in accordance with a business plan put in place for such purpose. An independent and perpetual operating company is operable to make an operating business of the commercialization projects and ventures it undertakes, making money for its own account under normal business plan from the full panoply of commercialization vehicles as needed to achieve the business plan rather than the happenstance needs of the target technologies, and generating a growth pattern in its financial metrics that will continue to enhance shareholder value in the company itself independent and apart from the projects and ventures it develops in its business. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201194 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEFINING ROUTING OF CUSTOMERS BETWEEN MERCHANTS - A server or Internet service provider computer selects a soliciting merchant and an outputting merchant based on various factors. In one embodiment, the soliciting merchant is selected is its activity rate (e.g. sales rate) is low. The outputting merchant provides offers for bonuses to customers on behalf of the soliciting merchant. The bonus is provided to the customer in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant. Thus, the soliciting merchant benefits from the increased patronage such offers encourage. | 08-21-2008 |
20080208665 | Organizational project management maturity development methods and systems - Methods and computer program products for developing an organization's project management skills through assessment of its project management maturity based on a set of organizations project management best practices is disclosed. To assess an organization's project management maturity, an assessment scope is defined within a set of organizational project management best practices where each best practice includes two or more incremental capabilities that aggregate to that best practice. Questions are selected that correspond to capabilities within the defined assessment scope and answers to the selected questions are received from one or more organizational roles. The organization's project management maturity is then assessed for the defined assessment scope responsive to the received answers in order to develop the organization's project management maturity. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208666 | Business process modeling to facilitate collaborative data submission - Technologies are described herein for modeling business processes that facilitate the collaborative submission of data in a WFM system by modeling business processes in terms of cycles and assignments. A cycle defines a scenario for the business process along with a window of time in which the business process should be executed. Assignments are work activities that are defined within each cycle. A cycle definition is created for each business cycle within a business process. Each cycle definition includes data defining a recurrence pattern for the business cycle and data defining a time period in which one or more contributors to the business cycle may contribute data. Each cycle definition also includes one or more assignment definitions that define the scope, contributors, approvers, validation rules, deadlines, and data forms that should be used for the assignment. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208667 | Method for multi-sourcing technology based services - A computer implemented method of assigning responsibility for multi-sourced technology based services, the method including the steps of: defining a plurality of service delivery functions, defining collections of services that are to be provided by several service providers, providing metrics associating the service delivery functions with the collections of services, and inserting the metrics into a model to indicate which service providers are assigned responsibility for the service delivery functions. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208668 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DYNAMICALLY ALLOCATING MONETIZATION RIGHTS AND ACCESS AND OPTIMIZING THE VALUE OF DIGITAL CONTENT - A method and apparatus dynamically allocates monetization access and optimizes the value of digital content by managing the access rights and monetization rights, delivery, measurement and by accounting for advertising, promotion and digital messaging within, over, and around digital content across a distributed network of business entities and a distributed network of delivery platforms. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208669 | HOTEL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A hotel system and method is described. In an exemplary embodiment, a hotel is located on one or more floors of a building that is primarily used for purposes other than lodging services, and the size of the hotel and/or its facilities and/or services are scaled to primarily meet the needs and demands of the tenants and visitors of the building. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208670 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND STORAGE MEDIUM FOR PERFORMING BUSINESS PROCESS MODELING - Exemplary embodiments include a method for performing business process modeling. The method includes identifying capabilities, activities, and requirements associated with a business problem or an opportunity. The activities are operable for implementing the capabilities and the capabilities are operable for resolving the business problem or exploiting the opportunity. For each of the activities, the method includes selecting at least one corresponding process module that includes listings of attributes applicable to the activities, selecting at least one of the attributes from the listings, and defining transition artifacts for integrating selected process modules. The method also includes compiling the transition artifacts, selected attributes, and selected activities with corresponding process modules, and generating a business process model as a result of the compilation. | 08-28-2008 |
20080215405 | COMPONENT BASED APPLICATIONS RUNNING IN A COMMON SHELL - Applications are provided in as usable and intuitive tasks or subtasks that can be integrated with business solutions. The tasks or subtasks can be reutilized in a code or definition of the application, mitigating the amount of code and memory needed to be installed on a user device. In addition, the tasks or subtasks can be utilized across applications, further conserving device resources. The user can be presented with the tasks or subtasks in a logical flow or progression, allowing for ease of completion of the tasks. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215406 | Scheduling Resources for Airline Flights - Generally, there is provided an airline operations computing system and graphical user interface features that enable users to plan and conduct airline or other types of transportation operations effectively and time efficiently, and in addition, to do so in the face of disruptions due to weather, sick crew members, aircraft in need of repair, and the like. For example, a method and computer program product are provided for scheduling a resource to a scheduled airline flight or other transportation operation. The scheduling of the resource involves receiving a user input that associates a visual display of a selected flight or other transport pairing with a visual display of a selected candidate resource. In addition, a user interface display is provided that includes a listing area and a schedule area for performing scheduling functions. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215407 | Resource Scheduling with Rule Violation Feedback - Generally, an airline operations computing system accomplishes rule checking in an efficient and useful manner and provides functionality that allows multiple different users to accomplish schedule changes in a manner that minimizes conflicts between different schedulers. In addition, an airline operations computing system includes a common rules engine that is used by multiple different optimizer and decision support systems of the airline operations computing system. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215408 | Multiple User Resource Scheduling - Generally, an airline operations computing system accomplishes rule checking in an efficient and useful manner and provides functionality that allows multiple different users to accomplish schedule changes in a manner that minimizes conflicts between different schedulers. In addition, an airline operations computing system includes a common rules engine that is used by multiple different optimizer and decision support systems of the airline operations computing system. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215409 | ITERATIVE RESOURCE SCHEDULING - A request is received to accomplish a task by using a plurality of resources. Once the task is received, attributes of the resources are retrieved from a memory including constraints associated with those resources. These constraints can include hard constraints and soft constraints. A first schedule is then created using a subset of the plurality of resources that complies with each task and resource hard constraint. A score based on the degree of compliance of each soft constraint is determined for the first schedule score. Thereafter the first schedule is modified to form a second schedule, again complying with each hard constraint. A second schedule score is determined associated with the second schedule. These scores are compared so as to determine and select the more optimal schedule. The process continues iteratively until modifications of the schedule no longer yield an improving schedule. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215410 | LARGE INVENTORY-SERVICE OPTIMIZATION IN CONFIGURE-TO-ORDER SYSTEMS - A manufacturing process is migrated from an existing operation to a configure-to-order (CTO) system. As the CTO operation will eliminate the “machine-type model” (MTM) inventory of the existing operation, the emphasis is shifted to the components, or “building blocks”, which will still follow the build-to-stock scheme, due to their long leadtimes, and hence still require inventory. The solution involves an inventory-service trade-off of the new CTO system, resulting in performance gains, in terms of reduced inventory cost and increased service level. Other benefits include better forecast accuracy through parts commonality and risk-pooling, and increased customer demand, as orders will no longer be confined within a restricted set of pre-configured MTMs. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215411 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PREDICTING RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS FOR SERVICE ENGAGEMENTS - A method and system for predicting resource requirements of a current service engagement by modeling records of past service engagements to create and classify templates of service resource usage. This is done by clustering past engagements into groups having similar time series requirements for service resources. A service resource template for the current service engagement is generated from a classified template by using characteristics of the current service engagement to select a group of which the current service engagement is a likely member. The corresponding template is then customized to fit the characteristics of the current service engagement. The invention may be implemented using Hidden Markov Models. An aspect of the invention is use of dynamic time warping to quantify dissimilarity between engagement sequences prior to fitting Hidden Markov Models. Another aspect of the invention is removal of outliers from the clustered groups. | 09-04-2008 |
20080221958 | Techniques to manage information for dynamic reports using time periods for a business model - Techniques to manage information for dynamic reports are described. An apparatus may comprise a business planning application module to update a current period reference to a time member of a time dimension, generate a rolling data entry form with actual data members and forecast data members based on the current period reference, and set a data locking mode for the actual data members and a data access mode for the forecast data members. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221959 | System and architecture for managing distributed design chains - Systems, architectures, and data structures are described which are used to manage distributed design chains, specifically for domains in which data reside in multiple applications and are linked through complex interrelationships. The design chains or design networks integrated by the invention may include multiple companies in multiple sites collaborating to design and develop a new product. The invention is intended to integrate seamlessly and transparently with existing, diverse legacy applications, which include inter-linked data relevant to the design, thereby addressing the needs identified above. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221960 | Sub-Problem Optimization of Supply Chain Planning Problems - A system and method is disclosed for optimizing supply chain planning problems associated with a supply chain network. The system includes a supply chain planner coupled with one or more supply chain entities. The supply chain planner determines a supply chain plan for managing the flow of one or more items through the supply chain network. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221961 | ONLINE COLLABORATIVE GOAL MARKETPLACE - A computer-implemented, online collaborative goal marketplace is provided. The marketplace may include a server programmed with the following modules: a goal creation module, a contribution module, and/or a solution proposal module. The goal creation module may be configured to enable participants to create and publish goals. The contribution module may be configured to receive from contributors and manage contributions of resources to help achieve the goal. The solution proposal module may be configured to receive from solution providers and manage solution proposals, to help accomplish aspects of the goal. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221962 | Method for Fair Sharing Limited Resources Between Multiple Customers - The invention disclosed comprises a method for encouraging fair sharing of limited material inventory and capacity between multiple customers when creating a production plan the invention allocates resources among competing demands in a linear programming production planning system by first classifying the demands into fair share sets, wherein all demands within each set have the same priority, calculating the cumulative demand for each resource within each set, and then allocating the resources to the demands in order of fair share set priority. If, during the allocating process, the supply of a given resource cannot satisfy a given cumulative demand of a given set, the given resource is allocated proportionally (e.g., evenly or according to usage proportions) among all demands that contribute to the given cumulative demand within the given set. This is an advanced planning system for optimizing established planning objectives (e.g., customer service, short lead times, low inventory, and prioritized allocation of supply and capacity) to compute a feasible production plan for the enterprise. | 09-11-2008 |
20080228544 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DEVELOPING AN AUDIENCE OF BUYERS AND OBTAINING THEIR BEHAVIORAL PREFERENCES USING EVENT KEYWORDS - A method and system are disclosed that serve content relevant to a participant in an event in order to drive behaviors that lead to meetings between the participant and at least one of a plurality of business entities. The business entity can compile profiles of participants attending an event based on behaviors associated with each of the plurality of participants. The business entity can then define characteristics that enable such business entity to create links associated with a content message directed each participant of the event. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228545 | Live multimedia product catalog system that integrates with on-line stores - A live multimedia product catalog system that integrates with online stores includes at least one on-line provider of advertisements or online goods, a module to make and edit catalogs, a module to publish advertisements or online goods to each catalog, a network management module and desktop application programs to retrieve the multimedia catalogs automatically and display the contents. The live catalogs can be put on websites, or download to desktops, or put on portable storage medium. These catalogs only needs to be downloaded once, their contents are automatically updated. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228546 | BUSINESS PROCESS ESTIMATING PROGRAM, BUSINESS PROCESS ESTIMATING METHOD, AND BUSINESS PROCESS ESTIMATING APPARATUS - A business process estimating method, apparatus, and program for estimating a process of a business transaction utilizing an information system. The business process estimating method includes specifying a non-operation interval for extracting an information system non-operation interval in accordance with an access log of access to the information system, thereby to specify a business process corresponding to the extracted information system non-operation interval and to specify the information system non-operation interval. The method also includes distributing a non-operation interval time period for distributing a time period of the information system non-operation interval, which has been specified in the specifying the non-operation interval as process time periods of previous and subsequent business processes respectively correlated with previous and subsequent information system non-operation intervals with respect to the information system non-operation interval. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228547 | Intelligent Free-Time Search - Techniques are disclosed for performing free-time searches that exploit information of the type used with electronic calendars. By leveraging advanced calendaring system information and using location, other context information such as corporate policy, legal constraints, and technology constraints, and user-specific preferences to provide a complete picture of a person's availability, the functionality (and therefore the value) of scheduling systems in increased, resulting in an ability to schedule meetings with more accuracy and less rework. Various allowable participation types for meeting invitees may be specified, and each invitee's availability is determined accordingly. Location-sensitive travel times (including optional user-specific travel time adjustments) are used in preferred embodiments when in-person participation is required. | 09-18-2008 |
20080235070 | Method and System For Processing and/or Managing Typesetting Orders For Advertisements in Print and/or Online Media and Corresponding Computer Program and Corresponding Computer-Readable Storage Medium and Data Management Method For Distributed Object-Oriented Workflow Systems - The invention is directed to a method and a system for processing and/or managing typesetting orders for advertisements in print and/or online media, as well as a corresponding computer program and a corresponding computer-readable storage medium, which can be used, in particular, to provide greater flexibility and automation of the entire production process of digital advertisement designs for press, print and the other media enterprises. | 09-25-2008 |
20080243575 | System and Method for Dynamically Allocating Human Resources to a Project Plan - A system and method for dynamically allocating human resources to a project plan is provided. Audit data associated with legacy planning processes may be analyzed in order to estimate an amount of work effort, a cost, or other information associated with various resources (e.g., the resource may be assigned a relative value based on skills maturity, experience, overall repertoire, or other factors). As such, a more accurate assessment of a given project plan may be created, thereby providing various advantages, such as minimizing risks, improving confidence in estimates or proposals, improving return on investment calculations, maximizing profitability per project, or effectively identifying which projects should be allocated to skilled workers, entry level or lower skilled workers, or otherwise. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243576 | System and method of allocating an incoming order to standing orders - A method of allocating a quantity of an incoming order for a product develops a value that indicates a portion of the incoming order this is to be allocated using a FIFO algorithm and allocates a first portion of the incoming order to standing orders using the FIFO algorithm. The method further allocates a second portion of the incoming order to standing orders using a pro-rata algorithm, wherein the step of allocating the second portion leaves a remaining quantity of the incoming order. In addition, the method allocates the remaining portion to the standing orders using a FIFO algorithm. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243577 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSOR DRIVEN CONCEPT AUCTION - A method for executing a concept auction is provided that includes inputting information for one or more concepts; storing the concepts in a memory device; assigning a number of shares to each concept; assigning a bidding unit to each participant bidding on a selected concept; and determining the results of the auction based on bid information provided by each participant. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243578 | ORGANIZATIONAL SETTINGS FOR A PRICE PLANNING WORKBENCH - A method for defining a price planning schedule according to one or more organization settings. The method includes receiving a first organization setting for at least one article. The first organization setting is configured to be a default organization setting. The method also includes receiving a pricing level for the first organization setting for the at least one article and receiving at least a second organization setting for the at least one article. Further, the method includes receiving a second pricing level for the second organization setting and generating a first price planning schedule based on the first organization setting and the second organization setting for the at least one article. The method also includes receiving a pricing signal from a slow seller management system and adjusting at least one of the pricing level and the second pricing level based on the pricing signal. The method includes generating a second price planning schedule based on adjusting at least one of the pricing level and the second pricing level. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243579 | Methods and Apparatus for Coordinating and Selecting Protocols for Resources Acquisition from Multiple Resource Managers - Techniques are disclosed for allocation of resources under the control of resource managers and the choice and coordination of resource acquisition protocols to communicate with these resource managers. The resource managers may be distributed and heterogeneous. For example, a technique for use by a service provider for allocating one or more resources from multiple resources associated with multiple resource managers based on at least one service agreement offer from a service client comprises the following steps/operations. At least one service agreement offer is obtained. A resource allocation is automatically determined based on the obtained service agreement offer. The automated step/operation of determining the resource allocation comprises: (i) coordinating selection of a resource acquisition protocol from among multiple resource acquisition protocols for use in communicating with the multiple resource managers to acquire one or more resources associated therewith; and (ii) evaluating a performance associated with one or more of the multiple resource acquisition protocols. | 10-02-2008 |
20080249824 | Method and System for Analysis of Financial Investment in Human Capital Resources - A method and system for analyzing an organization's investment in human capital resources is provided to assist in improving the organization's overall financial performance. The method includes receiving inputted data retrieved from common accounting records regularly maintained in connection with operation of the organization. Further, the present invention provides a novel approach particularly relevant for precise analysis of people-intensive organizations, such as service-providing organizations. The approach involves calculation of values for newly defined HCP, ROHS and PS metrics. Aggregation of the metric values into a single index value metric facilitates benchmarking of an organization against itself and others. A report is provided that identifies factors most responsible for influencing the overall index, which assists the organization's management in determining how to implement change in the organization that will improve the metrics and thus the overall profitability of the organization. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249825 | INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MAINTENANCE SYSTEM FRAMEWORK - A strategic framework enables improvements in IT system maintenance by taking IT system information as input and outputting useful metrics and/or proposed modifications to achieve efficiency improvements. The strategic framework also can be described as an IT maintenance system assessment and modification tool. The described framework encompasses strategies for effective IT maintenance and improvement. The framework addresses the effectiveness of IT maintenance by focusing on, for example, technology, operations, human and/or non-human resources, and governance solutions. One or more of these dimensions can be assessed and evaluated, for example, to discover and process useful metric information. From the results of a described IT maintenance system assessment, which provides metrics for evaluating efficiency and improvability of IT maintenance systems, an overall roadmap of solutions can be developed. This can be used to form an end-to-end solution for better IT maintenance and portfolio spending in an organization. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249826 | System and method for integrated asset protection - Provided is a system and method for monitoring in real time the status of assets of a resource distribution system and enacting a change in the resource utilization in order to protect the assets before they reach a failed state. The system may include sensors, a central control system, and a demand dispatch system. The system and method may protect individual or holistic resource distribution system assets by monitoring the operating conditions of those assets and governing the aggregated resource utilization within the governed service area. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249827 | System to Enable Dynamic Hubs for Improving Supply-Chain Resource Management - This invention describes a dynamic hub system in which a transportation hub is dynamically formed by tractors that carry special design trailers. The location coordinates of the hub are conveyed a-priori to individual tractors that are going to participate in hub formation. Once the subject tractors arrive at the hub coordinates, they park and align themselves according to a pre-specified orientation and order. This information is transmitted to each truck from the control center via a wireless communication system such as GPRS. The novel electro-mechanic design of trailers allows trucks to form a portable hub, when get together. Dynamic hub system spares carriers from high cost of fixed hubs, and increases operational efficiency by lowering asset consolidation and redistribution times. | 10-09-2008 |
20080255906 | Animal Management System - A method of managing animals includes receiving animals to be kept at an animal management location for an undetermined time before being removed at a shipping date. The animals area organized in several arrival groups. A future weight estimate and a future backfat estimate are generated for each of the animals. Each of the estimates is generated using at least one physical measurement of the animal and an equation for making estimations for a single animal. Based on the future weight estimate and the future backfat estimate, each of the animals is sorted into one of several predetermined sort groups for separate management at the animal management location. The predetermined sort groups are different from the arrival groups and are associated with different predefined shipping dates. A system for managing animals includes a measurement component and an estimation component that generates the future weight estimate and the future backfat estimate. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255907 | Class object wrappers for document object model (DOM) elements for project task management system for managing project schedules over a network - A client-server based project schedule management system comprises multiple editors accessible through a web browser to perform various scheduling tasks by members of a project. Client-executable code is generated by the server for the client, which is passed to the client along with schedule-related information for populating the respective editors. The client executes the server-generated code to display the respective editor with pertinent information populated therein, and to manage and maintain any new or updated information in response to user interactions with the editor. Rows of tasks are represented by corresponding objects, where editor elements are object attributes which are directly accessible by the respective objects. Database queries are generated by the server based on constant strings containing placeholders which are replaced with information used by the query. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255908 | GENERIC FRAMEWORK FOR RESOURCE MODELING - Provided is a generic framework for resource modeling to assist in scheduling tasks. More specifically the model provides a structure and method for receiving a task having at least one resource requirement. Upon receipt of such a task, a set of compliant resources are retrieved. A graph is generated to indicate one or more resource paths, each path running through a subset of the compliant resources. Each resource is represented as a node on the graph, and each resource has at least one characteristic. A characteristic common to all nodes on each path is then selected and plotted upon a continuum. Each path is then evaluated to determine path viability. Path viability is indicated by a common intersection upon the continuum of the selected characteristic for all nodes along the path. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255909 | PRODUCT, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DYNAMICALLY CHANGING THE EXECUTION SEQUENCE OF STEPS OR TASKS IN A COMPUTERIZED PROCESS - An invention is disclosed for dynamically changing the predefined execution sequence of steps or tasks in a computerized process while it is being performed by permitting one or more task(s) to be specified as necessary when other task(s) have been completed. Specifically, a product, method and system is provided for using a “workflow engine” software program acting in combination with a “decision-making layer” program interface between the workflow engine and the process model to determine the normal or (“default”) next step in the process and all other possible process steps that can be permissibly completed after execution of the current step or task. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255910 | Method and System for Adaptive Project Risk Management - A computer implemented method for improving project risk management based on (a) a quantitative analysis of risks affecting activities, i.e., the root factors leading to cost and time overruns on an activity by activity basis, and (b) an optimization of the resources allocation to each activity in the project plan, is employed to maximize the probability of completing projects on time and within-budget. The method can be employed prior to proceeding with one or more projects, but is also advantageous in that it is adaptive in the sense that more information can be learned during the course of a project about the risk factors present in the project, and this information is used to enable dynamically re-allocating resources to ensure a better outcome given an updated risk profile. Preferably, a Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) is used to capture how risk factors identified by project managers influence individual activity durations. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255911 | Method and system for adaptive closed loop resource management - A method and system provide closed loop management control of multiple sensors that receive kinematic, classification and search measurement inputs regarding targets being tracked by the sensors during a measurement cycle in addition to performance requirements inputs. The kinematic, classification and search needs and gains are computed by the system resulting in corresponding entropy outputs which are combined to provide outputs defining joint information need and gains. Based on the joint information need and gains outputs, the system pairs each track with a possible sensor for making measurements during the next measurement cycle and repeats the process this process until all performance goals have been achieved for optimally satisfying the information need requirements for accurate target detection, tracking and classification. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255912 | Framework System and Method for Determining Deliverables Required to Implement a Technology-Enabled Business Change - Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for determining and implementing business changes. In one embodiment, a set of stages in a business change process are defined. A set of deliverables are also defined corresponding to each stage. A set of components are defined corresponding to each deliverable. And, a set of supporting assets are defined corresponding to each component. The various items may be view via a graphical user interface and may be selected to provide a customized plan for providing the deliverables to implement the business change. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255913 | PEGGING RESOURCES TO SHIPMENTS IN A PRE-EXISTING PRODUCTION PLAN - In software systems for resource-constrained production planning (RCPP), it is often beneficial to determine a detailed association, or “pegging”, between the resources and the shipments that are enabled by those resources. Presented here is a software-implemented method for constructing a pegging of a production plan for an RCPP problem. The method is called “Pegging By Explosion” (PBE). This method, takes a feasible production plan and reconstructs it, using its own specialized incremental allocation technique. A Pegging By Monitoring technique is applied to this reconstruction in order to produce the pegging. The reconstruction is accomplished by a specialized “explosion” technique related to the explosion technique of Material Requirements Planning (MRP). | 10-16-2008 |
20080255914 | System and a Method for Managing Building Projects - A system and method for comprehensive data integration and management of large-scale building projects. The building projects comprised of a planning module ( | 10-16-2008 |
20080255915 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADVERTISEMENT MANAGEMENT - The present invention relates to systems and methods for optimizing and managing advertising campaigns. The method of the present invention comprises storing one or more advertisement data structures associated with an ad group data structure in the ad group data structure. One or more ad group data structures associated with a campaign data structure are stored in an ad campaign data structure. Additionally, one or more ad campaign data structures associated with an advertised property are stored in an account data structure. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255916 | System and method for forecasting demanufacturing requirements - Demanufacturing workload is forecast based on anticipated volumes of equipment to be disassembled and/or salvaged, as well as equipment complexity factors determined by disassembly prototyping. Staffing requirements are unique for each customer and are based on the number of pounds needed to be worked during each month and the associated complexity (work content multiplier) for that customer's typical or expected returns. | 10-16-2008 |
20080262890 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTING AND SCHEDULING CORRECTIVE ACTIONS FOR AUTOMATED STORAGE MANAGEMENT - Disclosed is a storage management framework that integrates corrective action plans output from multiple different types of planning tools, sorts the different corrective action plans based on utility and risk values and outputs a time-based schedule for implementing one or more of the corrective action plans to resolve identified current and anticipated workload service level objective (SLO) violations. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262891 | POLICY BASED DISTRIBUTION MODELING VIA INFORMATION MODELS - The method by which an information distribution system distributes information to subscribers is controlled by user profiles. A user profile is automatically generated by a profile generator based on information known about the user and a plurality of policies detailing what kind of users is eligible to receive what kind of information. User information and policy definitions are found on a user record store and a policy store connected to the profile generator, and the generated user profile is stored on a user profile store. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262892 | Method of Hedging Retail Transactions for Fuel - A method of executing a transaction related to the purchase of fuel. A contract is entered into by a purchaser with a card service provider or financial institution for a certain amount of fuel at a fixed or capped price offered over a predetermined duration. The fuel is purchased from a retail merchant. A payment is made or received by the purchaser depending on the difference between a prevailing retail index price and the fixed or capped price. A premium may be paid for entering into a capped price arrangement. The fixed and capped prices may be related to a retail index price at or before the time the contract is entered into. In another embodiment, the method includes receiving retail price index data for fuel sales and determining fuel sale contract criteria, with a fuel sale contract proposed for a purchaser. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262893 | Multifactorial Optimization System and Method - A method for providing unequal allocation of rights among agents while operating according to fair principles, comprising assigning a hierarchal rank to each agent; providing a synthetic economic value to a first set of agents at the a high level of the hierarchy; allocating portions of the synthetic economic value by the first set of agents to a second set of agents at respectively different hierarchal rank than the first set of agents; and conducting an auction amongst agents using the synthetic economic value as the currency. A method for allocation among agents, comprising assigning a wealth generation function for generating future wealth to each of a plurality of agents, communicating subjective market information between agents, and transferring wealth generated by the secure wealth generation function between agents in consideration of a market transaction. The method may further comprise the step of transferring at least a portion of the wealth generation function between agents. | 10-23-2008 |
20080270211 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MODIFYING A MEETING ATTENDEE LIST OF AN EMAIL CALENDAR APPLICATION - A method for updating a list of attendees for a meeting scheduled by a meeting organizer through a user interface of an electronic calendar presented on a display of a system, the system being coupled to respective attendee systems of attendees of the meeting over a network, the method comprising: distributing the list of attendees to the attendee systems; receiving a signal indicating whether a request message from an attendee system is required to request permission for the attendee system to at least one of add and remove one or more selected attendees from the list of attendees; if the request message is required: receiving the request message from the attendee system; presenting the request message to the meeting organizer on the display with a choice of responses for responding to the request message; and, receiving a signal selecting a response from the choice of responses; wherein the choice of responses has an accept response which, when selected, causes the list of attendees to be updated in accordance with the request message to produce an updated list of attendees. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270212 | METHOD, APPARATUS OR SOFTWARE FOR MANAGING A DATA PROCESSING PROCESS - A method, apparatus and software is disclosed for managing a data processing process in the form of a workflow, where activities in the workflow can use services or sub-processes to complete their task. A policy is associated with such activities to indicate how the data processing process should manage the situation where an activity's performance is not acceptable. This includes a policy for replacing or substituting the service or sub-process. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270213 | Process risk estimation indication - An automatic process outputs a activity failure indicator indicating the likelihood of project failure, a delay indicator indicating the likelihood of project delay, a human resource shortage indicator indicating the likelihood of a lack of human resources and an infrastructure shortage indicator indicating the likelihood of a shortage of infrastructure resources. | 10-30-2008 |
20080275750 | Method and system for processing and communicating corporate action events - Providing for processing and communicating corporate action events and any associated elections. These systems and methods enable straight through processing of corporate action events, including events requiring the election of optional events by a security holder. These systems and methods would receive and process data regarding corporate action events. These data would be processed and notifications sent to affected security holders. For events that require the security holder to make an election, the systems and methods may receive and process those elections. The elections would then be used to implement the resulting outcome. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention would employ XML messaging in the automation process. The systems and methods may also include a process that can identify and, if possible, fix an exception to a message or data stream. Also, an asset servicing portal may be used for communicating notifications and elections. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275751 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSESSING THE STATUS OF WORK WAITING FOR SERVICE - The present invention provides a system and method for assessing the status of work waiting for service in a work queue or a work pool. Work items are placed in the work queue or work pool and have a service time goal. The work items in the work queue or work pool are scanned and a required queue position for each work item is calculated according to the amount of time remaining prior to the expiration of the service time goal and weighted advance time for servicing of work items in the work queue or pool. An array of counters has elements which correspond to required queue positions. Upon the calculation of the required queue position for a work item, the counter corresponding to the required queue position is incremented. When all of the work items are scanned, the array of counters is analyzed to predict a future state of the work queue or work pool. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275752 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSESSING THE STATUS OF WORK WAITING FOR SERVICE - The present invention provides a system and method for assessing the status of work waiting for service in a work queue or a work pool. Work items are placed in the work queue or work pool and have a service time goal. The work items in the work queue or work pool are scanned and a required queue position for each work item is calculated according to the amount of time remaining prior to the expiration of the service time goal and weighted advance time for servicing of work items in the work queue or pool. An array of counters has elements which correspond to required queue positions. Upon the calculation of the required queue position for a work item, the counter corresponding to the required queue position is incremented. When all of the work items are scanned, the array of counters is analyzed to predict a future state of the work queue or work pool. | 11-06-2008 |
20080275753 | System and method for brokering the sale of internet advertisement inventory as discrete traffic blocks of segmented internet traffic. - A management system brokers, between a seller and a buyer, at least a portion of the seller's inventory of advertisement impressions that the seller can render within a web page of internet traffic. The management system comprises a traffic block definition tool adapted to define traffic block parameters for at least two discrete traffic blocks of the advertisement placement. The traffic block parameters for each discrete traffic block comprise a volume parameter and a duration parameter. A sales management tool is adapted to associate advertisement content and a buyer compensation parameter to each salable event. An order fulfillment system: i) directs placement of highest yielding advertisement content if, for each discrete traffic block, a delivered volume of sales events is higher than its minimum fulfillment threshold; and ii) if, for any discrete traffic block, delivered volume of saleable events lower than its minimum fulfillment threshold, directs placement of the advertisement content associated with that discrete traffic block. | 11-06-2008 |
20080281660 | System, Method and Apparatus for Outsourcing Management of One or More Technology Infrastructures - The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for outsourcing management of one or more technology infrastructures having two or more technology elements by collecting data from the technology elements using one or more interface rules and a metadata dictionary stored in a data repository wherein each technology infrastructure belongs to a separate entity and is remotely located with respect to a management entity, analyzing the collected data and initiating one or more automated processes based on the analyzed data, one or more thresholds and one or more management rules stored in the data repository. Note that this invention can be implemented using a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium wherein the steps are preformed by one or more code segments. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281661 | Real-time Advertisement Displaying System and Method thereof - A method for displaying advertisements in a real-time manner includes the step of getting an external information having one of the image data and the audio data, the step of managing the external data, the step of generating triggered messages, the step of displaying the advertisements according to the triggered messages corresponding to the external data, and the step of recording a number of displayed times of the advertisements. With the abovementioned method, sights of observers may be significantly attracted by displayed advertisements. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281662 | Inventory and revenue maximization method and system - A method is provided for enterprise management and bundling of radio, outdoor and entertainment inventory to achieve maximum revenue on perishable products. An electronic data-mart | 11-13-2008 |
20080281663 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SCHEDULING THE DISCHARGE OF DISTRIBUTED POWER STORAGE DEVICES AND FOR LEVELIZING DISPATCH PARTICIPATION - Disclosed is a computerized method for dispatching energy from distributed resources in a discharge event so that the energy stored in individual devices is levelized, or so that an operator request is met. Evaluation of event parameters may be deferred. The method may be utilized to dispatch energy from plug-in electric vehicles. Systems and methods to account for electricity dispatched to or from electric vehicles are disclosed. Systems and methods for incentivizing consumers to participate in a dispatch event or curtail energy use are disclosed. | 11-13-2008 |
20080281664 | System and method for managing use and availability of equipment - A system and method is disclosed for managing use and availability of equipment on a jobsite. The system includes a group of equipment units being available to be reserved and/or used by pre-approved users. A control panel is provided on each of the units of equipment to facilitate operation of the corresponding unit associated therewith. At least a first indicator is included with each of the control panels for displaying an indication whether the corresponding unit is reserved. At least one input receiving device is included with each of the control panels for inputting authorization input provided by a pre-approved user. At least one memory device is included with each of the control panels. A processor is included with each of the control panels adapted to verify the authorization input through comparison of a list of authorized inputs stored in the memory device with the authorization input. Once the authorization input is verified, the system authorizes the pre-approved user to reserve the corresponding unit. | 11-13-2008 |
20080288316 | System and Method for Passive Event Scheduling Using a Moderating Engine - A method, system and program are provided for moderating the automated scheduling of meetings and their respective participants. Input actions are received resulting in the origination of a meeting, which is then assigned a hierarchical prioritization value that is cross referenced to the meeting moderator's hierarchical ranking parameters, which are contextually referenced to a hierarchical directory system. Candidate meeting participants are selected for the meeting and their availability information is retrieved. Comparison operations are then performed against the priority ranking of the meeting, the meeting participant's availability information, and the respective hierarchical ranking parameters of the meeting moderator and candidate meeting participants. Optimum scheduling for the meeting is determined and scheduling conflicts are identified. Conflicting meetings are pre-empted if they have a lower prioritization value or if they were originated by a moderator with lower hierarchical ranking parameters. Affected participants are notified of the preemptions and their reassignment to the newly-originated meeting. The meeting is conducted and meeting status information is communicated by the scheduling moderation system. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288317 | Resource Demand Capacity Mechanism - A computer-executed method for allocating resources is described. Data representative of target percentages of time for a plurality of project activities is received where the target percentages add to 100%. For each target percentage of each project activity, data representative of an amount of the target percentage that at least one of a plurality of individuals performs the corresponding project activity is received. Data representative of a plurality of projects is then received. Data representative of availability of the at least one of the plurality of individuals is received and a predicted need of the at least one of the plurality of individuals during the duration of the project is determined. Data representative of an adjustment to the determined predicted need is received and data representative of the adjustment to the determined predicted need is outputted. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288318 | SMART TRAM SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING - A system and method for providing mass transit is disclosed. The system is able to dispatch a vehicle to a person in response to their contacting a central controller. The system can adjust their route depending on the needs of the person and/or persons who are using the system. The system can place a track in an urban area without adding to the congestion that already exists within the area. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288319 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERACTING WITH PARTICIPANTS OF A FUTURE EVENT - A system and method for conducting on-line meetings that includes functionality for scheduling and calendaring on-line meetings or events. The system functionality for scheduling and calendaring on-line meetings or events includes enhanced functions for specifying actions to be performed at the time of the meeting and rendering the nature of such actions contingent upon the members attending a scheduled meeting. | 11-20-2008 |
20080294482 | Personalized Electronic Meeting Invitations - Personalized meeting invitations, which may be used by electronic calendar applications (which may also be referred to as “calendar applications”, “calendaring applications”, or “calendar scheduling systems”). Using techniques disclosed herein, a meeting can be conceptually viewed as multiple smaller meetings, which are also referred to herein as “submeetings”, and a personalized meeting invitation sent to each invitee reflects that invitee's required presence at the meeting or an individual submeeting thereof. Optionally, personalized meeting invitations may also be used for invitees whose presence at a submeeting is optional. When an invitee accepts a personalized meeting invitation, the submeeting is placed on the invitee's electronic calendar, showing the invitee as unavailable during the corresponding time slot for the submeeting. Other people viewing the invitee's calendar can then see an accurate view of the invitee's availability. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294483 | FREE TIME PRIORITY FOR CALENDAR SCHEDULERS - A method, apparatus and computer program product for schedules common time intervals and reserves free time for a plurality of users in a network environment. An initial free time block is reserved, including corresponding user-defined time reallocation parameters. In the event of a potentially conflicting event arising, parameters of the potentially conflicting event are compared with the requested time block to determine if and how the reserved time block can be apportioned into at least one reallocated new time block. Reapportioning can occur if the parameter of the potentially conflicting event does not violate the corresponding user-defined time reallocation parameters. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294484 | System for optimizing transportation scheduling and inventory management of bulk product from supply locations to demand locations - An optimization system for transportation scheduling and inventory management of a bulk product from supply locations to demand locations is provided. The system has a mathematical model containing mathematical programming equations. In one embodiment, the objective function of the mathematical model is to minimize a cost basis of the product transported. The system also has a database system for data input that interfaces with the mathematical model. The last component of the system is a mathematical optimization solver that solves the equations provided by the mathematical model after the mathematical model receives data from the database system. As a result, the optimization system provides optimized or simulated results for the input data. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294485 | System, method and program for supporting creating a business process - A system supports creating and managing a business process model which creates a business process by: acquiring, based on a selected business, from a business element list that includes a business process template having a basic region in which processing contents are constant for each business and variable regions in which processing defined by a business element vary, as well as business elements included in a business process model, a business process template and a business element corresponding to the selected business; retrieving, based on the selected business element, a business process component that constitutes a portion of the business process model; and allocating the retrieved business process component to a variable region included in the acquired business process template. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294486 | METHOD FOR SUBSTITUTION OF EMPLOYEES IN A SERVICE ENGAGEMENT - The substitution of employees in a service engagement is a computer based method designed to consider a set of attributes that describe the resource capabilities required for delivering a services engagement and identify the actual real-world human assets that can be substituted and/or matched to these attributes. The method will produce an allocation plan that provides the set of permissible substitutes for a given resource demand, given a set of allowable substitute resources for a particular resource attribute, and substitution and matching rules for the given resource demand. A set of metrics is created that identify which substitutions are best relative to the ideal match of resources to the demand. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294487 | 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 presentations of media in a monitored establishment, a floor layout map of a monitored establishment is displayed a medium profile associated with a medium presented at a location on the floor layout map is presented in response to receiving a user selection of the location on the floor layout map. The example method also involves storing a media type classification code, a media characteristic identifier code, and location information indicative of the location on the floor layout map in association with the medium profile. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294488 | SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A method of transporting commodities in a supply chain management system including a supply chain. The method includes providing a database and a network in communication with the database, which is accessible by at least one member of the supply chain via the network. The method also includes providing a container and supporting one or more commodities using the container, assigning at least one sensor to the commodities, sensing a condition of the commodities and generating a signal indicative of the commodity condition, identifying information related to the commodities, acquiring data related to identifying the commodity information, distributing the signal and the acquired data over the network, storing the signal and the acquired data in the database, monitoring the commodities via the network, and managing at least one of storage and transport of the commodities through the supply chain based on the signal and the acquired data. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294489 | SCALABLE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS - A method of sharing a satellite communication system having a common equipment includes billing a first user for sending a first message using the common equipment over a first satellite link, billing a second user for sending a second message using the common equipment over a second satellite link, wherein the first satellite link is different than the second satellite link, billing a first network operator for billing the first user, and billing a second network operator for billing the second user. | 11-27-2008 |
20080300942 | SERVICE REQUESTS FOR MULTIPLE SERVICE LEVEL CHARACTERISTICS - A system, method, program product and service for processing a multiple service level bid in a resource management framework. A buyer's agent is provided to receive a multiple service level request from a business unit and query a resource unit broker for available resource types that can be utilized to provide at least some of the service level requirements of the multiple service level request. A mapping system is provided to map the available resource types to a list of resource sets (i.e., bidding options) and a prioritization system is provided to order the list. Once the list is ordered, a bidding system is provided to submit a bid for the highest priority resource set. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300943 | TECHNIQUES FOR PROJECT TRANSFORMATION AND MANAGEMENT - Techniques for project transformation and management are provided. A project is defined via user-defined stages associated with its lifecycle. Each stage is associated with a set of resources and a particular processing environment. Each stage is dynamically and automatically configured and the resources of each stage are dynamically and automatically managed and transitioned to and from other stages. Policy drives the management and transitions of resources between the stages. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300944 | RELEVANT INVITEE LIST FOR CONFERENCE SYSTEM - Methods and apparatus for providing a list of suggested attendees for a meeting that is being scheduled using a conferencing system are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a conferencing system includes an interface that receives a keyword associated with a meeting. The system also includes a data store that stores information, logic that searches the data store to determine if a first association between the keyword and a first entity of the plurality of entities is stored, and logic that identifies the first entity as a suggested attendee for the meeting if it is determined that the association between the keyword and the entity is stored in the data store. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300945 | TECHNIQUES FOR SHARING RESOURCES ACROSS MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT PROJECT LIFECYCLES - Techniques for sharing resources across multiple independent projects are provided. Resources, which are associated with a first project and which are managed within first stages of a first project lifecycle, are selectively shared and managed within second stages of a second project lifecycle, which is associated with a second project. The first and second project lifecycles are separately and independently managed from one another. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300946 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR IMPLEMENTING AN END-TO-END PROJECT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Methods, systems and computer program products for implementing an end-to-end integrated product development management system are provided. A method includes providing a user system with a link to a data source and an analysis tool via a user interface in response to a project opportunity selection for a proposed product. The method also includes receiving results of an analysis performed by the user system in response to implementing the analysis tool, and creating a project record for the project opportunity selection in response to determining an approval of the project opportunity selection. The method further includes creating a project plan by mapping data fields in the project record to corresponding data entries relating to a project phase, project task, project task tool, project task timetable, project task measurement, data source, and project team selected by the user system via the user interface. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300947 | NON-DEPLETING CHIPS FOR OBTAINING DESIRED SERVICE LEVEL CHARACTERISTICS - This application describes non-depleting chips and their use in a Resource Management Framework. In this methodology, chips do not deplete when spent, but rather represent a weighting that each party/business unit (BU) has to accomplish its IT processing needs over time. In this model, BUs are assigned a certain buying power that may be thought of as akin to chips on a roulette wheel. Such a model may be used with either scheduled auctions (i.e., discrete events), or they may be used via a spot market where no scheduled auctions are conducted (i.e., fluid events). In this concept, the chips are never depleted. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300948 | APPLICATION OF BROKERING METHODS TO OPERATIONAL SUPPORT CHARACTERISTICS - This application describes an application of resource unit brokering algorithms, chip management methods for automated brokering, chip management methods for live brokering, and chip allocation methods to the brokering of operational support characteristics of service level management within an enterprise. Typically, the operational support characteristics are derived from known capacity values that are provided by configuration managers. Calculations are made on the capacity values and maximum quantities of the availability resource units are provided to resource brokers for spot or periodic sale and auction to one or more buyer's agents. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300949 | APPLICATION OF BROKERING METHODS TO SECURITY CHARACTERISTICS - This application describes an application of resource unit brokering algorithms, chip management methods for automated brokering, chip management methods for live brokering, and chip allocation methods to the brokering of security characteristics of service level management within an enterprise. Typically, the security characteristics are derived from known capacity values that are provided by configuration managers. Calculations are made on the capacity values and maximum quantities of the availability resource units are provided to resource brokers for spot or periodic sale and auction to one or more buyer's agents. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300950 | Chronicling for Process Discovery in Model Driven Business Transformation - An electronic chronicling method and system that automatically captures, stores, and organizes various aspects of business processes in real-time. The system allows different role players to analyze, mine, and share selected performance metrics of business processes in the context of various measures involved, including users, systems, applications, processes, etc. The system enables users to analyze and utilize sortable performance metrics with varying degrees of specificity and detail. This analysis and utilization provides an efficient means for the real-time streamlining and optimization of business processes. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300951 | DYNAMIC STAFFING USING POPULATION COUNT - In one embodiment, data is received from a monitoring device that monitors population at a location within a facility. Then the data is used to determine a staffing count. A list of employees is then requested from a staffing application. Coordination then occurs with a call manager application to notify employees on the list of employees that their presence is requested, the coordinating using the staffing count to determine when to stop notifying employees. | 12-04-2008 |
20080306795 | TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS - The present invention relates to transportation management processes and systems. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a method in a computer system for determining one or more routes for transporting items, including receiving multiple orders to transport items from an origination stop to a destination stop, generating one or more consolidations, and generating one or more shipments wherein each shipment includes a selected consolidation that meets at least one shipment parameter or an order. The method further includes generating one or more routes with an ordered sequence of stops wherein each route is associated with one or more shipments. The method still further includes selecting one or more routes based on one or more route parameters. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306796 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING CLOSED-LOOP OPERATIONS CONSULTING AND OPTIMIZATION - A closed-loop system and method for optimizing one or more aspects of the operation of a facility or business is presented. The system includes a platform at a remote provider for accepting and storing data from the facility for analysis. The system facilitates a live consultation such that information is exchanged between the parties, including facility data in analyzed or unanalyzed form for reference during the consultation, recommendations are made in relation to the facility data relative to one or more aspects of the operation of the facility, video and audio of the representative conducting the live consultation, and a whiteboard configured to display input by one or more parties. The method allows skilled experts to provide recommendations of actions for optimizing one or more aspects of operations at a facility, without the requirement that the facility maintain an infrastructure of trained personnel and equipment. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306797 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND OPTIMIZATION - A method for automated resource management and optimization, the method includes: monitoring one or more of the following: resource usage, level of resource utilization, and resource amenities; receiving a request for reserving a resource; determining whether the request for the resource is granted as originally requested; wherein the determining of whether to grant the request for resources as originally requested is based one or more thresholds and conditions; wherein the one or more thresholds and conditions are based on the monitoring of at least one of the following: resource usage, the level of resource utilization; and resource amenities; and wherein if the request for reserving a resource fails to meet the one or more thresholds and conditions the request is either denied or modified. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306798 | Deployment planning of components in heterogeneous environments - Deployment plans, to service execution environments, of component services associated with a composite service associated with an analysis of data generated by one or more data sources, may be determined, the composite service including an ordering of execution of the associated component services for the analysis of the data. An evaluation of each of the deployment plans of the component services may be determined based on a first metric associating one or more weighted values with a consumption by the each deployment plan of one or more respective resources associated with each of the first and second network nodes and on a second metric associating one or more weighted values with a measure of connection availability of one or more network links included in a communication path between the first and second network nodes. A recommendation including one or more of the deployment plans may be determined based on the evaluation. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306799 | Method and system for providing maintenance & management services for long-term capital assets, equipment or fixtures by providing a warranty - A method includes the steps of diagnosing existing conditions of long-term capital assets, equipment or fixtures, providing a performance warranty on the long-term capital assets, etc. The performance warranty is negotiated and signed prior to on-site inspection so as to transfer from owner to a provider the risk of maintaining performance of the long-term capital assets, etc. during a performance warranty term and within a standard or performance. Optionally, the performance warranty includes a condition warranty which guarantees conditions of the long-term capital assets, equipment or fixtures by component at the end of the performance maintenance warranty so as to guarantee the long-term capital assets, equipment or fixtures will operate for another extended period after the performance warranty, without performing by the provider any further maintenance thenafter. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306800 | Light path management system and method thereof - A light path management system and method for displaying working status of a user and subordinates thereof on a screen with light notification determining by weighting the job priority and work load. Sequentially, it further synthesizes light notification from subordinate staff into the user's conclusive working status, and then displaying the conclusive working status for the user and the subordinate staff thereof in hierarchy order. The invention relating to the light path management system and method can be well adopted for providing administrative suggestions, enhancing operation efficiency and reducing management cost at work. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306801 | DASHBOARD 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, identifying a second environmentally relevant item, and providing an environmental dashboard from which at least one user may manage activities relevant to a plurality of types of actions relevant to the environmentally relevant items. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306802 | System and Method for Distribution of Campaign Resources - A system and method for distribution of campaign resources generates proposed allocations of resources, predicts electoral results based on such proposals, and selects strategies based on predetermined metrics. Both the activities of a protagonist (e.g., candidate) and of one or more opponents are considered. A campaign model considers polling impacts from the proposed allocations as well as electoral projections based on polling. Results are presented to a user via maps and timelines, as well as by alphanumeric data. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306803 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING OILFIELD PRODUCTION OPERATIONS - The invention relates to a method of performing production operations of an oilfield having at least one process facility and at least one wellsite operatively connected thereto, each at least one wellsite having a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation for extracting fluid from an underground reservoir therein. The method steps include receiving a number of steps each from at least one of a number of collaborators, specifying an automated workflow including the number of steps and for generating a first well plan, obtaining first data associated with the production operations, applying the automated workflow to the first data to generate the first well plan, adjusting the production operations based on the first well plan, and modifying at least one of the number of steps based on input from at least one of the number of collaborators to generate an updated automated workflow. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306804 | SYSTEMS FOR SCHEDULING MARKETING CAMPAIGNS IN PUBLIC PLACES IN ORDER TO ENABLE MEASUREMENT AND OPTIMIZATION OF AUDIENCE RESPONSE - A system is described for determining how to execute a media campaign (e.g., an advertising campaign) in out-of-home environments (e.g., retail stores or other public places), in such a manner as to enable analysis of the impact of the campaign upon audience behavior, and some of the aspects of audience behavior (recollection of recent exposure, impact of repeat exposures over time) that can be incorporated into subsequent analysis; this can then extend into alterations to the campaign scheduling to optimize business metrics and/or to gain additional, richer information about audience behavior. Media content can be rendered on one or more devices, such as monitors, point of sale systems, and so forth. The media content can include advertisements, such as advertisements having images, video, audio, and multimedia content. Various business constraints and statistical experimental constraints can be satisfied when generating a schedule. | 12-11-2008 |
20080312999 | Multiple Goal Throughput Analysis - A method of analyzing production throughput is disclosed. The method may define production constraints, define timing constraints, define resource constraints, add a weight to one or more solution strategies for the production throughput and calculate a production throughput solution to satisfy the constraints and the weighted solution strategies and report the calculated production throughput solution. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313000 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING SKILL GAP ANALYSIS AND REMEDIATION BASED ON TAG ANALYTICS - This invention includes a workforce management system having a system bus, at least one database in communication with the system bus that includes data representative of workforce employees, and social networking data associated with the employees. A matching functional unit includes a text mining function for mining contextual information from the at least one database to generate context labels for an employee, a clustering function for generating concept labels for an employee, and a matching function that sorts and matches employees by the labels in accordance with a matching criteria. A user interface provides user input to the support operation of the workforce management system. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313001 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE CREATION OF A PATENT PORTFOLIO - Start-up companies, as well as new businesses within established firms, have the challenge of creating a sensible intellectual property (IP) portfolio. With resources usually tight, not all of the IP can be protected due to cost or resource availability considerations. Accordingly, disclosed herein is an apparatus and method that provide an effective solution for management of identified intellectual property. By providing an effective scoring scheme and a simple display, management decision making is made simple and straightforward, while providing in a glance the entire distribution of the firm's IP. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313002 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A REGISTRY - Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for operating a registry of service providers in a given service sector, an apparatus for operating a registry of service providers in a given service sector, and a system for operating a registry of service providers in a given service sector. In one embodiment, a method of operating a registry of service providers in a given service sector comprises providing a plurality of service providers in the given sector with input access to an electronic database to which each participating service supplies information, and validating the supplied information. | 12-18-2008 |
20080319818 | MULTIMEDIA CALENDAR - A method for creating events for use by an electronic calendar application. A computer device running a calendar application displays a GUI having a representation of a calendar. A first widget on the GUI initiates a software routine for defining an event. The routine generates an interface window having a plurality of event detail widgets which allow the user to interactively define details of the event. Once the details are entered, the event is saved as a multimedia object, and the multimedia object is placed onto the calendar representation. Further, details of the event may include additional multimedia content. Also, the calendar representation itself may include multimedia content. The event may be defined with an approximate time frame rather than a specific time frame. For example, an event may be linked to another event rather than to a specific time frame. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319819 | ADJUSTING A PRICING PLAN OF RECORD - The present invention provides a method and system for adjusting a pricing plan. The method may include receiving a baseline and performing a feedback loop method. The feedback loop method may comprise analyzing the pricing plan to see if the pricing plan may include pricing figures that, when applied to units for sale, are projected to yield results conforming to at least one objective of the entity plan, setting the pricing figures so that the pricing figures, when applied to units for sale, are projected to yield the results. The method may further comprise receiving the entity plan, an adjustable parameter, an adjustable attribute, an adjustable rule, and data considered in analysis. The method may comprise repeating the feedback loop method. Further, a second logical flow may branch out of the feedback loop method and may operate substantially in parallel to the flow of the feedback loop. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319820 | MOVE LOT SIZE BALANCING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method and system for allowing a vehicle dealer and manufacturer to match dealer orders and manufacturing plant shipments easily and equitably are disclosed. The method significantly decreases processing time, saving valuable time, money, and manpower resources. An automated linear expression calculation for determining and balancing vehicle allocation allows for equitable balancing of manufacturing plant orders and efficient optimization. The linear expression calculation may be performed in an iterative series of steps. The linear expression calculation handles a plurality of attribute features, thereby accommodating a plurality of dealer requests and vehicle options. The linear expression calculation creates a matrix representing the plurality of attribute features, and with each iteration the values within the matrix are refined and optimized, with the resulting matrix representing an optimized and balanced allocation of manufacturing plant production orders among a plurality of manufacturing plants. | 12-25-2008 |
20090006160 | System for Assigning Personnel to Tasks in Which the Personnel Have Different Priorities Among Themselves - A method and system for airline crewmembers to interactively query, bid, and receive a work schedule via a network is provided. Each crewmember is able to request which trips to fly and which days off are desired. Trips are awarded to individuals based on their seniority, preferences, availability and the legality to fly the trip while satisfying company constraints. Such constraints include minimum and maximum hours flown, priorities for more senior crewmembers, and airline restrictions. The resulting schedule is tentatively assigned to the crewmember, and as each crewmembers enters preferences, the schedules of other crewmembers are changed appropriately. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006161 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING EVENTS OF EVENT SCHEDULING APPLICATIONS - Systems, methods, and computer program products for managing events in time management or event scheduling applications, such as calendar applications, are disclosed. Embodiments comprise analyzing event parameters, such as selections from input solicited from prospective meeting attendees that are associated with events of the meeting, determining an arrangement of the events based on the analysis of the event parameters, and proposing the arrangement. System embodiments generally comprise a list of events for the meeting, such as event items in a database, a constraint solver to analyze parameters of events of the list, and an arrangement module to select an arrangement of the events based on analysis by the constraint solver. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006162 | Workflows Leveraging Process Stages and Cross-Entity Records - A system and method supporting an enhanced customer relationship management uses all system entities across all stages of a workflow to reduce or eliminate redundant data entry and allow creation of front-to-back workflows, e.g. lead-to-cash. Access to all levels of data allows customer service representatives to have access to previously inaccessible data, thus allowing better decision making at the point of contact. Use of an advanced query language used in report generation is re-used for setting the scope of workflow activities, so that complex criteria can be easily specified to have an activity run only when the specified criteria are met. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006163 | Method and System for Allocating Member Compensation - Compensation to be paid to one or more members of an organization is determined. The organization has members organized in a hierarchical structure comprising first-level members, second-level members, and third-level members. A pool of money to be paid to the members in the organization as compensation is identified. A first portion of the pool is assigned to a first-level member. Then the first-level member determines a second portion of the pool from the first portion to be distributed to members below the first-level member and/or an amount from the first portion to be paid to one or more members below the first-level member. The second portion is assigned to the second-level member. Then the second-level member determines a third portion of the pool to be distributed to members below the second-level member and/or an amount from the second portion to be paid to members below the second-level member. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006164 | System and method for optimizing workforce engagement - A method is provided for optimizing workplace engagement for a plurality of employees performing a plurality of tasks. The method may include receiving productivity data for each of the plurality of employees relative to each of the plurality of tasks and receiving forecasted demands for each of the plurality of tasks. The method may also include assigning one or more of the plurality of employees to one or more of the plurality of tasks. The employee task assignments may be based upon productivity data, availability data, and the forecasted demands. The method may further include determining that the forecasted demand for one of the plurality of tasks for the period of time falls below a predetermined threshold, and assigning an inexperienced employee to that one of the plurality of tasks. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006165 | Demotion-based arbitration - In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for arbitrating requests from multiple agents based on an arbitration list to select an agent to receive an arbitration grant, determining whether the selected agent is associated with a grant counter that is at a value of zero, and if so dynamically reordering the arbitration list so that the selected agent is demoted to the lowest portion of the arbitration list. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006166 | Method for solving model-based planning with goal utility dependencies - The presently described embodiments provide a systematic approach for handling cost and utility dependencies together in PSP. In particular, the following are provided: an approach for representing utility dependencies between planning goals using the Generalized Additive Independence (GAI), combining utility theory and deterministic planning and, a novel heuristic framework combining cost propagation and IP encoding to capture mutual dependencies of goal achievement cost and goal utility. This leads to informative heuristic estimates guiding a variation of forward state space search planer that solves PSP problems described above. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006167 | System and Method for Integrating a Business Process Management System with an Enterprise Service Bus - A system and method are described for integrating a business process management (BPM) system with an enterprise service bus. The BPM system is used to model business processes which contain a set of activities linked by transitions. The BPM system is used to define, publish, deploy and execute the processes in a distributed computing environment. The service bus is used to manage web services and perform routing and transformation of messages between the web services. A transport is used to describe each process defined by the BPM system as a web service on the service bus and provide the ability to connect the BPM component to the enterprise service bus. This allows each of the processes to be exposed as a web service by injecting data retrieved from the process definition into the enterprise service bus. Furthermore, the processes defined in BPM can consume web services from the service bus. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006168 | INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - An information processing system includes: a room specifying unit that specifies a room; an equipment coordinate storing unit that stores a correspondence between the room and a placing location of an information processing equipment equipped in the room; a document specifying unit that specifies a paper document on the basis of an information image recited on the paper document; a coordinate information extracting unit that extracts coordinate information from the paper document; a document information extracting unit that extracts document information regarding the stored paper document; an equipment specifying unit that specifies the stored information processing equipment on the basis of room information specified by the room specifying unit and the coordinate information extracted by the coordinate information extracting unit; and an outputting unit that outputs the document information specified by the coordinate information extracting unit to the information processing equipment specified by the equipment specifying unit. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006169 | IDENTIFICATION, CATEGORIZATION, AND INTEGRATION OF UNPLANNED MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND OVERHAUL WORK ON MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT - An automated interactive method dynamically identifies an unplanned maintenance task during execution of a planned maintenance task on equipment. A user device displays a maintenance menu system for data entry and access and provides an input relating to unplanned maintenance task discovered on the equipment. The unplanned maintenance task is associated with the planned maintenance task at least with respect to a location. The automated interactive method sequentially processes unplanned maintenance task information based on the input from the user device. The automated interactive method establishes and stores an unplanned maintenance task data record including a selected geographical location, a selected item, a selected work category, a selected task type, a selected task description, and selected component data of the unplanned maintenance task. | 01-01-2009 |
20090012832 | PACKAGING AND DISTRIBUTING 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. | 01-08-2009 |
20090018886 | WEB-BASED SYSTEM AND APPLICATION FOR COLLABORATIVE PLANNING OF A NETWORKED PROGRAM SCHEDULE - An automated web-based system and application manages the creation, sharing and validation of program schedule data collaboratively among multiple teams in a structured manner to generate a networked program schedule such as for an events-based IMP/IMS. The Integrated Planning Solution (IPS) application provides a structured approach to large events-based planning that is time and cost efficient, produces well-managed, adequate and realistic schedules, is repeatable from project-to-project and can leverage information from previous projects. A focus of the IPS application is collaborative planning of the ‘accomplishment criteria’ for level 3 in an events-based program. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018887 | Method of and System for Modifying Attendance Status for Electronic Calendar Events - An electronic calendar system and method permits an attendee of a calendar event to modify the terms of his or her attendance and notifies a requester of the event of the modification of terms of attendance by the attendee. The terms of attendance may include an event start time and an event end time. The system displays to the attendee an attendance modification dialog. The attendance modification dialog may include a late arrival field and an early departure field. The attendance modification dialog may include a telephone attendance option. The attendance modification dialog may be displayed to the attendee in connection with an event invitation, an event reminder, or a calendar event item. When the attendee completes the modification dialog, a message informing to the event requester of the modification is automatically sent. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018888 | Lead Marketplace System and Method with Lead Auctions - A lead marketplace system and method are provided. The lead marketplace system and method provides an auction for leads. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018889 | ADMINISTERING CONTRACTS OVER DATA NETWORK - A method for administering performance of a contract over a data network includes storing a lien waiver and receiving an application for payment over the data network from a contract participant based on performance under the contract. The stored lien waiver is retrieved and sent to the participant via the data network upon approval of the application for payment. The at least one data tag may be included in the lien waiver prior to storing the lien waiver. | 01-15-2009 |
20090024431 | Methods, Systems, and Computer-Readable Media for Providing Future Job Information - Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for providing future job information. According to embodiments, a method for providing future job information is provided. According to the method, a number of non-dispatched jobs within a future time frame for a plurality of buckets and a plurality of turfs is determined. A numeric indicator indicating the number of non-dispatched jobs associated with at least one turf and at least one bucket is displayed. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024432 | Business Process Management System and Method - A system and method for managing business processes. In one embodiment, electronic business rules are provided that define actions to execute a business process workflow. A workflow queue is provided with a plurality of actions for performing the business process workflow based on the electronic business rules. Typically, at least a portion of the actions are role-based. A user may navigate and select an outstanding action from the workflow queue based on a role associated with the user. A real-time status for each action in the workflow queue can be provided upon request. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024433 | SCHEDULING TASK-RELATED ACTIVITIES IN A COLLABORATION SOFTWARE TOOL - Methods, systems, and computer program products for scheduling task-related activities are disclosed. In one example, the values of a one or more of variables on which an activity is dependent are used to determine the attainability of an activity. Information relating to the variables and/or the attainability of the activity can be recorded, or used to generate notifications and/or invitations for users. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024434 | TARGETED DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLANS AND METHODS OF ESTABLISHING SAME - A method of establishing a targeted dividend reinvestment plan associated with environmental management projects, and financial securities generated therein. In one embodiment, the method comprises steps of providing a dividend reinvestment plan, identifying at least one environmental management project, generating financial securities (e.g. “green” shares or other financial instruments) associated with the environmental management project(s), receiving a direction from investors participating in the dividend reinvestment plan to invest funds through a purchase by the investor of financial securities associated with the environmental management projects, issuing the financial securities to investors, and allocating the funds to the environmental management project(s). | 01-22-2009 |
20090030764 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASSOCIATING BUSINESS RULES WITH RECEIVED CONTENT IN A CONTENT PROCESSING SYSTEM | 01-29-2009 |
20090030765 | Synchronising online and offline diaries - A apparatus and method for synchronising the online and offline diaries of sports coaches and other service providers by combining a web based interface with a mobile phone SMS gateway to provide an online booking system for their clients. The system makes use of location information and coach-client relationship rules provided by the coach to control the bookings that the client is able to make. The system is also capable of dealing with payments for lessons and other booking types. | 01-29-2009 |
20090037244 | INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An inventory management system for identifying and locating items in a facility includes a plurality of identification tags, each of which includes identification information regarding an item to which each respective identification tag is attached, a memory device including information regarding all of the items in the facility, including image information for each item, an input device operable to receive information from a user, including a request for a desired item, a plurality of readers positioned around the facility, wherein each reader is operable to transmit an inquiry signal that triggers one or more identification tag to emit a response signal, the response signal including the identification information regarding the item to which each tag is attached, wherein the response signal is received by at least one reader of the plurality of readers; and a controller connected to the plurality of readers and the input device, the controller being operable to control the readers to emit the inquiry signal and to provide location information indicating a location of the desired item requested by the user based on the response signal received by the reader; wherein the controller retrieves image information for the desired item from the memory device and wherein the location information and image information related to the desired item is displayed to the user of the system. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037245 | GATEWAY BALANCING - A gateway balancing module for balancing shipments of a plurality of containers between a plurality of associated gateways includes a determine demand subcomponent, a calculate containers subcomponent, a determine capacity subcomponent, and a generate balance recommendations subcomponent. The determine capacity subcomponent is adapted to determine available de-consolidation capacity for each of the plurality of associated gateways. The generate balance recommendations subcomponent is adapted to provide a user with a gateway balancing recommendation based upon a comparison of the handicapped gateway demand and the de-consolidation capacities of each of the plurality of associated gateways. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037246 | Resource allocation system and method - A method for resource planning in a business organization may include receiving project data describing a project assigned to a group in the business organization. The project data may include a time period in which the project should be completed by the group, a resource availability value for the group during the time period, and a resource requirement value for the group during the time period. The method may also include a determining a resource disparity value indicative of disparity between the resource availability value and the resource requirement value for the group in the time period. The method may further include displaying the resource disparity value for the group in the time period. | 02-05-2009 |
20090037247 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING LEGAL MATTERS - This invention generally relates to a system and method for managing legal services as well as legal matters, assets, expenses and/or invoices and more particularly relates to a computer assisted system that stores, organizes and/or performs operations on data relating to legal services, legal matters, assets, costs, invoices and the like allowing a user of the system to search, sort, report, track, docket, sum, average and/or perform other operations on this data to generate legal service performance review reports, invoice review reports and/or various expense reports as well as calculate accounts payable, calculate inter-company charges and/or otherwise may manage the same by identifying internal and legal service provider inefficiencies and by identifying unnecessary and excessively priced services and expenses. | 02-05-2009 |
20090043627 | System and method for calendar presence retrieval - A presence system enables retrieval of calendar presence information of presentities from calendar servers using a calendar agent and calendar interfaces to the calendar servers. Each calendar server maintains calendar schedule information for one or more of the presentites. The calendar agent is operable to generate queries for the calendar schedule information to the calendar servers via a respective calendar interface for each calendar server. The calendar agent is further operable to receive calendar schedule information from the calendar servers via the respective calendar interfaces, and to convert the received calendar schedule information into calendar presence information. Each calendar interface is configured to communicate with the calendar agent via a first protocol and to communicate with a respective one of the calendar servers via a respective second protocol. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043628 | PRINT-SHOP JOB PRICE OPTIMIZATION VIA THE USE OF PLANNING, SCHEDULING AND SIMULATION - Methods and systems for improving resource usage in a print shop are disclosed A system may include a workflow management system and a plurality of resource in the print shop. The workflow management system may be configured to receive a plurality of print jobs for processing at the print shop and determine a cost per item for processing the plurality of print jobs based on economic data associated with the print jobs. The workflow management system may determine whether the cost per item will be reduced by adding, removing or modifying a print job. An added print job may be of a different type than the plurality of print jobs. The plurality of resources may be capable of processing the plurality of print jobs. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043629 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVISION OF MAINTENANCE INFORMATION AND PRODUCTS - A system and method are provided for the comprehensive provision of maintenance related information and products to a client. By one approach, item information is received from a client regarding at least one of a plurality of disparate items. The method also includes receiving manufacturer information regarding the plurality of disparate items from information from manufacturers of the items. A selectively accessible database is created that includes at least in part the item information, the manufacturer information, and maintenance information derived at least in part from the manufacturer information relating to servicing at least one of the disparate items and/or to a product relating to at least one of the disparate items. The client is provided with access to the maintenance information stored on the selectively accessible database. The maintenance information can be accessed from brick and mortar hardware stores as well. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043630 | Scheduling method for achieving revenue objectives - The scheduling method arranges and schedules tasks to ensure the completion of a revenue goal within a specified period of time. A revenue goal is first determined, and an associated task list is identified. Each task is assigned a completion time and the income generated. The tasks are arranged into categories based on completion time and the categories are then ordered according to income generated and assigned the lowest low-end (minimum) income generated according to the tasks within. The daily task completion time available is determined and the tasks are then scheduled to fill the available time so that the revenue goal is achieved or exceeded within the specified time period. The method steps may be stored on a computer readable medium and executed by a computer processor. Method instructions and data may also be accessed and executed via a computer network such as an internet-based system. | 02-12-2009 |
20090048888 | TECHNIQUES FOR CLAIM STAKING IN A PROJECT STAGE-BASED ENVIRONMENT - Techniques for claim staking in a project stage-based environment are provided. A stakeholder is assigned for a project as a whole or a sub portion of the project. Access permissions are defined in response to the stakeholder, the project, and/or the sub portion. The access permissions are dynamically enforced across processing environments, stages within a same project, and stages within different projects when attempted changes are made to the project or the sub portion. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048889 | Manufacturing portfolio flexibility planning - A method, computer program product, and system for manufacturing portfolio flexibility planning are provided. The method includes matching production needs to manufacture a plurality of products with manufacturing capabilities of plants in a manufacturing portfolio. The method also includes developing flexibility scenarios for a manufacturing portfolio flexibility plan. The flexibility scenarios include manufacturing related products at one or more identified plants in the manufacturing portfolio. The method further includes performing statistical analysis of the flexibility scenarios, and evaluating a result of the statistical analysis to determine whether the flexibility scenarios meet a success criterion. The method additionally includes updating the manufacturing portfolio per the manufacturing portfolio flexibility plan when the flexibility scenarios meet the success criterion, and outputting the manufacturing portfolio flexibility plan. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048890 | Delivery Management System for Quick Service Restaurants - A geographic database of the subject invention interfaces with the Point-of-Sale system in a Quick Service Restaurant to optimize the sequence and pairing of delivery orders based on customer location, driver availability and prioritized real-time information. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048891 | Message sequence management of enterprise based correlated events - A message sequence management of enterprise based correlated events incorporates the changing and unique business of a telecommunications service provider with minimal configurations. The design identifies and manages related service requests and ensures that related service requests follow a precise execution sequence as defined by the business logic. The design's robust features allows for simplified integration and management to changing business processes and needs. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048892 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - The embodiment discloses, in one form, multimedia communications, including remote publishing, mobile devices, network and on-line forms of communications. The embodiment also discloses a new electronic portfolio, communications, education commerce and fund raising platform, particularly useful for Community groups. In one form, it will enable Community groups to publish Community member-derived new-media content on a secure Community web page and make this content available, via a low cost subscription model and through any electronic communication device to interested and approved Community members. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048893 | System and Method of Role-based Calendaring - A method for calendaring an activity based on roles, including the steps of acquiring a request for calendaring the activity for a plurality of roles invited to attend the activity; acquiring data on existing activities which have been calendared for all the specific individuals in the plurality of roles invited to attend the activity; and determining the time interval for holding the activity based on the data on existing activities which have been calendared for all the specific individuals in the plurality of roles invited to attend the activity and the request for calendaring the activity. | 02-19-2009 |
20090055234 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR SCHEDULING MEETINGS BY MATCHING A MEETING PROFILE WITH VIRTUAL RESOURCES - A system for scheduling meetings by matching a scheduler-defined meeting profile against a pool of virtual resources is provided. The system includes an electronic data storage comprising data defining a set of virtual resources, at least one property being associated with each resource. The system also includes a meeting profiler module that is configured to define a meeting profile which specifies one or more resources required for a meeting based upon received user input. The system further includes a profile-resource matching module that searches the data of the electronic data storage and matches elements of the set of virtual resources to the one or more resources required for the meeting defined by the meeting profiler module, and, based thereon, automatically generates at least one meeting schedule candidate. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055235 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSISTED HANDLING OF CASCADING MEETING CHANGES - A method for assisting a user in handling cascading event conflicts arising in a schedule provided by an electronic scheduling application includes receiving an indication of a first proposed event update to the schedule; determining whether the first proposed event update conflicts with any previously scheduled event; entering the first proposed event update into the schedule if the first proposed event update does not conflict; determining whether to select the first proposed event update or a first previously scheduled event for attempting to reschedule if the first proposed event update conflicts with the first previously scheduled event; determining whether to accept a second proposed event update for rescheduling of the selected one of the first proposed event update and the first previously stored event; and determining whether the second proposed event update conflicts with any previously scheduled event if the second proposed event update is accepted. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055236 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING LIKELIHOOD OF MEETING ATTENDANCE - A method and computer program product for evaluating the likelihood of meeting attendance including receiving an acceptance to an invitation to a first meeting for a meeting invitee. A first weighting factor is defined for the meeting invitee based upon, at least in part, an anticipated probability of attendance at the first meeting by the meeting invitee. The first weighting factor is associated with the meeting invitee and the first meeting. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055237 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING INHERENT PROJECT UNCERTAINTY - A software and/or hardware facility for managing project schedules having inherent uncertainty. The facility allows users to create hierarchical data structures to model projects and other collective efforts. The hierarchical data structures contain work items that can represent tasks, collections of tasks and collections of collections and tasks. Each work item can have associated with it an estimate provided by a user, such as a ranged estimate of the amount of work remaining before the work item is completed. Based at least in part on the provided estimate, the facility can calculate expected start and finish dates for each work item. By calculating expected start and finish dates for all or most of the work items in a project, the facility is able to calculate an expected end date for the entire project. By basing the calculation on ranged estimates, the facility can account for the uncertainty inherent in projects. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055238 | Meeting optimizer - A meeting location that is “fair” to all the participants may be selected based on at least the travel circumstances and at least two initial criteria by which an optimal meeting location will be selected, at least one of which has values that are determined for each respective one of the meeting participants using at least information derived from the travel circumstances. Note that by “fair” it is generally intended that no participant can reduce his burden without significantly increasing the burden of some other participant. The meeting location may be determined using a multi-criterial approach. A criterion in this context is a particular property of the travel pertaining to a particular user. In the multi-criterial approach, one selects a preference relation based on each of the individual criteria, and the set of non-dominated alternatives is the outcome of the optimization process. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055239 | Systems and Methods for Material Management - A system and method are provided for scheduling the emptying or replacement of a waste container based on the fullness of the container or the usage of the container. These factors may be considered to determine when the waste container will become completely full. Additionally, the system and method may consider the customer preferences or the limitations of the waste hauler. All of these factors may be considered to determine an optimal time for the waste container to be emptied or replaced. These factors are also considered to determine when to accomplish the scheduling (i.e. when to notify the waste hauler that the waste container should be emptied or replaced at a given time). | 02-26-2009 |
20090055240 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING CONFERENCE PRESENTERS - A method includes defining a plurality of attendee groups. Each attendee group includes a plurality of attendee slots and a presenter slot. A first presenter is assigned to a presenter slot of a first attendee group during a first conference portion. A second presenter is assigned to the presenter slot of the first attendee group during a second conference portion. | 02-26-2009 |
20090063231 | Recommending Waste Reductions and Credit Purchases for Business Units - In an embodiment, revenue loss functions associated with business units are determined and waste credit constraints associated with the business units are received. A recommended waste credit purchase amount and recommended waste credit reduction amounts associated with the business units are calculated by minimizing a sum of the revenue loss functions and a purchase function, subject to the waste credit constraints, a purchase constraint, and a reduction goal constraint. In various embodiments, the recommended waste credit purchase amount and the recommended waste credit reduction amounts are presented, the amount of waste credits specified by the recommended waste credit purchase amount are purchased, and the business units reduce their waste emissions by their respective recommended waste credit reduction amounts. In an embodiment, the minimization is perfumed via a quadratic programming algorithm. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063232 | REAL ESTATE LEAD INCUBATION SYSTEM - A system for lead incubation is used to alert an agent and to customize contacts with leads generated by an internet form, return mail form, voicemail, or telephone inquiry. For example, a lead may be interested in purchasing real estate, which requires a long lead incubation period. The system dynamically and recursively classifies the lead according to actions taken by the lead, requests made by the lead, and interactions between the lead and the system and/or agent. Based on heuristic patterns and triggers, the system provides suggestions to the agent for marketing campaigns for a lead or a class of leads, and alerts the agent when action or contact between the agent and the lead is recommended. The system is customizable by lead, by agent performance and/or by class of lead. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063233 | Goods Receipt Preparation - Methods and systems for receiving shipping documents, correlating information in the shipping documents with purchase-order information in a database to produce expected delivery manifests, then directing a transport to a processing facility to unload items which are verified against the delivery manifest. Software to support these systems is also described and claimed. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063234 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CAPACITY MANAGEMENT AND INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - The present system provides an automated and computer driven incident management system. The system can provide communication paths between responders or scan a network to determine when certain conditional tasks have been performed. The system can note when expected responders are not active and page backup responders or re-assign tasks to appropriate personnel to ensure adequate response to an incident. Updates to procedures can be done from a central location. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063235 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ENTERPRISE PRODUCTION BASED ON INVENTORY DATA - This invention relates to a control system for enterprise production based on inventory data. Said system is comprised of a central processing system and a or more data collection terminal to exchange data with the central processing system; the said data collection terminal collects the incoming/discharging data of all goods delivered to the said central processing system, which is used to make statistics, analysis and storage; the said central processing system is set up with a real-time inventory database, an optimum analysis database, a data statistics unit, an optimum analysis unit, a data store and output unit, a manual input device and a central control unit. This system could not only make a collection and statistics of warehouse data, but also optimize and control the inventory method, storage, and inventory time of goods according to the enterprise's operation status, and give an alarm when optimum problem occurs. This system is favorable to enhance the enterprise's overall operation and management level. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063236 | UNIDIRECTIONALLY PROTECTED, FULLY AUTOMATED ASSET ALLOCATION AND ASSET MONITORING APPARATUSES, AND A CORRESPONDING METHOD - A computer-aided asset allocation and asset monitoring apparatus comprising a unidirectional, data-protected control signal apparatus, in which data from locally arranged, protected databases can be transferred via a network to the asset allocation and asset monitoring apparatus and can be evaluated and in which electronic control signals and/or control data can be transmitted to at least one authorized receiver station. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063237 | Process for estimating operational availability of a system - The invention is a process for determining the operational availability of a system and includes the following steps: 1) selecting values for flight hours per year, repair concurrency, annual preventative maintenance time and non mission capable-supply rate; 2) calculating the effects of usage rate, repair concurrency, and not mission capable-supply; and 3) calculating the operational availability of the aircraft based on the calculation of the effects of usage rate, repair concurrency, and not mission capable-supply. | 03-05-2009 |
20090070174 | Lab reservation system - The present invention provides a computer implemented lab reservation system including a reservation engine and a reservation database. The reservation database contains data concerning the computer systems and target operating environments in the lab. The reservation engine manipulates the reservation database in order to efficiently match user requests to specific lab computer systems and target operating environments. The reservation system also manipulates the reservation database in order to efficiently configure computer systems and target operating environments. The reservation engine also manipulates the reservation database in order to efficiently reinstall computer system default settings, when users return configured systems, so that the computer systems can be reallocated to new requests. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070175 | Mobile-Based Systems And Methods For Processing Fuel Orders - Systems and methods for handling fuel orders. A system can include application software that is configured for operation upon a vehicle operator's communication device. The application software receives fuel order data and displays the received data to the fuel vehicle driver. The received fuel order data is for use in handling logistics related to picking up from a fuel source and delivering petrochemical fuel to a fuel destination. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070176 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR MANAGING FULFILLMENT OF ORDERS - A method, system and program product for optimally managing fulfillment of orders that are channeled through a diversified manufacturing environment that utilizes different process models, product nomenclatures and communication methods. The method includes sending by a contemporary fulfillment application to a legacy application a scheduling request for an order that includes a code recommending that the order is deemed eligible for fulfillment by a specific manufacturing site. The method further includes returning by the legacy application a scheduling response providing scheduling information for the order and confirming that the order is to be fulfilled by the specific manufacturing site. The method further includes transmitting a shipment request by the contemporary fulfillment application to a contemporary production application for routing delivery of the order to the specific manufacturing site and receiving a shipment response from the contemporary production application providing a delivery status of the order. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070177 | System and Method for Optimally Allocating Overlapping Inventory - The present invention introduces methods for allocating: overlapping inventory. In the system of the present invention overlapping inventory problems are reformulated as a network transport problem. Specifically, different inventory types are represented as inventory network nodes. Similarly, corresponding inventory requests are also represented as request network nodes. The different inventory network nodes corresponding to inventory that can satisfy inventory requests are coupled to the request network nodes associated with those inventory requests. A source node is then coupled to the inventory network nodes and a destination node is coupled to the request network nodes. A flow limit of the available inventory is assigned to the connections between the source node and the inventory network nodes. Finally, inventory requests that must be satisfied are represented as flow minimums between the request network nodes and the destination network node. The transport network problem is then solved to solve the corresponding overlapping inventory allocation problem. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070178 | System and method for scheduling and confirming appointments - A system and method are disclosed to allow scheduling of viewing and service appointments over a network. A user accesses the system over the network and views a plurality of time slots corresponding to a real estate property or corresponding to a service appointment. Upon user selection of a time slot, an electronic request is sent for the selected time slot. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070179 | Impact meter - A system, means, and method for providing real-time feedback to a contributor of a charitable cause is described. It allows the contributor to see both the good they are doing directly, and the good being created by all the people who take positive actions as a result of the contributor's own actions. Thus, it provides real-time visibility into the direct and indirect effects of the contributor's actions. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070180 | Variant rating plans for virtual world environment - A method and system provides arrangements creating a relationship between a real-world entity and a virtual world environment. A participant or player can participate in various virtual world experiences including activities, settings, events, purchases, sales and diverse transactions to acquire virtual products, virtual services, and/or virtual items of value. Feedback may be provided and records kept regarding the virtual world participation. In some circumstances, multiple persons can participate as a group or participate as individuals in the virtual world environment. Some embodiments provide virtual world oversight protection related to one or more selected aspects of a virtual world environment. In some implementations different types of virtual world rating plans are available that provide various rating categories attributed to different portions of a virtual world environment, as well as aspects and characteristics thereof. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070181 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AN ONLINE RESERVATION SYSTEM FOR SERVICES SELECTABLE FROM MULTIPLE CATEGORIES - The present invention is a method and system for an online reservation system providing services of multiple categories of service providers. Service providers may integrate all of their appointments with a calendar maintained by the online reservation system. The system automatically collects client data and may provide accounting services and marketing services. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070182 | Organization activity management system - An automated method and system ( | 03-12-2009 |
20090076871 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR HANDLING INTERACTIONS RELATING TO CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS BASED ON A STATUS OF EXISTING TROUBLE TICKETS - Methods and systems handle interactions relating to customer accounts by determining the status of existing trouble tickets and then taking an action on behalf of a customer service agent based on the determined status. If no trouble tickets are currently unclosed for the customer account, then a new trouble ticket is opened. If only one trouble ticket is unclosed for the customer account, then the one trouble ticket is statused for the agent. If multiple trouble tickets are unclosed for the customer account, then those unclosed tickets are displayed within a list for selection by the agent. The list may provide the agent with the option to select a new trouble ticket should the existing trouble tickets not be applicable to the current interaction with the customer. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076872 | Convergence Of Customer And Internal Assets - An information management system providing a consolidated representation of a plurality of assets is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the information management system includes a data repository operable to store a plurality of global asset definitions which represent enterprise-owned assets and customer-owned assets. In one embodiment, one global asset definition is stored as a record of an asset of the plurality of assets. The global asset definition includes a functional specification of the asset and a physical attribute of the asset. The system further includes a work management application communicatively coupled to the data repository which provides a work flow manager that is operable to determine a work flow associated with the global asset definition. The work flow manager is further operable to manage the execution of the work flow. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076873 | Method and system to improve engineered system decisions and transfer risk - A method and system are provided to improve industrial engineered systems such as oil well drilling decisions and transfer risk. The method and system each include an interactive decision-support planning tool that aids a user as to how to select a portfolio of engineered systems and entities that the systems will process such as aircraft engines and flights, rigs and reserves, apparatus configuration, apparatus inspection, apparatus on line sensors, dynamic operations decisioning for the apparatus and drill path or asset dispatching and a contractual incentive to allocate risks to stakeholders best positioned to abate them. The decision support will reduce a fleet's financial risk associated with the cost of operations below that achievable without using the interactive decision-support planning tool and/or increase financial return associated with the cost of activity above that achievable without using the interactive decision-support planning tool, such that the financial risk and/or financial return are allocated in a desired manner among a plurality of operations stakeholders. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076874 | Method and Tool for Optimized System Maintenance - A method for maintaining a system consisting of a plurality of components, comprises the steps of collecting maintenance information for each component of the system for which maintenance information is available; providing a maintenance schedule for components of the system; operating the system; and maintaining the system wherein during scheduled maintenance of a component information about the status of that component is acquired, during a failure of a component information about the failure of that component is acquired, and modifying the maintenance schedule according to the acquired information. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076875 | SYSTEM FOR QUEUE AND SERVICE MANAGEMENT - A system for service queue management is disclosed including a terminal controlled by the system having a processing platform to generate service queue information for a user, and a mechanism for the user to request or receive the service queue information. The processing platform preferably transmits promotions related to goods and services associated with the service queue information to a user. The mechanism for the user to request or receive service queue information may preferably include a user's mobile communications device or a manually-activated device located on the terminal. Service queue information may include a queue number, next queue number to be issued, estimated wait time for service, a predicted time of service, time of issuance of ticket, predicted queue-waiting time, marketing messages, instructions for use of said ticket dispenser, and average queue-waiting time. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076876 | Method of Scheduling and Event Processing in Computer Operating System - A transaction process system ( | 03-19-2009 |
20090076877 | Program, method and apparatus for modeling Workflow - Update history information of databases is analyzed, and workflow models are automatically displayed with typical workflows and exceptional workflows separately represented. An update history information storage unit stores update history information including identification information of a data update process, and the name and updated time of an updated data set. A workflow extractor generates flow information where the names of updated data sets are arranged in chronological order of updated time, oldest first, for every data update process, and counts the number of appearances of flow information of same. Out of the workflows represented by the flow information, the workflow classification unit classifies the workflows into typical and exceptional workflows depending on the number of appearances. A workflow model display unit displays a typical workflow diagram showing the typical workflows, and in response to user input, displays an exceptional workflow diagram showing the typical and exceptional workflows. | 03-19-2009 |
20090083105 | Meeting Coordination System with Dependency Rules for Alternate Meeting Processing - Methods and systems are provided for setting up a meeting schedule for people whose representation at the meeting is essential to holding the meeting. If the person whose representation at the meeting is essential can be represented by someone else at the meeting, the system sets up a predefined dependency rule for the second person to fill in for the essential attendee in their absence. When the system sends out meeting invitations, for example, by email, the essential person's attendance is subject to the dependency rule. In this way, if the first person cannot attend the meeting but the second person is able to attend, the meeting can be carried out. Sending out meeting invitations with such a predefined dependency rule simplifies the logistics of setting up a meeting to be attended by a number of individuals with full schedules. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083106 | Automatically Updating Contingent Events in Electronic Calendar Systems - Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for managing contingent events in an electronic calendar system. A priority is associated with each event among two or more events. The two or more events are at least partly overlapping in the electronic calendar system. When a high priority event of the two or more events is canceled from the electronic calendar system, the high priority event is automatically replaced with a lower priority event from the two or more events. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083107 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR STRATEGIC GLOBAL RESOURCE SOURCING - Method and system for strategic global resource sourcing in one aspect incorporates concurrently a plurality of qualitative and quantitative attributes that influence performance of sourcing strategy with respect to one or more quantitative measures, quantifies an impact of said qualitative attributes using said one or more quantitative measures, and optimizes the sourcing strategy with respect to said one or more quantitative measures subject to one or more constraints. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083108 | ENTERPRISE SYSTEM HAVING A SMART DISTANCE AMONG ARTIFACTS, AND APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING THE SMART DISTANCE AMONG THE ARTIFACTS - An enterprise system includes a plurality of artifacts (e.g., persons, objects, databases, autonomous elements, intelligent agents, information systems, etc), and a smart distance (e.g., a distance which may optimize the performance of the enterprise system) between the plurality of artifacts. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083109 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTING AND PROTECTING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ASSETS - The present invention relates to systems and methods for intellectual property asset selection and protection. In an embodiment, an intellectual property selection system receives from an innovator an innovation submission describing an innovation. An intellectual property protection system receives at least a portion of the innovation submission and manages obtaining an intellectual property legal right related to the innovation. An intellectual property asset management system receives and stores at least one of an innovation description is based at least in part on the at least a portion of the innovation submission and the intellectual property legal right description is based at least in part on the intellectual property legal right. | 03-26-2009 |
20090089127 | Techniques for utilizing decision criteria in a communication plan - Techniques are presented for utilizing decision criteria within a communication plan. As a communication plan is processed a new decision step may be dynamically added to the processing. The new decision step breaks a set of incoming leads into a plurality of different customer groups. Each group may then be dynamically assigned to one or more actions within the communication plan. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089128 | SERVICE-ORIENTED PIPELINE BASED ARCHITECTURE - Service-oriented systems employing pipeline architecture to accommodate third party extensions for extending existing functionality or providing additional functionality are provided. User or third party provided plug-ins are registered through metadata and executed in a pipeline along with platform operations. The pipeline is extendable on the fly with newly uploaded plug-ins. Dependency analyses for ordering synchronous or asynchronous pipeline operations enable multiple parties to extend the system and operate predictably. Loop detection mechanisms prevent misuse of system resources through accidental or malicious creation of infinite loops with exceptions for non-degenerate infinite loops. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089129 | Automated time budgeting - Dynamic schedules are created by using a budgeting process for allocating time. Time available is first allocated to the system. Once time resources are allocated, fixed tasks are subtracted out of the time resources, leaving only flexible time which the user will use for all other tasks. Variable tasks may be added by entering due date, task description, task dependencies, and priority. An algorithm is used to maximize the user's schedule. The algorithm schedules rapidly, prevents late tasks, and readjusts to accommodate for unplanned events or new tasks. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089130 | INTEGRATION OF FINANCIAL MODELS INTO WORKFLOW SOFTWARE TO ENABLE ACTIVITY BASED COSTING - A system and method for integrating financial models into workflow software to enable Activity Based Costing. In one embodiment of the invention, a workflow modeling system comprises a workflow modeling tool including a workflow design tool and an activity-based cost design tool. A unified workflow and financial model is generated by the workflow modeling tool and a workflow execution module executes the unified workflow and financial model. A workflow monitoring and controlling application receives workflow and cost data from the workflow execution module and a financial monitoring and controlling application receives cost data from the workflow execution module. A workflow change module communicates workflow changes to the unified workflow and financial model, wherein the unified workflow and financial model is automatically modified in response to the workflow changes. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089131 | Mobile Device Marketing and Advertising Platforms, Methods, and Systems - A mobile marketing campaign platform and method including: a planning module including: a definition module for setting budget and objectives; and a design module for designing the campaign utilizing a plurality of templates; an execution module including: design tools for designing an executable campaign from the campaign design made from the templates; and operating tools for causing the executable campaign to execute over multiple mobile services; and a reporting module including: tracking means for tracking at least one of a campaign activity, the campaign performance objectives; and the brand performance objectives. | 04-02-2009 |
20090094083 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC MODERATOR DELEGATION - A method and computer program product for receiving an indication of a meeting being scheduled between a plurality of attendees. At least one of the attendees is designated a moderator of the meeting. The actions of the designated moderator are monitored to determine if the designated moderator is capable of performing one or more moderator responsibilities associated with being the designated moderator. If it is determined that the designated moderator is incapable of performing the one or more moderator responsibilities, an alternate moderator chosen from the plurality of attendees is designated. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094084 | Method and System for Use in Scheduling Transfer of Transportation Assets - A method and system for scheduling transfer of transportation assets and freight use a graphical user interface to collect, enter and display transportation asset data and freight data, thus enabling a user to select origin and destination locations for the transportation asset data and freight data on a map displayed on an electronic display screen. The method and system enable a user to associate transportation asset data to the selected locations and upload selected locations and transportation data to a transportation management system for scheduling transfer of transportation assets and freight. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094085 | Scheduling delivery of products via the internet - Methods and apparatus for scheduling delivery of an order via a wide area network. A delivery interface is generated in which a plurality of delivery windows are presented. The delivery interface is transmitted to a remote platform via the wide area network. In response to selection of a first one of the plurality of delivery windows, it is determined whether the order may be delivered in the first delivery window. Where it is determined that the order may be delivered in the first delivery window, delivery of the order is scheduled in the first delivery window. | 04-09-2009 |
20090099894 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND SOFTWARE FOR TALENT MANAGEMENT - A method of analysing an individual to manage talent including step of displaying a shape of at least two dimensions within a graph of at least two axes wherein the extent of the shape within the graph is determined by at least two strengths and at least two weaknesses of the individual. | 04-16-2009 |
20090106067 | Schedule optimization system and method - A system for scheduling events is provided. The system includes a schedule system generating schedule data for an organization, such as a sports team associated with a school or university. Means for modifying the schedule data allows a user to identify a date, time, opposing team and location, such as based on the ratings percentage index for the opposing team. A notification system receives the modified schedule data and generates one or more messages based on the modified schedule data, such as a request to the opposing team to play a game with the sports team associated with the school or university at a selected time and location. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106068 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RESILIENCY PLANNING - A method and a system for efficiently planning resiliency in a work environment based on resiliency parameters for a given definition of service, determining a best allocation plan with resources allocated, and allocating a resource request in a best allocation plan to the requesting source to perform the definition of service. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106069 | COUNTER MANAGEMENT APPARATUS - A counter management apparatus of the present invention issues a numbered ticket based on an input operation made by a customer and calls a customer to a counter, and includes: an input unit that receives an input of authentication information on a counter clerk who performs a predetermined transaction at the counter and an input of counter information associated with the counter; a specification unit that, based on the authentication information received by the input unit, specifies a transaction that can be handled by the counter clerk from a database in which the authentication information of the counter clerk and the transaction that can be handled by the counter clerk are associated and registered; and a counter information registration unit in which the transaction specified by the specification unit the counter information are associated and registered. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106070 | Online Advertisement Effectiveness Measurements - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which evaluation versions of advertisements are generated and served in different contexts. Based on received evaluation results, engagement rates, brand linkage and advertisement effectiveness measures are generated for each of the different contexts and for an overall context. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106071 | Goal Achievement Manager - The present invention relates to a method for controlling, planning, managing and enhancing the progressive achievement of user's future goals. The method allows for comparing and interpreting life-event data provided by the user in connection with his or her expected future achievements within a specific timeframe. It also enables ecommerce opportunities for sponsors and advertisers. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106072 | Associating Assets with Agreements - Method and apparatus for associating assets with an agreement, where the assets are typically equipment or machinery and the agreement is typically a service contract. When assets are sold or leased, service is often an important part of the transaction. A user is presented with a sequence of operations in order to streamline the process of creating service agreements to cover assets. The user enters data and proceeds through a flow to associate selected assets with service agreements. The method optionally includes obtaining approval and signatures authorizing the agreement. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106073 | BUSINESS TO MEDIA RESERVATION BUSINESS PROCESS - A process of developing a computer network based universal reservation system. In one embodiment, such a process includes the steps of obtaining a service interface broker, providing a service offering system that a service developer wants included in the computer network based universal reservation system with functionality of the service offering system being extended by functionality provided by the service interface broker, obtaining a marketplace interface broker, and providing a marketplace system that a marketplace supplier wants included in the computer network based universal reservation system with functionality of the marketplace system being extended by functionality provided by the marketplace interface broker. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106074 | BUSINESS TO MEDIA RESERVATION STANDARD - A business to media (B2M) reservation standard provides for the visualization and reservation of various resources, simultaneously, in real time, and over multiple analog and digital media in multiple analog and digital marketplaces. The B2M reservation standard describes a business environment which may involve four roles (clients, marketplace suppliers, the scheduling agent supplier and offer providers) and three component types (media, marketplaces and a scheduling agent). In accordance with the B2M reservation standard, one embodiment of a method for facilitating reservations by clients of services offered by service providers includes: (a) conducting an offer construction process involving one or more services providers offering services available for reservation by customers and the scheduling agent supplier providing the scheduling agent to which offers of services are communicated; (b) conducting a marketplace construction process involving one or more marketplace suppliers providing one or more marketplaces and one or more media for customer communication with the marketplaces, wherein services available on the marketplaces are provided by the scheduling agent; and (c) conducting a reservation process wherein the single scheduling agent operating separately from the one or more marketplaces processes reservation requests from clients relating to services offered by the one or more service providers on the one or more marketplaces and presented to the clients through the one or more media. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106075 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ESTIMATION OF PROJECT SCHEDULES - One embodiment of the invention is directed to automatically extending a task in a project schedule. If certain information items associated with a task are not specified, the scheduled completion time for a task may be automatically extended under the assumption that if these information items are unknown, the task will take longer to complete than originally planned. The project schedule, incorporating the automatically extended tasks, may then be displayed. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106076 | System and method for a time sensitive scheduling data promotions network - Communications network based passive delivery of relevant and desired promotional content and time sensitive scheduling data to an entity is described. Promotional content is targeted based on targeting criteria. Promotional content based on the targeting criteria is distributed via the passive delivery communications network. Promotional content aggregated as part of time sensitive scheduling data streams is delivered via the passive delivery communications network. The passive delivery of promotional content in proximity to the relevant time sensitive scheduling data is presented to the entity via a time sensitive scheduling data receiving device. | 04-23-2009 |
20090112671 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SCHEDULING CONFERENCE RESOURCES - The present invention relates to managing and scheduling videoconferences. It introduces a novel mechanism for scheduling a virtual resource connected to an individual or a group of individuals. The virtual resource is associated to one or more conference systems in a conference management system, and an entity representing the virtual re-source is displayed in a conventional resource planning application (e.g. Microsoft Outlook) allowing a user to investigate if the virtual resource, i.e. at least one of the conference systems, is free or busy. The user is then able to schedule a conference with the resource by a familiar scheduling interface, and without having to know with which alternative conference systems the individual or group of individuals connected to the virtual resource is associated. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112672 | Method and Arrangement for Optimized Maintenance of Components - A method for optimizing the availability of a technical object, comprises the steps of providing a serviceable technical object; defining a service plan; defining a setpoint availability; maintaining the serviceable technical object according to the service plan; determining the actual availability of the serviceable technical object; and automatically adjusting the service plan according to a difference between the setpoint availability and the actual availability. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112673 | RULES AND WORKFLOW PROCESS INTEGRATION - In one embodiment, a computer system accesses a workflow activity from among multiple workflow activities in a workflow process within a workflow process framework. The workflow process describes a procedure for performing a piece of functionality. The workflow activity includes workflow rules, where each rule includes at least one condition and at least one workflow rule action for the condition such that when a pre-determined condition state is reached, the appropriate workflow rule action is executed. The computer system includes a workflow activity as the workflow rule action for at least one of the condition states for the rule. The workflow activity includes functionality configured to do a portion of work. The computer system provides functionality that is available to the workflow process framework to the included workflow activity as a result of the workflow activity being included in the workflow rule action. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112674 | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT REGISTRY SYSTEM - A professional development registry system comprising a processor and a storage medium operably connected to the processor, wherein the storage medium is capable of receiving and storing data representative of a first career ladder, data representative of at least one participant, data representative of at least one scholarship request, and data representative of at least one training event, and wherein the processor is operable to process said data and generate at least one report comprising at least part of said data. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112675 | AUTOMATED ORDER FULFILLMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method of operating an automated order fulfillment system for concurrently processing multiple orders, the automated order fulfillment system includes an automated storage and retrieval system having a number of storage units, each storage unit is operable to support a number of stored units, and at least one building station operable to receive stored units from the automated storage and retrieval system. The method includes the acts of generating multiple orders, each order being associated with a building station, sequentially identifying the orders associated with the building station, accessing information relating to stored units inventory, the information including the number of stored units in each storage unit of the automated storage and retrieval system, determining an allocating parameter, the allocating parameter including a date and a predetermined window of time, determining a quantity of stored units needed based on the allocating parameter and the information, and allocating stored units from the automated storage and retrieval system to the orders associated with a building station in response to determining the quantity of stored units needed. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112676 | System and method for cinema exhibition management - A cinema exhibition management (CEM) system exchanges data and communications between motion picture exhibitors and distributions without direct communication between any two users, all communications and cinema exhibition data passing through centralized data and web application servers. The central database server stores cinema exhibition data in a relational database to support execution of different user tasks for one or more CEM modules selected from film solicitation, film booking, showtimes, trailer requests and placements, box office reports and payment vouchers. A CEM application on the web application server is accessible from a plurality of remote computer terminals by distribution and exhibition users to interface with the relational database to check user permissions and assignments to filter and then display authorized cinema modules and tasks therefore, filter records from the relational database in accordance with a selected task, permissions and assignments and route the records to the user, prompt the user to perform the selected task, and change the status of records in the relational database upon completion of the task so that at least one different user can view and perform additional tasks associated with those records. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112677 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY DEVELOPING SUGGESTED OPTIMAL WORK SCHEDULES FROM UNSORTED GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL TASK LISTS - A method for optimizing individual and/or group task scheduling and time management is disclosed. A scheduling application may receive a list of tasks from a user, and apply a scheduling algorithm to organize the tasks into an ordered list. Once an ordered list of tasks has been created, the scheduling application may then fit the tasks from the task list into generated time bins. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112678 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT - A system and method for knowledge management in an organization. The system and method employs an intranet site whereby members of the organization can easily and efficiently access explicit knowledge and tacit knowledge relevant to complete processes in an organization. As members of an organization communicate and collaborate with each other using the present disclosure, new knowledge or ideas or best practices may form as a result of the collaboration which then should also be captured and codified as explicit knowledge. | 04-30-2009 |
20090119144 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR OPTIMAL PROJECT SELECTION AND TRADEOFFS - A method, system and program product for determining an optimal expected business value. The method includes inputting, into a tool, one or more projects, estimating business value, establishing impacts for resource and/or capacity demands and constraints, project dependencies, business value and risks, identifying projects to tradeoff when new projects arise and when change requests for projects emerge and determining, using the tool, an optimal project portfolio using results of the identifying step that can be utilized under any resource and capacity demands and constraints, project dependencies, business value, and risks established and based on identification of any tradeoff projects, wherein the optimal project portfolio provides an optimal expected business value for the business. The method further includes identifying, deselecting and trading off suboptimal projects in the optimal candidate project portfolio to tradeoff either when a new candidate project is inputted or when a change request arrives. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119145 | ROLLING STOCK SCHEDULING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A rolling-stock-scheduling apparatus includes a creation unit creating a graph from an initial day to a target day, the graph including nodes representing initial-day sites, target-day sites, and first operations, the first operations being defined by a departure time, a departure site, an arrival time, and an arrival site, the graph including arcs each of which indicates nodes' connectability, a setting unit setting paths that connect second operations on each day from the initial day to the target day, an exchange unit exchanging, if there is a first car which does not exist at the target-day site on the target day, each arc so that all the cars exist at target-day sites on the target day, and an output unit outputting, if second paths on which all the cars exist at the target-day sites are found, third operations corresponding to each of the second paths as a car-operation. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119146 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING TRANSACTIONS - A method and system for managing transactions. At least one resource manager (RM) for managing changes to respective system resources of a data processing system is provided. A resource manager coordinator (RMC) for coordinating commit-backout activities of the at least one resource manager is provided. The resource manager coordinator (RMC) is hosted by the data processing system. The data processing system receives a business service request from a remote computer system to perform a task. The task includes compliant processes complying with a commit/backout protocol and non-compliant processes not complying with a commit/backout protocol. The compliant processes are running on the data processing system and the non-compliant processes are running on a counterpart processing system that is coupled to the data processing system by a labile link. | 05-07-2009 |
20090125357 | Scheduling Procedure To Smooth The Flow of Air Traffic and Extend The Minimum Connect Time To a Greater Number of Passengers - A method for scheduling airplanes. Eastbound and westbound flights are scheduled to arrive to and depart from an airport within a small period of time (e.g., 5 minutes). By now scheduling both eastbound and westbound flights to arrive to and depart from an airport within a small block of time, the flow of air traffic is smoothed. Further, the scheduling structure of the present invention allows the passenger's connect time profile to be the same for all the passengers thereby extending the minimum connect time to a greater number of passengers. Further, the scheduling structure of the present invention allows staggered gating (gates are paired in such as a manner as to function as a single gate) thereby expanding gate separation as well as allowing a reduction or an elimination of the gap in times in the services being performed above and below the wings of an aircraft. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125358 | Integrated Appointment Scheduling And Targeted Advertising - Disclosed herein is a computer implemented method and system for integrated appointment scheduling and targeted advertising. A host website provides an appointment scheduling application for scheduling an appointment. A user searches for a service provider on the host website to make an appointment. The user makes the appointment with the selected service provider on the host website or through multiple communication devices. The appointment scheduling application translates the appointment from the communication devices by integrating the appointment made on the host website and the appointment made through the communication devices in an appointment calendar on the host website. The appointment scheduling application schedules the appointment of the user with the selected service provider. The user is notified with a confirmation message and appointment reminder messages upon scheduling of the appointment. The method and system disclosed herein further inserts targeted advertisements with the confirmation messages, appointment reminder messages, and electronic newsletters. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125359 | INTEGRATING A METHODOLOGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH PROJECT TASKS IN A PROJECT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Systems and methods are described for integrating a methodology management system with a project management system (“the system”). In some embodiments, the system can generate a project plan based on a project template. A project template can include a project task, an education component corresponding to the project task, a compliance factor, and a document creation rule. In various embodiments, the system includes a project management template for use with a project management tool; a synchronization engine that synchronizes data of the project management tool with an external data source; and a workflow engine that causes a workflow step to be performed based on a state of the project task. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125360 | WORKFLOW SUPPORT APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, WORKFLOW SUPPORT SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM - A user who instructs execution of reading of a paper document in which workflow information is embedded is authenticated. The workflow information contains responsible person information and the process order of the steps of a workflow. The workflow information is extracted from the obtained read image. Based on the responsible person information and the process order in the extracted workflow information and authentication information used to authenticate the user, the current step of the workflow of the read paper document is determined. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125361 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING PROTECTIVE SERVICES - The present invention relates to a method and system for providing assistance to protective teams in planning, detailing, and organizing protective services. The method and system guides users through the process of capturing relative data and providing a comprehensive set of guidelines to assist protective teams in their duties for protecting people. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125362 | 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. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125363 | Method, apparatus and computer program for employing a frame structure in wireless communication - A frame structure for scheduling radio resources includes a first time slot, followed by a plurality of other time slots each having either a second length, or a first length that is approximately double the second length. Transmissions are sent in downlink ones of the other time slots and received in uplink ones of the other timeslots. In various embodiments, the first length is 1.35 ms/19 symbols and the second length is 0.675 ms/9 symbols; the first timeslot is downlink and has length 0.852 ms/12 symbols; there is an additional guard period of 26 microseconds between the first timeslot and the other timeslot that follows the first timeslot which is uplink and has the first length; there may also be a single symbol between the guard period and that uplink timeslot for uplink signaling; and all other timeslots that are downlink are of the second length. | 05-14-2009 |
20090132319 | METHOD FOR GENERATING AN ASSET LOADING PLAN - A method for generating an asset loading plan is provided. The method determines at high accuracy which products and sales orders to load on which assets (e.g., machines) in order to gain a maximum profit. Specifically, the method generates an optimized loading plan of sales orders that were produced and a least opportunity cost loading plan of sales orders that were not produced. In accordance with one embodiment the method generates a chart that shows, for each asset (or a set of assets), the cash contribution per minute versus the number of cumulative production minutes. In accordance with another embodiment the method computes the marginal cash contribution to determine the additional cash contribution that could be made if additional production time is allocated to a specific asset. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132320 | METHOD FOR GENERATING A CONSTRAINT LOADING PLAN - A method for generating a constraint loading plan. The method determines at high accuracy which products and sales orders to load on which constraints in order to gain a maximum profit. The constraints include, but are not limited to, an assets-based constraint, emissions limits, a resource-based constraint, a market-based constraint, and so on. Specifically, the method generates an optimized loading plan of sales orders that were loaded and a least opportunity cost loading plan of sales orders that were not loaded. In accordance with one embodiment, the method generates a chart that shows, for each constraint (or a set of constraints), the cash contribution per constraint unit versus the number of cumulative constraint units. In accordance with another embodiment, the method computes the marginal cash contribution to determine the additional cash contribution that could be made if a specific constraint is relaxed. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132321 | MAINTENANCE PLANNING SYSTEM AND MAINTENANCE PLANNING METHOD - A maintenance planning system comprises a counter value acquiring unit to acquire a counter value indicating use results of consumable parts of a plurality of apparatuses that are maintenance targets; an interval information acquiring unit, among information related to a combination of a visit interval to specify a time interval to visit installation places of the plurality of apparatuses that are maintenance targets to perform a maintenance check operation for the plurality of apparatuses that are maintenance targets with a replacement interval specified to replace each consumable part and associated with the visit interval, to acquire a combination of the visit interval and the replacement interval for minimizing a predetermined cost for each consumable part of the plurality of apparatuses that are maintenance targets; a maintenance plan creation unit, on the basis of the minimized visit interval and replacement interval acquired by the interval information acquiring unit and the counter value acquired by the counter value acquiring unit, to identify the apparatus that is a maintenance target to be visited next, timing of next visit, and a consumable part to be replaced at the timing; and a display unit to display information identified by the maintenance plan creation unit on a terminal. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132322 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PLANNING, MONITORING AND ILLUSTRATING MULTIPLE TASKS BASED ON USER DEFINED CRITERIA AND PREDICTIVE ABILITY - Individual employees are permitted to be individuals and plan their work as individuals. Individuals are only asked to plan their work within a limited tasking horizon. Employees track their progress using verbs that are designed to capture the reasons behind positive and negative predictive ability. Verbs are analyzed and expected predictive error, also know as risk, is calculated. Once verbs are captured they can be analyzed for ways to improve predictive ability. In addition, the risk can be factored into the initial planning stage so as to include an expected predictive error in the initial planning. The cost, effort, churn and risk values of projects are then illustrated in a comparison form with historical limitations from past similar projects. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132323 | CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SUPPORT APPLICATION FOR A SERVICE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION THEREOF - A service management system and method. In one embodiment, the service management system includes: (1) a service description repository configured to contain service descriptions that define services in terms of a set of end points that assume roles in the services and (2) a customer service representative support application configured to collect ones of the end points mapped into roles pertaining to one of the services from a corresponding one of the service descriptions, collect key/value pairs on the ones of the end points pertaining to an issue with respect to the one of the services, evaluate the key/value pairs using optimal values and, if a predefined condition regarding the issue is met, attempt to employ the key/value pairs to address the issue. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132324 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY REPAIRING AND MAINTAINING A TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE USING SERVICE RELATIONSHIPS AND SERVICE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM EMPLOYING THE SAME - A service management system and method. In one embodiment, the service management system includes: (1) a service description repository configured to contain service descriptions that define services in terms of a set of systems and devices that assume roles based on at least one of capabilities and attributes thereof and (2) a service management engine coupled to the service description repository and configured to employ one of the service descriptions to repair a corresponding one of the services using a predefined relationship among a subscriber, at least one of the systems and devices and optimal values. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132325 | Methods, Systems, and Products for Providing Communications Services - Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing communications services. A request for data is processed, and a data stream is received to fulfill the request. A determination is made that a subcontracted processing service is required. At least a portion of the data stream is subcontracted to a different service provider to receive the subcontracted processing service. A result of the subcontracted processing service is received. | 05-21-2009 |
20090138310 | METHOD FOR ACCESSING VETERINARY HEALTH CARE INFORMATION AND FINANCING VETERINARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES - A method for accessing veterinary health care information via an Internet website, wherein subscribers to the website are able to search and review a library of veterinary health care information, ask questions of a qualified veterinarian, schedule one-on-one consultations as well as office visits with a qualified veterinarian, and purchase veterinary health care products. Using this method, subscribers may also finance veterinary health care products and services using a pet health savings account. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138311 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPUTER AIDED WORK ORDER SCHEDULING - Disclosed is a method for scheduling work orders where a user receives a request to schedule a work order, and then a labor amount value is assigned to the work order request. The work order is assigned a labor amount requirement, and the labor amount requirement is compared to a labor amount capacity for the requested days. Additionally the scheduler attempts to verify any essential information. Finally the work order is assigned an actionable for dispatch status. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138312 | Method for allocating resources to jobs using network flow algorithms - A resource allocation system is described in which resources and jobs are arranged as a network flow graph. In the system, resources are allocated to jobs using a network flow algorithm applied to the graph. The algorithm is applied from a graph source to a graph sink by finding a solution progressively for each time interval. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138313 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING FACILITY POWER AND COOLING - Systems and methods are provided for determining data center resource requirements, such as cooling and power requirements, and for monitoring performance of data center resource systems, such as cooling and power systems, in data centers. At least one aspect provides a system and method that enables a data center operator to determine available data center resources, such as power and cooling, at specific areas and enclosures in a data center to assist in locating new equipment in the data center. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138314 | Method and system for locating a workforce - The present invention generally relates to a computer-implemented method and system that helps a user or any other person to organization that needs to choose or allocate resources between or among geographical areas on the basis of key demographic variables. More specifically, the present invention uses computer automated SQL statements to extract, integrate, and index disparate data associated with at least one database over a Network. Non-limiting examples of disparate data may include statistical data essential to quantifying various industry and occupation variables that is mined from federal and/or private databases and maintained on a private database. Common geographical areas may link the disparate data, which is returned to the user as viewable raw data and/or index values. A user may then compare disparate data essential to quantifying and qualifying industry and occupation variables on an “apples to apples” basis. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138315 | Method and system for assessing process conformance in the production of products - A method for assessing conformance to principles in the production of products within an organization having at least two hierarchical levels is provided. The method includes defining a plurality of organizational principles that apply to the organization as a whole. The method also includes sending a request to a plurality of members within a lower of the at least two hierarchical levels to provide a plurality of responses to a plurality of predefined question statements. Each of the question statements corresponds to a particular one of the organizational principles and is associated with at least one predetermined numerical value. The method also includes calculating a first score for each of the organizational principles using the responses to a set of the question statements corresponding to the each of the organizational principles and using the at least one predetermined numerical value associated with the set of the question statements. The first score is indicative of a first level of compliance with the each of the organizational principles. The method also includes calculating a second score using a plurality of the first scores. The second score is indicative of a second level of compliance with the plurality of the organizational principles. The method also includes sending the second score to a higher of the at least two hierarchical levels. | 05-28-2009 |
20090144115 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING FACILITIES MANAGEMENT BASED ON WEATHER VULNERABILITY - An approach is provided for managing facilities (e.g., wire centers) based on weather vulnerability analysis. Data representing trouble tickets associated with a plurality of facilities is received. Weather information relating to the facilities is received. A determination is made of the vulnerability of the facilities to weather based on the data and the weather information. The facilities are prioritized based on the determined vulnerability. Preventative maintenance activities (as well as financial forecasts) can be performed for one or more of the facilities based on the prioritization of the facilities. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144116 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR COLLABORATIVE WATERSHED RESTORATION PROJECTS - Embodiments of the present invention provide for systems, apparatuses, and methods for collaborative watershed restoration projects, which may include one or more restoration actions involving a variety of different stakeholders that, when completed, provides a positive contribution to the ecological health of at least one watershed. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144117 | AUTOMATICALLY PRESCRIBING TOTAL BUDGET FOR MARKETING AND SALES RESOURCES AND ALLOCATION ACROSS SPENDING CATEGORIES - A facility for automatically prescribing, for a distinguished offering, an allocation of resources to a total marketing budget and/or individual marketing activities is described. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144118 | METHOD FOR MANAGING A TRANSITION PERIOD DURING REPLACEMENT OF SOFTWARE OR BUSINESS PROCESS - A method for managing a transition period during which a software application is replaced in a commercial organization is provided. The method comprises the steps of: providing a transition plan for execution during the transition period; providing a contingency plan to allow for contingency responses in case of unexpected events occurring during the execution of said transition plan; confirming readiness of at least part of the transition plan and the contingency plan; and carrying out the transition plan. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144119 | BUSINESS PROCESS FLOWCHART EDITING PROGRAM AND BUSINESS PROCESS FLOWCHART EDITING METHOD - A business process flowchart editing apparatus manages information about a business process flowchart and risks and controls, and their relation into a business process model in a unified manner, and is provided with an editing function of editing these pieces of information and an analyzing function of inconsistency check and analysis on a change ripple, thereby increasing efficiency in documentation of internal control. | 06-04-2009 |
20090150203 | ONLINE PERSONAL APPEARANCE ADVISOR - Architecture for providing feedback to a viewer and/or contributor on fashion and other personal appearance decisions that the contributor desires. The contributor uploads self images for viewing and rating (or voting) by viewers who choose provide an opinion on different fashion and/or cosmetic looks of the contributor. The contributor takes images show the contributor presented with a number (e.g., two) of different fashion choices. The snapshots can then be processed for upload to a website or other accessible location by one or more viewers. The viewers can cast a vote for one of the images by selecting the desired image, in response to which the viewer and/or contributor will be presented with overall statistics for that set of images as to how other viewers voted, as well as a next set of photos depicting the user in a different fashion and/or cosmetic choice. This process can continue until terminated. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150204 | INTERACTIVE SALES PLANNER - The interactive sales planner allows users (e.g., salespersons) to make real time sales decisions in accordance with a profit-maximizing business (e.g., sales) plan. The interactive sales planner uses target information of an optimized business plan generated using business data of an organization. The method is highly efficient in organizations having many products, many customers, and complex production facilities with multiple, interactive product flows. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150205 | CAPITAL ALLOCATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - In an exemplary system, a capital allocation subsystem is selectively and communicatively coupled to a project screening subsystem. The project screening subsystem is configured to aggregate project data corresponding to a plurality of potential projects within an organization and communicate the project data to the capital allocation subsystem. The capital allocation subsystem is configured to facilitate input of one or more constraints on allocation of capital among the potential projects and adjust at least one of the constraints to select a subset of the potential projects for the allocation of the capital such that a return on the capital is optimized. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150206 | NOTIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for generating and communicating notifications is provided. The system includes a notification generator in communication with a database. As information is uploaded into the database, the notification generator may populate the notifications with the information stored in the database before automatically transmitting the notifications. Accordingly, the method may include, but is not limited to, steps of receiving a service request, generating the order commitment notification based on the service request, and automatically transmitting the notification. The steps of the method may be performed by a computer, and specifically, a computer-readable medium may contain instructions for controlling the computer to perform the method steps. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150207 | GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION OF AN ADDRESSABLE SPOT GUIDE FOR ALTERNATE CONTENT INSERTION IN MULTICAST WIRELESS TRANSMISSION - An addressable spot-guide (ASG) is the metadata generated from the advertisement (ad) campaign criteria, the schema of the available ad spots and the characteristics of the ad or ads inserted into the ad-spot. The ASG is generated and transferred into the mobile hand-held viewing platform, typically in advance of the content arrival, through any means available. The ASG enables the recognition, filtering, download and storage of ads on the viewing platform of the focused group for which the ad is meant. The ad is inserted into the content stream at the appropriate ad-spot based on the instructions contained in the ASG. As a result of the ASG, individuals in different target groups will view the same content, but different ads that are targeted to their personal characteristics. The ads are prioritized based on importance to the ad campaign. | 06-11-2009 |
20090157459 | COLLABORATIVE PROJECT MANAGEMENT - A method for integrating a collaboration application with a project management application includes linking the activity with a task in the project management application in response to creation of an activity in the collaboration application. The collaboration application also receives a specification of a relationship between the activity and the task, including any dependencies between the activity and the task. The project management application is then updated with the activity. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157460 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING PRODUCT AND SERVICE DATA - Product/service data may be provided to consumers in an environment of manufacturers/service providers, distributors and consumers linked via a data broker. The data broker may provide product/service data in response to receiving identifiers associated with products/services. The identifiers may be generated by the data broker. The identifiers may be provided to the consumers. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157461 | VEHICLE DEPLOYMENT PLANNING SYSTEM - A vehicle deployment planning method and system are provided for planning a convoy that travels on at least one roadway using a convoy planning tool. The tool includes a computer processor, data storage, and machine language instructions that enable the tool to perform the following tasks. The tool finds one or more available vehicles for the convoy. The tool displays the one or more available vehicles in a vehicle corral. The user of the tool selects one or more vehicles from the vehicle corral. The user places the selected one or more vehicles in a position in the convoy. The tool displays the placed one or more vehicles in the convoy. The tool determines a convoy configuration is complete and then displays the complete convoy configuration. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157462 | Content Hierarchy - Systems and methods for automating and increasing the efficiency of business processes using a hierarchical content structure. In one embodiment, A method comprises providing a plurality of business information items, defining a hierarchical content structure of the business information items, associating access rights for a first role with a first one of the business information items, and automatically enabling access by positions associated with the first role to the first one of the business information items and business information items below the first one of the business information items in the hierarchical content structure. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157463 | Approver Identification Using Multiple Hierarchical Role Structures - Systems and methods for automating and increasing the efficiency of business processes using multiple hierarchical role structures. In one embodiment, a method comprises defining two or more hierarchies, defining an approver for a business process where the approver is associated with at least a first role in a first one of the hierarchies and a second role in a second one of the hierarchies, and identifying an approver position within an organization where the approver position is associated with the first and second roles. The hierarchies may, for example, be selected from a hierarchy of functional roles, a hierarchy of legal roles and a hierarchy of level roles. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157464 | Automated Execution of Business Processes Using Reverse Nesting - Systems and methods for providing interaction of multiple business process events by nesting the information from prerequisite events into a business process that is dependent on those processes to transact. In one embodiment, a business process comprises a first event that is launched by users, completed events or application calls and one or more secondary events that are launched by the first event. While the first event and secondary events are pending, the first event provides information which it has processed to at least a first one of the secondary events prior to completion of the first event. The first one of the secondary events begins processing the information prior to completion of the first event and the first and secondary events are then completed to conclude execution of the business process. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157465 | METHOD FOR MAPPING ANTICIPATED FUTURE EVENTS IN A DOMAIN - Disclosed is a method for mapping anticipated future events in a domain. A multidimensional event field is assembled to include a depository of events related to the domain. The event field includes a plurality of dimensions. The depository of events from the event field is assessed to formulate at least one subset having high probability anticipated future events. At least one future scenario is extracted from the event field based on assessment of the depository of events. Each of the at least one future scenario represents a specific picture about a future of the domain. The method of the present invention helps in enhancing ability of organizations to prepare for future; aids decision makers to create internal processes for anticipating risks and challenges that await the organizations; and develop strategies to deal with the risks and challenges. | 06-18-2009 |
20090164285 | AUTO-CASCADING CLEAR TO BUILD ENGINE FOR MULTIPLE ENTERPRISE ORDER LEVEL PARTS MANAGEMENT - Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for an auto-cascading clear to build (CTB) tool for multiple enterprise parts management. A method for auto-cascading (CTB) for multiple enterprise parts management can include receiving a demand resulting in an inventory requirement to satisfy the demand, soft allocating inventory meeting a portion of the inventory requirement from multiple different intra-plant locations in an order of priority specified by a set of inventory location priority rules, further soft allocating inventory meeting a remaining portion of the inventory requirement from inventory of multiple different external suppliers in an order of priority specified by the set of inventory location priority rules, and hard reserving the soft allocated inventory and updating inventory levels both in each of the intra-plant locations and also in the external suppliers. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164286 | APPLICATION PROGRAM INTERFACE AND GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR DISTRIBUTING AN ADVERTISEMENT BUDGET IN A MOBILE ENVIRONMENT - Systems and methods for allocating advertisement budget information is provided. In one implementation, the method may include receiving, via a user interface, a total budget for an account comprising at least one mobile based advertisement campaign and receiving, via the user interface, distribution information for apportioning the total budget over at least a mobile based advertisement campaign of the at least one mobile based advertisement campaign. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164287 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTIMIZING PRESENTATION OF MEDIA CONTENT ON A WIRELESS DEVICE BASED ON USER BEHAVIOR - Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer program products are presented for optimizing the presentation of media content, such as advertising content, on a wireless device. The present aspects provide for determining, at the wireless device, which media content to present based on historical user usage behavior stored locally on the wireless device. In this regard, the described methods, apparatus, and systems are completely wireless device-based and, as such, do not require for back-end servers or other network devices to intervene in deciding what media content should be communicated to the wireless device and/or presented on the wireless device. Therefore, the present aspects provide for a simple and cost effective approach to targeted media content presentation that additionally affords the wireless device user a level of privacy. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164288 | Scheduling Apparatus, Scheduling Method and Recording Medium - Has a resource/period management part ( | 06-25-2009 |
20090171728 | SIMULATION FRAMEWORK FOR EVALUATING DESIGNS FOR SPONSORED SEARCH MARKETS - The present invention provides a method and apparatus for sponsored Internet-based search simulation. The present invention includes receiving a search query sequence that represents a search query and selecting one or more advertisements based on the search query sequence. The present invention further includes filtering the plurality of advertisements based on advertising budget data and determining a number of user-selections on the advertisements using a pre-calculated user-selection model. The present invention further includes updating advertiser account information regarding advertising rates in response to the number of user-selections and generating simulation log data reflecting the advertisings, user-selections and advertising account information. This technique thereby performs the simulation based on user search queries, in response to user-selection models and references the user-selection and advertisement with advertisement budget data, consistent with live sponsored search result operations. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171729 | Method for Assembling a Business Process and for Orchestrating the Process Based on Process Beneficiary Information - A system for assembling a business process or a portion thereof includes a rules base containing executable rules and defined business process elements, a workflow orchestration engine, and at least one interface available to a process beneficiary. Information known about and or provided by a process beneficiary interacting with the at least one interface is used to execute one or more of the rules causing assembly of a new business process or a portion thereof according to workflow orchestration rules the new or modified process directing servicing of the process beneficiary accordingly. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171730 | NON-DISRUPTIVELY CHANGING SCOPE OF COMPUTER BUSINESS APPLICATIONS BASED ON DETECTED CHANGES IN TOPOLOGY - A change to resource scope is to be made. Responsive to the changed resource scope, the IT environment is changed. This change is performed non-disruptively. Further, during the change, management to the existing resource scope is continued. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171731 | USE OF GRAPHS IN MANAGING COMPUTING ENVIRONMENTS - Resource graphs are provided for use in managing Information Technology environments. The resource graphs include representations of resources of the environment and their relationships. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171732 | NON-DISRUPTIVELY CHANGING A COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT - A change to a goal specified for an IT environment is to be made. Responsive to the changed goal, the IT environment is changed. This change is performed non-disruptively. Further, during the change, management to the existing goal is continued. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171733 | DYNAMIC SELECTION OF ACTIONS IN AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENT - Management of an Information Technology environment is facilitated by preparing the environment for management. The environment is prepared for a specific management goal, such as an availability goal or a performance goal. To prepare the environment, one or more recommended preparatory actions are selected, initiated and monitored. Resources associated with the actions are also monitored. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171734 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RESERVING SCHEDULING TIME - A method and computer program product for reserving scheduling time includes defining a reserve time period in a scheduling system for a user. A reserve user group is defined including one or more reserve users, and the reserve user group is associated with the reserve time period. Scheduling permissions are assigned for the reserve time period based upon, at least in part, the associated reserve user group. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171735 | AUTOMATED KITTING FOR SHORT BUILD MANUFACTURING - A method for managing production of a product when components of the product are missing during a manufacturing process is provided. The method includes applying a first set of rules for determining whether a short work unit can be released for manufacturing and clearing the short work unit to build. The method further includes allocating for manufacturing components of the short work unit present in inventory and storing a record including a list of short components. The method further includes generating a first kit and storing a record including a location of the first kit. The method further includes initiating manufacturing of the first kit and determining that at least one of the short components of the short work unit are present in inventory. The method further includes generating a second kit for the short components of the short work unit that are present in inventory. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171736 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CENTRALIZED MANAGEMENT OF SOURCES OF SUPPLY - Methods, systems, and software for determining sources of supply are provided. The system for determining sources of supply is centralized so as to be accessible to a plurality of clients. Sources of supply may be determined and the results prioritized according to user defined criteria. Specifically, the system may offer or facilitate a reusable, centralized service that can data mine sources of supply, which are stored in a business object. These sources of supply may include transportation lane, purchase contract, scheduling agreement, material costing, and any other suitable sources of supply. In some cases, this example system can assign priorities to centralized sources of supply that may help make decisions easier for the planner. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171737 | Vehicle Sales Space System - The present invention relates to a method for managing a vehicle sales geographic location/site and a method for facilitating vehicle sales in a Vehicle Sales Space System (VSS System) by managing and organizing the flow of people, vehicles, and material through the site. The VSS System has been developed using the latest technology to provide a safe, secure, and economical way to sell a vehicle at a secure access site. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171738 | SERVICE PROVIDING SYSTEM, SERVICE PROVIDING METHOD AND PROGRAM - A service providing system for providing a user with service, includes a service providing unit which provides service, a service provision right storing unit which stores a service provision right necessary for providing the service, and a service provision right manufacturing unit which manufactures the service provision right, wherein the service providing unit includes a function of obtaining the service provision right from the service provision right storing unit to provide service, the service provision right storing unit includes a function of storing the service provision right up to a predetermined storage capacity, and the service provision right manufacturing unit includes a function of manufacturing the service provision right defined by a manufacture amount at a manufacturing interval set in advance. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171739 | Special Occasion Reminder and Gift Giving System - A method for on-line shopping for special occasions includes the steps of providing a link to a network accessible website, receiving and storing data from a user identifying at least one recipient, wherein the data includes at least one special occasion date, sending a notification to the user prior to the special occasion date, wherein the notification reminds the user of the special occasion date, offering a plurality of gifts for on line ordering via the website, receiving and storing an order for a gift in advance of the special occasion date and sending the gift to the recipient a predetermined number of days prior to the special occasion. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171740 | Contextual management system - An automated system ( | 07-02-2009 |
20090171741 | BSM Problem Analysis Programmable Apparatus - A system (apparatus), computer implemented method, and program product for analyzing a problem in a distributed processing business system used to provide a service comprises identifying the problem; preparing for an audit; performing the audit; reviewing the audit; developing an action plan; developing an execution plan; deploying a solution in accordance with the execution plan; monitoring the deployed solution; and recording lessons learned. Alternatively, the system (apparatus), computer implemented method, and program product may be applied to evaluate the capacity of a distributed processing business system to provide a prospective service. In this alternative embodiment, the system (apparatus), computer implemented method, and program product comprises identifying the problem; preparing for an audit; performing the audit; reviewing the audit; preparing a rating table; populating the rating table with results from the audit; calculating a service rating based upon the results entered in the rating table; and presenting the service rating to management. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171742 | SCHEDULING SYSTEM - A scheduler combines characteristics of a forward and backward schedulers to determine a schedule for activities that require the use of resources. The system handles conflicting requirements for resources by considering target dates and the relative priority of the activities. As a result, higher priority activities are more likely to be scheduled to complete on or before their target date than are lower priority activities. | 07-02-2009 |
20090177513 | Device and Method for Dynamic Itinerary Planning and Tracking for Mobile Communications Device - A dynamic tracking application for a mobile communications device is disclosed. The dynamic tracking application enters itinerary events into the mobile communications device to create an itinerary. The itinerary events are plotted on a map that can be displayed by the mobile communications device. The itinerary is then executed by calculating and storing directions to get from one itinerary event to the next itinerary event and calculating and storing estimated departure and arrival times between itinerary events. This is compared to the current time and location of the mobile communications device to further determine whether the user can arrive on time at the next scheduled itinerary event based on the calculated time and distance to the next scheduled itinerary event. If not, the user is prompted to edit the itinerary or it can be done automatically. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177514 | SERVICES USING GLOBALLY DISTRIBUTED INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SECURE CONTENT MANAGEMENT - Secure content management is enabled as a cloud-based service through which security protection and policy enforcement may be implemented for both on-premise network users and roaming users. The global SCM service integrates the security functionalities—such as anti-virus, spyware, and phishing protection, firewall, intrusion detection, centralized management, and the like—that are typically provided by enterprise network SCM appliance hardware or servers into a cloud-based service that users reach via Internet-based points-of-presence (“POPs”). The POPs are configured with forward proxy servers, and in some implementations, caching and network acceleration components, and coupled to hubs which provide configuration management and identity management services such as active directory services. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177515 | System and method for prioritizing the transformation activities to optimize the resulting infrastructure improvements - The present invention provides a variety of aspects, which may be combined in different ways to present embodiments of an easy-to-use, straightforward method and apparatus for performing interactive optimization analysis on different classes and subclasses of infrastructure articles by allowing a user to modify different parameters (such as inflation, revenue amounts, budget allocations, etc.) that affect the amount of funding available to perform improvement activities on each of a plurality classes of infrastructure articles, and to determine the expected results, in order to prioritize the said transformation activities so as to optimize the impacts of the improvement transformation activities on the global set of infrastructure articles. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177516 | Redistribution of Parts in a Distribution Network - Redistributing parts includes defining locations. An actual inventory of parts is established among the locations, and a desired allocation of the parts is established among the locations. A demand for the parts at each location is determined using the actual inventory and the desired allocation. Paths are determined, where a path transfers an excess part from one location to another location. A transfer function describing a cost of transferring the excess part along the paths is generated. The transfer function is optimized to achieve the desired allocation of the excess parts at a minimum cost. | 07-09-2009 |
20090187449 | System and method for managing unscheduled maintenance and repair decisions - A system for managing unscheduled maintenance and repair decisions may include a maintenance swap options prioritizer. The maintenance swap options prioritizer may include a data access and transformation module to find and assemble information from different sources for computing performance data and generating a list of prioritized swap options. The maintenance swap options prioritizer may also include an options selection module to generate the list of prioritized swap options based on the information found and assembled by the data access and transformation module and based on any user preferences. The maintenance swap options prioritizer may also include means to present the performance data and list of prioritized swap options to at least one user. The maintenance swap options prioritizer may further include means to permit collaborative decision making and planning by multiple users to manage shared maintenance and repair resources. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187450 | System for optimizing transportation scheduling - A computer modeling application is disclosed for finding the optimal solution to maximize total net margin, for the assignment of vehicles (e.g., especially vessels) in an available fleet to perform a set of voyages to transport cargo comprising one or more bulk products during a planning period, as well as an apparatus and method employing the same. The fleet can include term vehicles and spot vehicles. The vehicles, voyages, and cargos can be heterogeneous. In one embodiment, the vehicles are crude carrier vessels and the bulk products are different grades of crude oil. To increase speed, the model is broken into linear programming and mixed integer (linear) programming problems. The model can be run on a real-time basis to support complex scheduling operations. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187451 | METHOD, COMPUTER AND PROGRAM FOR ASSIGNING SEAT TO PERSON - The present invention has the object of providing a method of managing changes of assignments in response to various disturbances that may occur up to the work date after creating an assignment plan. A computer | 07-23-2009 |
20090192856 | Business method for originating mortgages - A method and model for originating mortgages is provided that includes a team of members for originating a mortgage having a first team member who supervises a second and third team member and provides home buying consulting services preferably as a licensed real estate agent and mortgage consulting services to a home buyer. The second team member is primarily responsible for the mortgage loan coordination. The third team member is primarily responsible for the mortgage loan processing. The first team member is compensated for providing the mortgage consulting services. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192857 | Product Lifecycle Management Method and Apparatus - A method for synchronizing activities during design of an industrial automated system wherein the automated system includes a plurality of different features and the design of the automated system requires at least first and second different information types, the method comprising the steps of using a first software program to specify a first type system definition including a set of first information type instances corresponding to the automated system, after the first type system definition has been specified, using a second software program to specify a second type system definition including a set of second information type instances corresponding to the automated system, after the second type system definition has been specified, comparing the first and second system definitions to identify system features supported by only one of the first and second type system definitions and where only one of the first and second type system definitions supports a system feature, the second software program providing notice to the first software program indicating that the first and second type system definitions are imperfectly correlated. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192858 | Coordination And Management Of Operational Activities Subject to Uncertainty - Operational activities of an enterprise are managed by producing a data record comprising a contingent performance deliverable (CPD) that specifies a set of rights and obligations for two or more parties to the CPD with respect to operational activities of the parties to the CPD, wherein the rights and obligations are defined over a set of uncertain potential future events (SPFE). The CPD is processed to provide an evaluation of likely result of the specified rights and obligations of the parties to the CPD with respect to operational activities of at least one organizational entity comprising an analysis entity, and with respect to sources of uncertainty related to the operational activities of the analysis entity over the SPFE. An output report is generated in accordance with the evaluation. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192859 | SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING SCHEDULE MANAGEMENT, SCHEDULE MANAGEMENT METHOD AND PROGRAM - A system includes a structure information obtaining unit which obtains structure information containing information on components of a development target in a project and on dependency relationships between the components, the structure information described, e.g., in SysML, a work item determining unit which determines work items and a work execution order based on the structure information obtained by the structure information obtaining unit; a detailed item determining unit; a date scheduling unit and a WBS storage which manages the determined work items and work execution order as work schedule definition information. The work item determining unit determines a work item related to a leaf component, which is a component not including any other component, and determines, in a case where all of the multiple components included in a single predetermined component are leaf components, a work item related to a coupling relationship between the leaf components. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192860 | System and Method for Managing Business Partnerships as they Evolve Across all Aspects of the Content Creation and Advertising Value Chain - The present invention relates to managing a multi-directional advertising value chain and effectively managing a very large number of partnerships where each partner can, over time, fulfill any and all of the piece of that value chain simultaneously. According to the present invention, tracking, accounting, controlling and netting out of compensation for the various pieces of the is flexible enough to dynamically adjust any piece of the advertising value chain as business relationships evolve. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192861 | Client Apparatus, Server Apparatus, Meeting Arrangement System, and Meeting Arrangement Method - Disclosed is a client apparatus including a communication unit, a first generator to generate friendship information indicating a friendship between a first user of the client apparatus and each of second users of the plurality of other client apparatuses, a storage unit to store schedule information and meeting history information, a second generator to generate desired meeting date/time information of the first user, a third generator to generate desired meeting place information of the first user, a fourth generator to generate meeting member candidate information, and a controller to control the communication unit to transmit, to the server apparatus, the desired meeting date/time information, the desired meeting place information, and the meeting member candidate information. | 07-30-2009 |
20090198547 | Catering method and system - A single caterer or multiple caterers may provide individualized meals for a large number of customers at a number of different institutions. A server computer has individual accounts for each customer, caterer, institution accounts grouping the customers by the institution with which they are affiliated, and an administration account for management functions and kitchen related modules such as preparation sheets. Significantly, with the method of the invention that relationship need not include any food preparation, billing for food, or menu collation, creation or the like by the institution. The kitchen will prepare a monthly menu of options available to the customers, who use individual accounts to access the monthly menu of choices and select menu options for each day and pay the caterer using a payment module. The catering system of the invention then handles payments to the caterers. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198548 | SYSTEM TO AVOID POLICY-BASED DEADLOCKS IN WORKFLOW EXECUTION - A computer-implemented method avoids policy-based deadlocks in execution of a workflow. The method includes receiving information describing a workflow. The workflow includes tasks, roles, site of tasks and security constraints related to the tasks. A data structure, representative of relationships between the tasks and the security constraints is automatically generated. An automated, design-time evaluation is performed using the data structure to determine a minimal number of resources to be assigned to the roles in order to execute the tasks of the workflow, and to avoid deadlock in execution of the tasks of the workflow as a result of security constraints. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198549 | Automated Repair System and Method for Network-Addressable Components - A system, and a corresponding method provide for automated repair of network-addressable components belonging to an enterprise. The system includes a service event filter that receives information related to the operation of the component and in real time determines if the received information indicates a serviceable event; and a service event analyzer coupled to the service event filter. The service event analyzer determines in real time an applicable procedure for repair or replacement of the component, and formats in real time the information related to the operation of the component and the applicable procedure into a machine-readable message. Finally, the system includes a serviceable event interface that provides in real time the machine-readable message to a remote service center and receives an indication related to dispatch of a replacement for the component. | 08-06-2009 |
20090204459 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY PRIORITIZING OPPORTUNITY BASED CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTS - A method and system for automatically prioritizing a plurality of customer requirements. A request for fulfilling a product-modifying customer requirement is received. Prioritization data associated with the customer requirement is obtained. The prioritization data includes revenue opportunity sizes, time constraints, the request's age, and indications of whether the product requires an operating system included in a predefined strategic operating system list and whether revenue associated with a business opportunity is lost if the request is rejected. Component scores for customer requirement-related variables are determined by evaluating formulas that include the variables. Evaluating the formulas includes applying weights to the variables and substituting the prioritization data for the variables. A priority score for prioritizing the customer requirement relative to other customer requirements is automatically determined by summing the component scores. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204460 | Method and System For Workforce Optimization - A method, system and computer program product for workforce optimization in a service oriented industry, the method comprising planning and executing a business scheme which include providing as input business planning parameters relevant to the business scheme; developing a business plan to execute the business scheme based on the business planning parameters; identifying and allocating relevant resources for executing the business plan; intimating the identified resources with the plan to execute the business scheme. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204461 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WORKFORCE OPTIMIZATION - A system for workforce optimization in a service oriented industry, the system comprising a workforce optimization unit configured for planning and executing a business scheme which include providing as input business planning parameters relevant to the business scheme; developing a business plan to execute the business scheme based on the business planning parameters; identifying and allocating relevant resources for executing the business plan; intimating the identified resources with the plan to execute the business scheme. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204462 | TRADE SERVICES MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A system (and corresponding methodology) that supports trade services back office processing to enhance efficiency and productivity is provided. The system employs a unique consolidated screen layout that significantly improves the productivity of the users. Essentially, the system and page layout is composed of the following components: Queue Well, Activity Center, Message Center, Viewing Center and Action Tab. These components facilitate organization of panels that creates an intuitive user interface experience. The system employs a navigational hierarchy of Queue Well to Activity Center and then to the Message and Viewing Centers as appropriate. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204463 | METHOD, TOOL, AND SYSTEM FOR ANALYZING A PROJECT - A tool for performing project management analysis on a project. Also disclosed are a system and a method of analyzing the project. The tool includes a project manager implemented to receive project data relating to a schedule, a discrete event simulator to create a model of the project using the project data and to perform a simulation with the model, a database, and an interface to promote interaction between the project manager, the discrete event simulator, and the database. | 08-13-2009 |
20090210276 | AD HOC AND OPPORTUNISTIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES - Individuals can be organized into travel groups in plans constructed in advance or in real-time to save resources and travel in an efficient manner. Multi-segment trips between starting points and destinations can be constructed with several vehicles, including private, public, and commercial transportation assets. Numerous requests for real-time or planned recurrent commutes by a population of users can be considered in a larger analysis that seeks to optimize one or more attributes such as vehicle usage and/or greenhouse emissions. Data concerning multiple related individuals can be gathered and analyzed—based upon the analysis, a determination can be made if it is logical to group individuals together such that they physically travel together. A transportation asset provider and/or individuals can be offered a reward to become part of the travel group and/or to perform specific tasks related to the travel group, such as using a vehicle with a certain fuel type. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210277 | System and method for managing a geographically-expansive construction project - In an exemplary embodiment, a system for managing a geographically-expansive construction project includes a database of construction project data, the data including geographic location information, terrain data having geographic location information, and a geographic information system (GIS) operable to display the construction project data and terrain data in proper geographic correlation so that a project manager or other user can visually monitor view the status of the construction project. The project manager and other users can update construction project data so that the status display maintains a current view of the construction project. Input from owners of properties affected by the construction project is entered by customer relations representatives, that input is viewable by the project manager as well as field crews working on the construction project. Associated exemplary methods are also presented. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210278 | MAINTENANCE SCHEDULING SYSTEM, MAINTENANCE SCHEDULING METHOD, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A maintenance scheduling system that lays out a maintenance schedule for an image forming apparatus includes an actual-use-result acquiring unit that acquires actual use result information of consumables, a failure-probability-distribution estimating unit that estimates failure probability distributions of the consumables, a cost-related-constant acquiring unit that acquires cost related constants of the consumables, a first cost calculating unit that calculates, for each of plural visit interval values, cost per unit time required for the image forming apparatus, a visit-interval calculating unit that calculates the visit interval value giving minimum cost, a second cost calculating unit that calculates, for each of plural replacement interval values, cost per unit time required for the image forming apparatus, a replacement-interval calculating unit that calculates a calculated replacement interval value, and a maintenance-schedule presenting unit that presents the next visit time and at least one of the consumables to be replaced in the visit. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210279 | Method for Simultaneously Considering Customer Support Dates and Customer Request Dates - The invention disclosed here is a method for achieving simultaneous consideration of multiple customer demand dates within an advanced planning system. The invention provides a method of production planning that considers multiple due dates. The invention solves a production planning model based upon the second (commit) date to produce a first solution, sorts the demand records in order of importance, and then re-solves the production planning model based upon the first (request) date to produce a second solution. The re-solving process is performed on each demand item in the sorted order of importance. The invention optimizes between the first solution and the second solution. Before re-solving the production planning model, the invention changes the lower bound constraints on backorder variables. The re-solving process changes the required date for a single demand item, and this re-solving process is repeated for all demand items that have a first (request) date that is before a corresponding required date. The invention reports the optimal solution produced during the optimizing process. The system and method integrate the consideration of multiple demand dates with an advanced planning system for optimizing established planning objectives (e.g. customer service, short lead times, low inventory, and prioritized allocation of supply and capacity) to compute a feasible production plan for the division. | 08-20-2009 |
20090216594 | Vineyard Information Collection and Management System - A vineyard information collection and management system is provided. The system allows a variety of information at one or more vineyards to be collected in real time, processed at a central server, and provided to users over the Internet using customizable, easy-to-use forms and pages accessible using a conventional web browser. The system includes planning, analysis, and management tools that assist in making purchasing, operations, and management decisions at one or more vineyards The invention includes a plurality of software modules that provide useful, real-time information about vineyards. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216595 | SYSTEM, METHODS AND COMPUTER PRODUCTS TO MANAGE AN INDIVIDUAL MEETING WITH A TEAM - Systems, methods and computer program products for managing an individual meeting within a team. Exemplary embodiments include a method for managing individual meetings for all attendees of a team, the method including storing individual times slots for each attendee, determining a maximum number of time slots, for each available attendee saving a time slot count, for each time slot saving an eligible attendee count, allocating slots in which one attendee has a free time, setting remaining time slots as busy, decrementing an eligible attendee count and determining if the maximum number of time slots has been reached. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216596 | ESTIMATING ADVERTISEMENT PLACEMENT COSTS - The invention concerns estimating advertisement placement costs, for example, the placement of an advertisement in a newspaper The invention allows users ( | 08-27-2009 |
20090216597 | AUTOMATICALLY PRESCRIBING TOTAL BUDGET FOR MARKETING AND SALES RESOURCES AND ALLOCATION ACROSS SPENDING CATEGORIES - In one embodiment a software facility that uses a qualitative description of a subject offering to automatically prescribe both (1) a total budget for marketing and sales resources for a subject offering and (2) an allocation of that total budget over multiple spending categories—also referred to as “activities”—in a manner intended to optimize a business outcome such as profit for the subject offering based on experimentally-obtained econometric data (“the facility”) is provided. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216598 | Methods and Systems for Planning Configurable Manufacturing Capacity - The present invention comprises methods and systems that provide manufacturing capacity configuration, allocation, and procurement plans based on manufacturing demand, operational constraints, and other user inputs. This is generally accomplished by modeling the capabilities of the equipment comprising the capacity at its lowest allowed level of configurability. By defining capacity requirements at those same or lower levels, configuration, allocation, and procurement plans can be generated from an aggregated capacity demand forecast. In addition, the present invention allows for constraints (e.g. special equipment limitations, demand priorities, temporal requirements, financial targets, etc.) from various business areas to be considered when generating the plans. Furthermore, for each plan, the present invention also identifies any excess capacity—again described at the lowest allowed level of configurability—and generates expected manufacturing, financial, and other performance metrics. | 08-27-2009 |
20090222309 | System and Method for Notifying Multiple Devices of Impending Events - An event notification system includes a provision module, a scheduling module, and a notification module. The provision module is adapted to determine multiple types of devices associated with subscribed services of a user account. The scheduling module is adapted to store a calendar event, and further adapted to generate an impending event signal based upon an impending occurrence of the calendar event. The notification module is in communication with the provision module and the scheduling module. The notification module is adapted receive the impending event signal, adapted to retrieve the multiple types of devices associated with the subscribed services of the user account, adapted to determine which of the multiple types of devices are in current communication with the system, and adapted to send an event notification message to the devices that are in current communication with the system based upon receiving the impending event signal. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222310 | TECHNIQUES TO ALLOCATE PROJECT RESOURCES - Techniques to allocate project resources are described. An apparatus comprises an enhanced PPM component operative to manage a model project investment portfolio of multiple projects for an organization. The enhanced PPM component may include a portfolio definition module operative to receive one or more portfolio parameters controlling resource allocations for multiple candidate projects, a resource allocation module communicatively coupled to the portfolio definition module, the resource allocation module operative to allocate resources to the multiple candidate projects based on the portfolio parameter to form resourced candidate projects and unresourced candidate projects, and a portfolio planning module communicatively coupled to the resource allocation module, the portfolio planning module operative to generate a graphical user interface planning view having resourced candidate projects, unresourced candidate projects, and time-phased information for each candidate project. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222311 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALCULATING POTENTIAL MAXIMAL PRICE AND SHARE RATE - System and method for determining maximal price for projects are provided. A project scope of a project based on a plurality of selected criteria is defined, and total cost of the project is estimated. A value model of the project is generated and estimated value of the project is determined using the value model. A composite object function that includes cumulative distributive functions of the total cost and of the estimated value is computed to determine potential maximal price or share rate or combinations thereof. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222312 | SUPPLY CONSUMPTION OPTIMIZATION AND MULTIPLE COMPONENT UTILITZATION - The invention disclosed here is a method for achieving simultaneous consideration of multiple independent dates associated with a single demand. The method iterates through the demands to match the demands with the supply quantities respecting demand priorities which vary over time and demand quantities which may perish over time. One embodiment of the invention allocates demand to supply through an iterative process beginning with earlier demand requirement dates and concluding with later demands which may preempt supply from earlier demands depending upon their relative priorities. An additional embodiment transforms the demands to create multiple demand records, each having an associated priority, such that a single original demand record is transformed into a plurality of related demand records, each having an associated priority. The component supply quantities are accumulated into period ending inventories. The method matches the multiple demand records (in priority sequence) to the period ending inventories. | 09-03-2009 |
20090240544 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING ORDER FULFILLMENT ALTERNATIVE WITH MULTIPLE SUPPLY MODES - A system and method for optimizing order fulfillment by considering multiple supply modes in one aspect, plans supply of inventory by forecasting demand, estimating accuracy of said forecasted demand, and establishing reorder point policy based at least on said accuracy of said forecasted demand and a plurality of supply transportation modes. Current inventory position is monitored and if the current inventory position is below the reorder point policy, orders are placed according to a selected shipping method. The selected shipping method may be based at least on customer order priority and transportation budget. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240545 | ADAPTIVE PRODUCT CONFIGURATION MODEL - The adaptive product conditioning is a computer-implemented method for identifying product configurations that can be provided to customers in reaction to supply imbalances. The methodology uses data mining techniques to collect and analyze business level meta data to coordinate supply and sales goals in terms of optimizing profits or managing product and technology transitions. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240546 | Workflow management system - A disclosed workflow management system includes a skill input unit through which skill information is input; an experience value update unit updating the skill information of an executor of a task; a task information acquisition unit acquiring task information including at least a task name and detailed information; a skill profile information input unit from which skill profile information including at least a skill name is input; a similar task search unit searching for an existing similar task; an associated person acquisition unit acquiring an associated person of the task; a confirmation unit confirming whether the associated person has consistency with the skill profile information; a skill search unit searching for human resources having a common skill; and an integration unit calculating a ranking of the human resources or the tasks and presenting the calculated rankings in descending order. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240547 | AUTOMATING RESPONSES BY GRID PROVIDERS TO BID REQUESTS INDICATING CRITERIA FOR A GRID JOB - A method, system, and program for automating responses by grid providers to bid request indicating criteria for a grid job are provided. A bid controller grid service of a grid provider receives a job request from a client for processing a job within a grid environment of the grid provider, wherein the job request specifies at a least one criteria required for the grid provider to handle a particular grid job. The grid service determines whether the grid environment includes the hardware platform class, software platform class, and network bandwidth required by the job request. If the grid service determines that the grid environment includes a sufficient hardware platform class, software platform class, and network bandwidth, then a total required workload for the job request is calculated. Next, a total cost for the total required workload is estimated and the grid service automatically returns a bid response to the client system, where the bid response includes an identifier for the grid provider and the total cost for the job request. In addition, the bid response may include a total time for performance of the grid job described by the job request. | 09-24-2009 |
20090248469 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF INTEGRATED MINE PLANNING - A system and method for facilitating integrated mine planning in a mining operation. The system has a data module to store data objects. The system also has a management module in communication with the data module and the management module is configured with at least one workflow having a series of interdependent processing steps representative of planning steps for a mine plan. The management module controls the accessibility of one or more users to each of the steps within the at least one workflow. The at least one user is able to obtain one or more data objects from the data store, under the control of the management module, to process the one or more data objects to perform at least one processing step in the at least one workflow using a proprietary expert software solution. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248470 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE OF A CARRIER NETWORK - System and methods for determining time-for-delivery for a mail piece based on the origin and destination of the mail piece are provided. A mail processing system is utilized by recipients of mail pieces to scan each incoming mail piece. The mail processing system extracts information from the mail piece that indicates the origin location of the mail piece as well as the date the mail piece was sent. The mail processing system establishes a record of the time-for-delivery between the origin location for each mail piece and the destination location. A data center aggregates the records from a plurality of different mail processing systems to establish a database that includes an actual value of time-for-delivery based on specific origin and destination locations. Mailers can then obtain information from the data center concerning actual time-for-delivery statistics based on the specific origin and destination of a mail piece. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248471 | METHOD OF BLOCK BOOKING - A method and computer program product for monitoring a performance schedule for one or more of at least one artist and at least one venue. At least one of a performance geographic region of interest and a date range of interest may be defined. At least a second venue may be notified if at least one performance has been scheduled in one or more of the performance geographic region of interest and the date range of interest. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248472 | DEALER CONTACT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE AND SYSTEM - A computer implemented method for monitoring a sales life cycle of a customer includes capturing primary customer information from a customer identification source (CIS), inputting secondary customer information, storing the information to generate a customer profile and automatically printing the customer profile. The method may also include communicating a message to the customer at a predetermined time before a scheduled follow-up appointment as a reminder about the scheduled appointment and displaying the customer's name on an electronic appointment board indicating the arrival status of the customer. A system implemented on a computer network is also presented which includes a first, second, and third device, a scanner, a printer, and an electronic appointment board. Also presented is a program with computer executable instructions embodied in a computer readable medium including instructions for performing the method. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248473 | Managing Consistent Interfaces for 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 a store and/or a work center business object. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248474 | MEETING PLANNING ASSISTANCE VIA NETWORK MESSAGES - The present invention provides a computer implemented method and apparatus to invite people by an email system to meetings or events through a scheduling server of a data processing machine. The scheduling server receives a plurality of invitees, where each invitee's vote has weight in the probability of scheduling a meeting at the desired time. The plurality of vote weights is heterogeneous. The scheduling server receives a meeting duration, a meeting option begin-time, and a meeting option end-time. The scheduling server excludes committed time of each invitee between the at least one meeting option begin-time and the at least one meeting option end-time to form a set of meeting times that are divided into a manageable set of meeting options. The scheduling server presents the manageable set of options to each invitee. The scheduling server receives votes from a voting invitee to form collected votes. Each vote is weighted based on the vote weight of the voting invitee. The scheduling server determines a leading option based on the collected votes and commits the leading option as the scheduled time for the meeting. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248475 | OPEN MOBILE BUSINESS SUPPORTING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An open mobile business supporting method and system are disclosed for effectively supporting various business models desired by a contents/service provider by providing single interface that can integrally use various resources of a mobile communication system. Low-level functions, which can be grouped as a unit function and performed in a mobile communication system, are selected among service logics of a CP/SP and defined as biz logic. The biz logic is performed according to a request of CP/SP by cooperating with a mobile communication system and various legacy systems. The result of performing the biz logic is returned to the CP/SP. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248476 | Method, system and apparatus for controlling an application - A method, system and apparatus of controlling at least one application on an electronic device. Interfacing occurs between a context object and the at least one application. Context data is retrieved from the context object. At least one of the following further occurs: the context object is updated with new context data derived from interactions with the at least one application; the behaviour of the at least one application is modulated based on the context data; and at least one data field in the application is populated with the context data. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248477 | PRIMARY PRODUCTS PRODUCTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A primary product production system and a method of supplying raw material for the production. The raw material is provided in a manner, inter-alia, that is an improvement in the delivery and/or selection of supplied materials used. In a particular form, the product results from metal making and/or the coal industry. In a generic overall description, a customer specifies a processed product as set out in an order which typically includes quality and quantity of processed product such as pig iron or other product, and places it. Changes may also be made. This information is input to a database/computer which then determines from the order which sources of raw materials to the foundry or refinery to produce a primary product which fulfils customer orders and/or changes. The raw material(s) may be supplied from any asset. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248478 | Frequency-Aware Spot Selection for Content Campaigns - A computer-implemented method including receiving advertising campaign characteristics with a minimum frequency target for an advertising campaign; selecting, based on the received advertising campaign characteristics, a station having one or more advertising spots available; determining, based on the one or more advertising spots, whether the minimum frequency target is attainable for the selected station; and making an offer to the selected station, in response to the determination, to obtain advertising for the advertising campaign. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248479 | SALES FORCE AUTOMATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A sales force automation system and method of facilitating a sales process which integrates computerized intelligent automated salesperson support for multiple phases of the sales process. Various subsystems may be provided to facilitate the sales process which may include pre-sales lead generation, maximize time spent with the customer, effectively manage an order, ensure customer satisfaction and retain the customer for future sales. Also provided to support the phases of the sales process are additional tools, integrated in the system. The additional tools may include self management subsystems, sales management subsystems and training subsystems. | 10-01-2009 |
20090254395 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPTIMIZING MARKET SELECTION FOR ENTITY OPERATIONS LOCATION - 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 |
20090254396 | Facility Energy Management System - A method of managing energy supplied to a facility comprises monitoring a marginal cost of electricity from an electricity vendor; and determining a facility non-heating electrical load and a facility current heating load. The method also comprises obtaining fuel to supply energy to meet the heating load when the marginal cost of electricity is greater than a marginal cost of fuel or the non-heating electrical load is greater than a peak billed demand threshold. When the marginal cost of electricity is less than the marginal cost of the fuel and the non-heating electrical load is less than the peak billed demand threshold, electricity is obtained for the electricity vendor up to the peak billed demand threshold to supply energy to meet at least part of the current heating load, and fuel is obtained to supply energy to meet any current heating load not met by energy from the electricity. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254397 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING ONLINE KEYWORD AUCTIONS SUBJECT TO BUDGET AND ESTIMATED QUERY VOLUME CONSTRAINTS - An improved system and method for optimizing online keyword auctions subject to budget and estimated query volume constraints is provided. A linear programming model of slates of advertisements may be created using estimates of the query volume for multiple time periods for use in generating a slate of advertisements that may represent a candidate set of advertisements in order of optimal revenue to an auctioneer. Upon receiving a query request, the slate generated by the linear program or a slate generated by dynamic programming may be chosen based on whether the weighted sum of prices for the slate of advertisements computed by dynamic programming may be within a factor of the weighted sum of the prices for the slate of advertisements computed by the linear program. The chosen slate of advertisements may then be served to accompany the search results of a query request to the web browser. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254398 | Computer system for managing orders for and deliveries of goods - A computer system may manage orders for goods from a plurality of purchasers. The computer system may receive the orders, calculate an approximate volume that the goods which are the subject of each order would collectively occupy during shipment, and compare each calculated approximate volume to a pre-determine maximum allowed volume that the purchaser of the order is permitted. The computer system may accept each order whose approximate volume does not exceed the maximum allowed volume for the purchaser of the order, or reject each order whose approximate volume exceeds this maximum allowed volume. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254399 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PORTFOLIOS AND ALIGNING PRODUCT, BRAND, AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIES - Business and software methods are described for cost-effectively optimizing product development portfolios, services development portfolios, and IT (information technology) portfolios, accelerating market entry, and optimizing alignment between product strategy, IT strategy, and brand strategy. Product and service attributes are characterized, categorized, and prioritized with numerical values amenable to statistical analysis of each assessed product development/IT initiative in terms of alignment with ideal customer experience and potential competitive impact relative to the resources and risks required to bring each initiative to market. Methods further include prioritization in the form of applied decision intelligence tools to allow an organization to reach better-informed judgments concerning resource allocation to develop, maintain, or optimize a given product or service portfolio or IT portfolio to improve business performance, increase market impact, and build brand equity. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254400 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION PLANNING - A compensation plan budget is validated for each of a plurality of compensation planners within an enterprise. Each of the compensation planners has an individually allocable sub-budget of the overall compensation plan budget. During periods when a compensation planning application used by the compensation planners is otherwise idle, accumulated totals for compensation packages allocated by these compensation planners are determined. These accumulated totals for the compensation packages allocated by the compensation planners as so determined are compared with stored versions of the accumulated totals for the compensation packages. The stored versions of the accumulated totals are those having been computed by the compensation planning application. A determination is made as to whether any discrepancies between the determined ones of the accumulated totals and the stored versions thereof exist; and, in the event of such discrepancies, erroneous ones of the stored versions of the accumulated totals are revised. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254401 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING A CUSTOM ASSESSMENT PROJECT - A method of creating a custom assessment project is disclosed. The method comprises selecting a template assessment project that includes modules adapted for interaction with a candidate to be assessed. The modules are linked in a workflow defining a sequence in which the candidate interacts with the modules. The template assessment project also includes a factor associated with at least one of the modules and a construct associated with the factor for evaluating the candidate. The method further comprises modifying at least one of the modules, the workflow, the factor, and the construct in response to user interaction; and updating at least another one of the modules, the workflow, the factor, and the construct without user interaction. A system and a computer readable storage medium for creating a custom assessment project are also disclosed. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254402 | METHOD FOR ACCESSING VETERINARY HEALTH CARE INFORMATION AND FINANCING VETERINARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES - A method for accessing veterinary health care information via an Internet website, wherein subscribers to the website are able to search and review a library of veterinary health care information, ask questions of a qualified veterinarian, schedule one-on-one consultations as well as office visits with a qualified veterinarian, and purchase veterinary health care products. Using this method, subscribers may also finance veterinary health care products and services using a pet health savings account. | 10-08-2009 |
20090259507 | Working Machine Maintenance Work Management System - A first service life prediction unit | 10-15-2009 |
20090259508 | METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR OPTIMIZING SCHEDULED SERVICES - An automated system that improves utilization of resources and increases the effectiveness of prescribed procedures by insuring that required resources are available at the time of a scheduled service. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259509 | Method and System For Retail Store Supply Chain Sales Forecasting and Replenishment Shipment Determination - A time-phased forecasting and replenishment system ( | 10-15-2009 |
20090259510 | Operational Support System for Telecommunication Services - A system is disclosed that includes a business application service and a business integration service. The business application service receives a customer care service request via a first protocol. The business application service also transmits a request for information based on the customer care service request to a business integration service. The business integration service receives the request for information from the business application service. The business integration service receives requested information via a second protocol from at least one resource of a plurality of distributed telecommunications resources. The business integration service includes a domain object layer to receive the requested information and to transform the received requested information into a data object instance to be read by a resource connector layer. The resource connector layer reads the data object instance and transmits the requested information to the business application service. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259511 | ESTIMATING FUTURE GRID JOB COSTS BY CLASSIFYING GRID JOBS AND STORING RESULTS OF PROCESSING GRID JOB MICROCOSMS - A method, system, and program for estimating future grid job costs by classifying grid jobs and storing results of processing grid job microcosms are provided. In general, a client side agent estimates future grid job costs by comparing a current grid job of a particular classification with a history of stored costs for other grid jobs of that customer of that particular classification. In particular, the grid client agent for a client system enabled to submit grid jobs to a grid provider that facilitates a grid environment, calculates a ratio of an application based metric to a grid provider metric for processing a particular grid job. Then, the grid client agent creates a table with an entry comparing the application based metric to a cost per grid provider metric for the grid provider based on the calculated ratio. Next, the grid client agent stores the table with the entry. Then, responsive to detecting a next grid job, the grid client agent estimates a cost for the grid provider to process the next grid job based on a particular number of application based metric operations required for the next grid job, translated by the ratio into the grid provider metric and multiplied by the cost per grid provider metric. | 10-15-2009 |
20090265203 | USER PRIORITIZED SEARCH ENGINE FOR AUTOMATED MEETING SCHEDULING - The present solution provides a new concept of ranking whereby calendar users will be allowed to prioritize a variety of meeting attributes. For prioritizing their meeting requirements, users can place meeting requirements into one of two lists: “Must/mandatory” and “preferred.” The system will then search for meeting times that satisfy the user's prioritization. The search produces a ranked result set of meeting alternatives. Users see percentage rankings of how well the various meeting alternatives satisfy their Must and preferred requirements, and a summary of proposed meeting logistics for each alternative. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265204 | Interface for bidding on a resource - Facilitating determination of an amount to bid for a resource is disclosed. In some embodiments, market condition data indicating for at least a currently indicated bid amount a corresponding likely wait to obtain the resource under current conditions in an auction-based market used to allocate the resource is received. A representation of at least the likely wait corresponding to the currently indicated bid amount is communicated to a user. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265205 | Pricing, Allocating, accounting and distributing internal resources using a market mechanism - A market based approach to allocating a resource within an organizational entity is disclosed. In some embodiments, a request comprising a bid indicating an amount of a purchasing power asset that a requester with which the request is associated is prepared to provide within the organizational entity to obtain the resource is received. The request is associated with a pool of competing requests for the resource, each competing request having associated with it a corresponding competing bid from a competing requestor from within the organizational entity. A winning bid is selected from the pool of competing requests. The resource is caused to be delivered to the successful bidder, and an accounting transaction is executed to charge the successful bidder an amount of purchasing power asset corresponding to a resource price. In some embodiments the price charged is an organizational entity-wide benchmark price, such as a market clearing price. | 10-22-2009 |
20090271238 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANAGING A WORKFLOW WITHIN AND BETWEEN A CRIMINAL CASE MANAGEMENT SIDE AND A CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE MANAGEMENT SIDE IN THE JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY DOMAIN - A method for managing a workflow within and between a criminal case management side and a criminal intelligence management side in a justice and public safety domain that includes tracking workbook sharing across organizations. Each workbook contains a unique reference number. The history files in each workbook displays where it was disseminated from, and when; or who it was imported from, and when. The legal and security level remains attached to the electronic workbook. Its history follows it through its life span. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271239 | TEST REQUIREMENT LIST FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS - A diagnostic system for a vehicle, including a memory receiving and storing vehicle specific information, and storing diagnostic test requirements of a plurality of diagnostic sequences, and a processor identifying the test requirements for a selected diagnostic sequence according to the vehicle specific information in advance of executing the diagnostic sequence. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271240 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR STRATEGIC HEADCOUNT PLANNING WITH OPERATIONAL TRANSITION MANAGEMENT OF WORKFORCE - A method and system are disclosed for planning a workforce headcount for a given business process. The method comprises the steps of providing as inputs, i) productivity ramp-ups to model the level of experience and to measure the performance of both new hires and current employees, and ii) industry/market attrition rates for employees; and performing an evaluation, using said inputs, of at least one given management objective. On the basis of this evaluation, a future hiring and transition plan is provided for the given business process for a defined period of time. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, uncertainty is associated with one or more of the inputs, and the future hiring and transition plan is provided by using stochastic programming to model the uncertainty associated with at least one of said one or more of the inputs. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271241 | Computer-Implemented Systems And Methods For Pack Optimization - Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for optimizing the distribution of packs of an item across an entity's distribution network. Constraint values may be specified to limit the values that may be included in a planned distribution of packs. Also, heuristics may be used to reduce the computation time required to determine optimal values for a planned distribution of packs. Modeling of the planned distribution of packs and optimization of the number of packs to be distributed can be accomplished using a mixed-integer linear programming solver. | 10-29-2009 |
20090276269 | Software identifier based correlation - Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with software identifier based correlation are described. One example system includes an identifier data store to store a first identifier that uniquely identifies a discovered instance of a software title installed in an enterprise. The first identifier is discoverable from the discovered instance and may be provided by a discovery logic. The second identifier identifies a known instance of a software title associated with the enterprise and is provided from an enterprise resource planning (ERP) data store by an ERP logic. The example system may also include a correlation logic to identify a correlation between the discovered instance and the known instance based on a relationship between the identifiers. The example system may also include an update logic to selectively update a value in the ERP data store based on the correlation. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276270 | SYSTEM CONFIGURATION APPLICATION AND USER INTERFACE - An interface tool is provided. The interface includes an aggregator that collects input data from a user and transforms the input data to a form suitable by a business processing system. A format component receives output data from the business processing system and transforms the output data to a form suitable by a user. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276271 | Practical model for high speed file delivery services supporting guaranteed delivery times and differentiated service levels - A practical economic and technical model for building commercial-grade electronic file delivery services that provide the same scale, predictability, and differentiated service levels as physical courier services traditionally used to move electronic data on physical media. Systems and methods for providing such services using a charge-back scheme based on congestion pricing are described. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276272 | Automated Tanning System - A self-service tanning system and method allows salon owners to offer tanning customization in order to meet the personal needs of various customers and to meet the various FDA regulations associated with each state. The present invention allows salon owners to customize each tanning customer session to prevent over exposure for new patrons, while allowing patrons who are already tanning to tan at a more progressive rate. In addition to tanning customization, the present invention offers built-in safety features, payment options, and networkability. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276273 | TOUCHSCREEN ENTRY OF CONSTRUCTION PUNCH LIST ITEMS DIRECTLY ON A PLAN - A method for establishing a construction punch list system for managing and inspecting a construction project is disclosed. Plan data, of a construction project, is provided from a database in a central server to sub-contractors having field operable graphical touchscreen devices. A touchscreen device is used to display a selected plan. Using the touchscreen device, color-coded or shape-coated construction deficiency data, in relation to the selected plan, is entered in graphical and textual form. The construction deficiency data is communicated to the central server. From the construction deficiency data, a construction punch list is generated in graphical or tabular form. The construction deficiency data from the server is distributed to at least one sub-contractor, indicating needed fixes. The needed fixes are fixed, then the construction deficiency data is updated to reflect fixes. The updated construction deficiency data is accessed for inspecting and supervising the construction project. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276274 | Program and apparatus for workflow analysis - A workflow extractor generates workflow information having the set names of data sets arranged in chronological order, oldest first, for each business process. A transition information generator specifies a transition relation between two continuously updated data sets to generate transition information. An important update extractor extracts update information indicating updates of important data items, . . . , and specifies a correspondence relation between a data set and an updated value. An impact level calculator calculates an impact level of each transition relation on business based on the number of appearances of the transition relation and the updated values corresponding to the data sets of the transition source and the transition destination, and outputs impact level information. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276275 | DEMAND BREAKOUT FOR A SUPPLY CHAIN - A system for demand breakout for a supply chain includes a memory operable to store a plurality of orders for at least one product. Each product may be produced using at least one precursor. The memory is also operable to store a production schedule identifying one or more resources in the supply chain, a quantity of each product and precursor scheduled to be produced by the resources, and a time period associated with production of each product and precursor. The system also includes one or more processors collectively operable to identify one or more particular units of the product that correspond to each product order. The one or more processors are also collectively operable to identify one or more particular units of one or more precursors that correspond to each product order. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276276 | Method For Analyzing Maintenance Operations And Assessing The Readiness Of Repairable Systems - An automated method for assessing the readiness of a plurality of repairable systems, such as a fleet of aircraft, is 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. | 11-05-2009 |
20090281858 | Source allocation system, program and method - The invention relates to a resource allocation method. According to the invention, databases of computer objects are produced solely with properties intrinsic to the physical objects. Data filters are defined in order to sort the different intrinsic properties and to divide same into object classes. Allocation matrices are then used to match the resources with the object classes. During the handling of a process, the allocation method is implemented in order to determine a resource. A database is queried in order to obtain intrinsic information. Subsequently, the intrinsic information passes through a data filter in order to determine a membership class. One or more resources are then determined from the membership class with an allocation matrix. The inventive method is performed with the aid of a computer program. The invention also relates to a processing system which is designed to implement said method. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281859 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING MULTIPLE TIME ZONES IN AN ONLINE CALENDAR VIEW - Method and system for presenting a view of a calendar on an electronic display. In one embodiment, the method comprises presenting on the display an entry corresponding to a scheduled meeting having at least two participants; presenting on the display a first timeline associated with a first one of the participants, the first timeline comprising an incremental listing of time of day in accordance with a first time zone associated with the first one of the participants; presenting on the display a second timeline adjacent the first timeline, the second timeline associated with a second one of the participants and comprising an incremental listing of time of day in accordance with a second time zone associated with the second one of the participants; and wherein the entry is presented on the display relative to the first and second timelines so as to accurately reflect start and end times of the scheduled meeting relative to each of the first and second time zones. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281860 | Meeting Scheduling System with Options for Resolving Scheduling Conflicts - Methods and systems are provided for sending out meeting notices that specify logistics for both a primary meeting and an alternate meeting. The invitees are to respond, indicating their availability for attending the primary and alternate meetings. Based on the invitee responses, the system sets up the meeting for either the primary time/place for the meeting or the alternate time/place for the meeting. The final meeting notices are sent out to the invitees informing them of the meeting logistics. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281861 | CONSOLIDATED BUSINESS SERVICE FOR INTEGRATING SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE SERVICES WITH CUSTOMER RESOURCES - A Consolidated Business Service (CBS) manages an interface between Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) services and resources used by at least one enterprise customer. The CBS utilizes an Enterprise Systems Management (ESM) layer that includes: a bi-directional portal between Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) services and enterprise resources used by at least one enterprise customer; an aggregating logic for aggregating incoming and outgoing messages from the SOA services and the enterprise resources; a strategy set of rules that define pre-set responses to an event described by one or more of the incoming messages from the enterprise resources, wherein the pre-set responses are provided by a SOA response service from the SOA services; and a delegation logic for delegating the pre-set responses to agents in the affected resources, wherein the agents are software logic that have been pre-deployed, from the ESM layer to the affected resources, for executing the pre-set responses. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281862 | JOB EDITOR INTERFACE BASED ON DYNAMIC DEVICE CAPABILITIES - A graphical job editor for creating jobs in a multi-layer workflow architecture for a print shop is disclosed. The graphical job editor presents to a user a graphical representation of every device and activity available in the print shop as provided by the service bus layer of the workflow architecture. Further, the present information regarding the capabilities of each such device and activity so presented may then be defined by the user through simple, graphical user interface objects and techniques. The graphical job editor uses the present information in the device capabilities presented by the service bus. The present device capability information of each device and activity in a job may be updated as each activity is added to the job being defined to thus assure creation of a valid job that may be processed in a particular workflow architecture. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281863 | Systems and methods for determining utilization of facilities and interactions with campaigns - Systems and methods are provided for electronically determining utilization of one or more facilities and interaction with campaigns. Personal interaction data may be captured, wherein the personal interaction data has one or more data elements, and relates to use of the facilities and interaction with campaigns. The captured personal interaction data elements may be correlated with the facilities and campaigns. The utilization of the facilities and interaction with campaigns may be based at least in part on the correlated personal interaction data. Resource allocation may be evaluated for each of the one or more facilities and campaigns based at least in part on the determined utilization. The system and methods may further comprise determining which personal interaction data elements have increased correlation with the one or more facilities and campaigns comprises applying factor analysis. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281864 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING AND MONITORING A CYBERSPACE SECURITY ECONOMETRICS SYSTEM AND OTHER COMPLEX SYSTEMS - A device of implementing an econometrics-based control system. The device includes a processor, a memory in communication with the processor and configured to store processor implementable instructions. The processor implementable instructions are programmed to correlate a plurality of system requirements with each of a plurality of system stakeholders, identify a stake relating to each of the plurality of system stakeholders and the correlated plurality of system requirements such that the stake is identified by each of the plurality of system stakeholders, determining a mean failure cost as a function of the identified stake and a failure probability, and analyzing the mean failure cost to determine a control strategy. The device may further comprise a communication component in communication with the processor and the memory, the communication component configured to communicate the control strategy to a component operable within the control system such that the component implements the control strategy. | 11-12-2009 |
20090287521 | Managing Project Schedule Data Using Separate Current And Historical Task Schedule Data - A project management system manages project schedule data using separate current and historical task schedule data structures. In general, current schedule data is stored separately from historical schedule data, so that the current schedule data may be retrieved separately from the historical task schedule data. The project management system may also maintain unscheduled tasks as “to-do lists.” Tasks may be added to a member's schedule without specifying any planned dates and the tasks are added to the database. The tasks have an associated revision number of 0 to indicate that the tasks were added, but not yet scheduled. The tasks are displayed in the member schedule editor and in Web page schedules. The tasks may then be displayed in the member schedule editor and in Web page schedules in a manner that allows a user to readily determine that the tasks are “to-do list” tasks. | 11-19-2009 |
20090287522 | To-Do List Representation In The Database Of A Project Management System - A project management system manages project schedule data using separate current and historical task schedule data structures. In general, current schedule data is stored separately from historical schedule data, so that the current schedule data may be retrieved separately from the historical task schedule data. The project management system may also maintain unscheduled tasks as “to-do lists.” Tasks may be added to a member's schedule without specifying any planned dates and the tasks are added to the database. The tasks have an associated revision number of 0 to indicate that the tasks were added, but not yet scheduled. The tasks are displayed in the member schedule editor and in Web page schedules. The tasks may then be displayed in the member schedule editor and in Web page schedules in a manner that allows a user to readily determine that the tasks are “to-do list” tasks. | 11-19-2009 |
20090287523 | SHOWING AND CORRECTING IRREGULARITIES IN A SCHEDULE - Technologies are described herein for showing and correcting irregularities in a schedule. A project management application allows a user to manually define tasks within a schedule. The application evaluates the manually defined tasks to determine if the tasks cause an irregularity within the schedule. If so, the application provides one or more visual indications of the irregularity to the user. The application also provides functionality for allowing a user to resolve or ignore the irregularity. | 11-19-2009 |
20090287524 | Method for offering the user through a web portal a project to be financed by means of credits accumulated with the purchase over Internet in properly selected e-commerce sites - A method by which various stakeholders may interact in order to allocate money funds to certain determined projects through a web portal to a project to be financed by means of credits accumulated with purchases over the Internet in selected e-commerce sites by web users who purchase or want to hand over sums of money, to users who offer projects to be financed through a portal which manages the transactions. The invention also includes a method for offering, through a web portal, projects to be financed by means of credits which accumulate as a result of purchases over the Internet that can offer wide guarantees to the donee that the proposed projects have considerable potential to collect cash funds which will allow the implementation of the proposed projects. | 11-19-2009 |
20090287525 | System and Method For Safety Management - A computerized method of safety improvement and management within an organization may include receiving a first set of data from the organization over a global communication network. The first set of data may include organizational data, safety incident data, safety performance data, and/or workplace hazard data. The computerized method may also perform, within a computer process, a needs assessment for the organization by analyzing the first set of data. The needs assessment may generate information regarding at existing safety issues, gaps within the organization's safety performance, and/or gaps within the organization's safety procedures. The computerized method may then, within a computer process create a safety program for the organization. The safety program may be based, at least in part upon the needs assessment and may include solutions to the existing safety issues and/or gaps within the organization's safety performance and procedures. | 11-19-2009 |
20090292574 | METHOD TO ANALYZE ECONOMICS OF ASSET MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS FOR NUCLEAR STEAM GENERATORS - A method to determine corrective actions of a nuclear steam generator, having the steps of modeling of steam generator tube and deposit heat transfer characteristics by analytically deriving specific deposit characteristics and descriptive model parameters, wherein the modeling uses historical thermodynamic data for an operating plant under evaluation, identifying a set of one of preventive and corrective maintenance alternatives to accomplish steam generator deposit objectives, determining through the modeling a power production impact of each of the set of one of preventative and corrective maintenance alternatives to determine an economic cost for each of the set of preventative and corrective maintenance alternatives, and initiating a maintenance alternative with a lowest economic cost as compared to the maintenance evaluation alternatives with higher economic costs. | 11-26-2009 |
20090292575 | Coalescence of Disparate Quality of Service Matrics Via Programmable Mechanism - A method for classifying the Quality of Service of the incoming data traffic before the traffic is placed into the priority queues of the Active Queue Management Block of the device is disclosed. By employing a range of mapping schemes during the classification stage of the ingress traffic processing, the invention permits the traffic from a number of users to be coalesced into the appropriate Quality of Service level in the device. | 11-26-2009 |
20090292576 | METHOD FOR EVALUATING SPECIFIC DATA IN RELATION TO CLEANING UP/DISMANTLING A FACILITY - A method for evaluating specific data in relation to the cleaning up/dismantling of a facility comprising at least one room. This method includes the following steps: | 11-26-2009 |
20090292577 | Method and Apparatus for Determining Data Center Resource Availability Using Multiple Time Domain Segments - A method, an apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for determining data center resource availability using multiple time domain segments. A reservation class is provided that includes a start time, duration and the number of units required. A scheduled resource class is provided with an availability and an available method. The availability method creates a set of segments for a list of reservations and iterates each segment to determine whether there are enough resources for the required units. The availability method then combines all adjacent reservations and removes reservations that are too short for the duration. The available method provides a way for user to determine if resources are available at and for a given time. A composite resource class is also provided for more than one scheduled resource with an availability and available method. | 11-26-2009 |
20090299791 | Method and system for management of licenses - Licensed connections to network resources or services, such as servers or applications, are managed, including setting, limiting, monitoring, enforcing, recording, reporting, or otherwise managing licenses across multiple network resources. Real-time information that tracks license usage is logged. Reporting features are provided to allow a system administrator, vendor, network operator, or other entity to access the log information to determine license usage and compliance. Layer | 12-03-2009 |
20090299792 | Cargo management system having integrated work order functions for cargo management - A cargo management system is described that includes a host computer system operating software that performs work order management tasks to maintain data associated with a work order. A user interface module presents a user interface for access to the host computer system. The user interface includes at least one input mechanism for specifying within the work order transfer of one or more goods undergoing a process to a destination location as specified by the work order. In one embodiment, the destination location includes one of a terminal container, a terminal location, a warehouse, and a unit load device. Based on the input mechanism, the host computer system links data associated with the one or more goods to the data associated with the work order, thereby adding the one or more goods to the work order. The one or more goods undergoing one or more processes may include goods in transit, goods still pending and goods undergoing unloading. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299793 | System and method for automating a business process of a service provider - A method for automating performance of administrative tasks for a service provider is presented. The method includes storing information including customer profile data and account metadata, and organizing the stored information to facilitate automatic retrieval and manipulation of the information in order to perform a particular administrative task. The method further includes receiving at least one query from a user to initiate performance of a particular administrative task, and processing the organized information in response to the at least one query in conjunction with performing the particular administrative task. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299794 | Goods Distribution Management System - A goods distribution management system for managing the distribution of goods to a plurality of retailers including: a first goods distribution channel for distributing the goods to a first group of retailers; first and second goods distribution channels for distributing the goods to distinct groups of retailers; a first data processing system adapted to manage the distribution of goods in the first distribution channel, the first data processing system being adapted to manage orders of goods received from the retailers of the first group. The first data processing system includes: a first storage inquiry unit adapted to assess an availability of the ordered goods and a goods delivery schedule of the first distribution channel; a second storage inquiry unit adapted to assess an availability of the ordered goods in the goods storage of the at least one wholesaler; and a buy back request placement unit operatively associated with the first and second storage inquiry units and adapted to place a buy-back request to the at least one wholesaler for buying-back the ordered goods; the buy-back request, if accepted by the wholesaler, causes the wholesaler to schedule a delivery of the bought-back goods of the retailer of the first group. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299795 | TRACKING FEEDSTOCK PRODUCTION WITH MICRO SCALE GAS-TO-LIQUID UNITS - A method of tracking production from an NG source that includes the steps of providing one or more micro-scale GTL units, feeding NG from the source to the micro-scale GTL units, operating the micro-scale GTL units and adjusting the number of micro-scale GTL units employed to track or match the production from the source is provided. In some aspects of the invention, the micro-scale GTL unit includes both syngas manufacture and liquid product synthesis. The liquid product synthesis step may produce methanol, mixed higher carbon number alcohols, dimethyl ether, Fischer-Tropsch liquids, and/or any combination of these products. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299796 | CONFIGURATION OF RESOURCES FOR AN ENTITY - A set-up facilitating system assists an entity (such as a business entity) in providing one or more resources, including one or more network-accessible resources. The set-up facilitating system begins by identifying initial information regarding the entity. The set-up facilitating systems then uses the initial information to glean additional information from one or more sources. The initial information and additional information are used to automatically provision the resources, such as a network-accessible page, review-related information, an ad program, service, etc. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299797 | INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING AND DESIGN SERIES ARCHITECTURE EDUCATION FRAMEWORK - A document is generated that is configured to architect an infrastructure environment. Capabilities and requirements are determined for one or more technology solutions in an infrastructure technology space. Factors considered in selecting the one or more technology solutions for implementation are determined. The determined capabilities and requirements are mapped to the determined factors. A flow diagram is generated based on the mapping. The flow diagram includes a beginning node, at least one of a task node or a decision node, and at least one end node. A description of the flow diagram is generated that includes a description of the task node(s) and/or decision node(s). A document is generated that includes the flow diagram and the description of the flow diagram. The document may be configured to assist a user in selecting an infrastructure technology solution, or to assist the user with planning/designing a selected infrastructure technology solution. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299798 | SUPPLY CURVE PRICING IN A NETWORKED ADVERTISING ENVIRONMENT - A method for purchasing advertising space in an Internet environment is provided. The method may include receiving an advertiser order, including an order budget, and displaying, via a user interface, the order budget and an available budget, the available budget corresponding to an amount of the order budget available for purchasing advertising space. The method may also include displaying a control that may provide a visual representation of a number of impressions available versus a proposed cost per impression. The number of impressions available may be the sum of the impression available across a number of publisher web sites that are part of a network of publisher web sites. The number of impressions desired and the proposed cost per impression may be specified via the control. A desired number of impressions may be purchased on the network based on the proposed cost per impression. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299799 | PLACEMENT PRICING IN A NETWORKED ADVERTISING ENVIRONMENT - A method for purchasing advertising space in an Internet environment is provided. The method may include receiving advertiser orders that including an order budget. The method may also include displaying, via a user interface, the order budget and an available budget. The available budget may correspond to an amount of the order budget available for purchasing advertising space. The method may also include receiving, via the user interface, parameters including a desired number of impressions, a proposed cost per impression, and a total cost. Non-received parameters may be calculated based on the received parameters. The available budget may be decremented by the total cost. A desired number of impressions may then be purchased based on the proposed cost per impression. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299800 | Device maintenance scheduling method and system - Maintenance schedules and costs for a network of self-service terminals are generated based upon usage data for respective peripheral devices at each of the self-service terminals. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299801 | To plan working hours and controlling manpower - The cost factor related to the number of employees is known to be the highest expenditure of a industrial firm. Hiring of workers (by skills) intended for performing work packages are done without any assessed data. This computer program/software is a very effective tool making it possible for the management of firms to control and supervise wisely their number of employees. By integrating volume of work packages will help Controlling the number of employees and re-routing them when it is necessary. As a result of discretionary planning, firms will efficiently save a great deal of money. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299802 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS - A system and method of managing partner organizations. Partners and partner capabilities and objectives are defined. Partner capability questions are generated and partner capability facts are automatically collected from the partners. Gaps in partner capabilities are identified, wherein the gaps are a function of the collected partner capability facts. One or more partner capabilities are selected and automatically improved. Automatically improving includes informing each partner of gaps in their capabilities, automatically collecting partner capability facts relevant to the gaps and measuring improvement in the selected partner capabilities. Partner capabilities are monitored to ensure that improvements remain in place. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299803 | Resource Scheduling and Monitoring - A resource scheduling system includes a set of resources and associated resource attributes, a representation of resource demands, and a scheduling module for generating a schedule of resource utilization. The representation of resource demands and availability may include information about time slots, calendars, and shifts. A slot is a representation of a demand for one or more individual item. A calendar is a representation of dates when resources are needed. Each shift represents a set of time intervals of resource demands. Additionally, the system keeps track of individual resource availability and preferences and attempts to create a resource utilization schedule that satisfies all constraints generated based on the time slots, calendars, shifts, and resource schedules. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299804 | OPERATIONAL RISK ASSESSMENT AND CONTROL - System and method for operational risk assessment and control. The present invention, in disclosed, example embodiments provides systems and methods to facilitate risk assessment, prioritization, mitigation and control activities. Various modules work together to accomplish risk assessment, prioritization, mitigation and stability tracking. The modules can be implemented by a computer system or systems, software and networks, or by other means, such as paper-based means. In some embodiments, operational risk management and control begins with an assessment for one or more functions of the organization involved. This assessment includes identifying failure modes, causes and effects, which are permuted to define risk items. A risk prioritization report is produced which prioritizes the risk items based at least in part on the ratings associated with the causes and effects, and a mitigation plan can be put in place. | 12-03-2009 |
20090307035 | RESOLUTION OF RESOURCE OVER-ALLOCATIONS IN PROJECT PLANS - Architecture that introduces a new default leveling algorithm related to a leveling order that uses one or more of task identifier, start dates, and existing priority field, such that users do not need to define an explicit priority value for each task before using leveling. The architecture allows the user to reschedule only a specific task based on availability, without changing other tasks in the schedule. Users can select a single over-allocated task and the architecture looks at all other tasks in the overall schedule to find the next open timeslot when the assigned resources have capacity. The architecture further allows a user to selectively level a subset of tasks in a project. The user can choose to level only tasks that are relevant and the application only resolves over-allocation within the selection and excludes all other unselected tasks in the project. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307036 | Budget-Based Power Consumption For Application Execution On A Plurality Of Compute Nodes - Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for budget-based power consumption for application execution on a plurality of compute nodes that include: assigning an execution priority to each of one or more applications; executing, on the plurality of compute nodes, the applications according to the execution priorities assigned to the applications at an initial power level provided to the compute nodes until a predetermined power consumption threshold is reached; and applying, upon reaching the predetermined power consumption threshold, one or more power conservation actions to reduce power consumption of the plurality of compute nodes during execution of the applications. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307037 | Resource Planning System With Carbon Emission Input - Embodiments of systems, methods, and software associated with the development of a resource or production plan within an enterprise's integration system are described in the present disclosure. In one of many embodiments, a method is described. Upon obtaining a master planning schedule, the method includes evaluating an inventory of resource associated with the master planning schedule. A production schedule associated with the master planning schedule is evaluated. Also, the method includes estimating carbon emission information associated with the master planning schedule. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307038 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATION OF DATA FEEDS BASED ON CALENDER MEETING PARTICIPANTS - In some embodiments, a method for determining data feeds in an electronic calendar comprises identifying participants of a meeting scheduled in the electronic calendar and determining topics relevant to the participants of the meeting. The method can also comprise selecting data feeds based on the topics relevant to the participants of the meeting, wherein the data feeds provide information about the topics. The method can also include presenting the data feeds to one or more of the participants of the meeting. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307039 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING WORK INSTRUCTIONS FOR VEHICLES - A method is disclosed. The method includes receiving work instructions for a plurality of vehicles, receiving location information for the plurality of vehicles relative to an entity, and generating an order for the plurality of vehicles using the location information for the plurality of vehicles. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307040 | NETWORK-BASED SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT METHOD - An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a storage medium having instructions for a method for facilitating supply chain collaboration in a network environment, said supply chain including an enterprise and at least one supplier. The method includes generating and transmitting an unconstrained forecast to a supplier; receiving a supplier capability statement in response and generating a constrained forecast utilizing the supplier capability statement. The constrained forecast is transmitted to the supplier which responds with a formal commitment to product a needed supply indicated in the constrained forecast. The method also includes monitoring inventory levels at a replenishment service center by a supplier based upon a formal commitment, refilling inventory items at the replenishment service center; and facilitating delivery of the inventory items to the enterprise site by transmitting a pull signal to the replenishment service center whereby inventory items are delivered in response to the pull signal. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307041 | Methods and apparatus for interactive specification of context-sensitive service level agreements; for provisioning of resources required during service delivery events regulated by service level agreements; and for monitoring compliance with service level agreements during service delivery events - In a first aspect of the present invention, methods and apparatus implement graphical user interfaces for interactively specifying service level agreements used to regulate delivery of services to, for example, computer systems. An interactive graphical user interface allows a user to see the effects of varying values of service delivery variables on the level of service achievable in a particular service delivery context. In a second aspect, methods and apparatus of the present invention provision resources required for service delivery. In the second aspect, the methods and apparatus of the present invention select a service delivery model dependent on context. The selected service delivery model is used to provision resources that will be required during service delivery. In a third aspect, methods and apparatus of the present invention monitor compliance with a service level agreement during a service delivery event. In instances where a given service delivery does not comply with service level attributes specified in a controlling service level agreement, the methods and apparatus of the present invention take corrective action. | 12-10-2009 |
20090313072 | COMPUTER-BASED VEHICLE ORDER TRACKING SYSTEM - A computer-implemented system for receiving a delivery estimated time of arrival (ETA) of an expected vehicle at a customer location is provided. The system comprises at least one customer system for receiving the ETA of the expected vehicle at the customer location from at least one tracking tool. The at least one tracking tool is configured to receive historical vehicle order average information which corresponds to known ETAs of one or more delivered vehicles over a predetermined time frame. The at least one tracking tool is further configured to generate at least one linear regression model in response to the historical vehicle order average information to determine the ETA of the expected vehicle at the customer location. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313073 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SYMBOLIC MODE CHECKING OF BUSINESS APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS - A system and method for providing symbolic mode checking of business application requirements. A language allows for building a model for the business process, the model comprising a plurality of actions, with each action having a precondition and a postcondition or outcome. Specifications are constructed for the properties of the business application, with the specifications describing both the states of the business process and the order in which they may occur. Finally, the model and the specifications are analyzed to determine if the model satisfies the specifications. If the model fails to satisfy the specifications, a problem may be indicated in the business application. The process can be automated to permit the system to make assumptions for conducting a thorough analysis of selected potential problem areas in the application. | 12-17-2009 |
20090319319 | Multiple Event Calendar Processing - A computer-implemented method of processing a plurality of events within a calendar application can include receiving a user input specifying a period of time within a calendar associated with a user, detecting a plurality of events occurring within the period of time, and determining at least one attribute for each of the plurality of events. An event clearing technique can be selected for each of the plurality of events according to the at least one attribute of each respective event. The specified time period can be cleared by executing the selected event clearing technique for each of the plurality of events, wherein an updated calendar is generated. The updated calendar can be output. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319320 | DYNAMICALLY MANAGING ELECTRONIC CALENDAR EVENTS BASED UPON KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIS) WITHIN A BUSINESS PROCESS MONITORING (BPM) SYSTEM - The present invention can include a solution that dynamically manages electronic calendar events based upon the key performance indicators (KPIs) of a business process monitoring (BPM) system. Such a system can include a BPM system, an electronic calendar software application, and a dynamic calendar event manager. The BPM system can be configured to manage data for many user-defined KPIs. The electronic calendar software application can be configured to manage the calendar data of various calendar events for many users. The dynamic calendar event definition can be configured to define a condition for modifying the calendar data of a user-specified calendar event. The dynamic calendar event definition can consist of a KPI threshold value, a calendar action, and an applicable attendee list. The dynamic calendar event manager can be configured to dynamically and automatically handle the modification of the calendar data in accordance with the dynamic calendar event definition. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319321 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SCHEDULING INSTRUCTIONAL COURSES HAVING ASSOCIATED COMPLIANCE RULES - Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for scheduling an instructional course for a student where the instructional course requires completion of a plurality of events in accordance with at least one rule associated with a regulatory authority. Students may advantageously be shown a set of available events with an indication that certain events are compliant with the rules of the regulatory authority. Following completion of the required events, compliance information may be transmitted to the regulatory authority. Further, access may be provided to one or more student accounts for auditing purposes. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319322 | INTERNATIONAL DIARY SYSTEM - The present invention relates to an international diary system. More particularly, the present invention provides a means to store and manage necessary informations related to international business or overseas trip using a calendar showing national holidays by country, thereby expanding utilization of overseas schedule management. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319323 | Computer modeling of project management process - Computer modeling process of project management based on Monte Carlo simulation of average quantum mechanical wave function of the project milestone predicting the project delay or project cost increase, based on presenting project milestones as superposition of wave functions of all tasks, averaged over multiple project samples, with each task's duration randomly distributed around its scheduled value. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319324 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATED PALLET AND SORT SCHEME MAINTENANCE - A computer coupled to a mail processing device enables sort schemes having associated sort parameters, particularly mail item sort schemes and an associated pallet scheme providing pallet location designations for mail items sorted in accord with one or more of the sort schemes. A mailing job to be run by the mail processing device as well as an execution or dispatch date of the mailing job are selected or otherwise identified. Based on mailing criteria corresponding to the mailing job, a server or other computer associated within the mail processing device retrieves a pallet scheme and a one or more mail sort schemes. One or more pallet location designations associated with the sort scheme(s) are updated, based on the pallet scheme. The mail processing device is run on the mailing job, based on said one or more enabled sort schemes. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319325 | TRANSFERRING A DIGITAL IMAGE FROM A PHOTOGRAPHER TO A FULFILLMENT CENTER TO GENERATE A PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESS - A photographer computing device is described. The device receives information that specifies option(s) to create a photographic product from a digital image; a list of fulfillment center(s) to generate the product according to the options, and routing information to at least one of the center(s). The device transmits an order for the product to at least one center. The order specifies a method (e.g., at will or within a specified or negotiated period of time) for the device to communicate the image to selected ones of the center(s). The delivery method is independent of receipt of any type of request or prompt for the image from any other computing device including the gateway device and any fulfillment center. The device uploads the image as per the delivery technique and receives confirmation that the order has been received. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319326 | CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM FOR INDUSTRIAL HUMAN RESOURCES - An environment is constructed in which students, job seekers, and employees can surely improve their skills to become the human resource image having skills and the like required by enterprises and industrial human resources can continuously receive education throughout their lifetime. | 12-24-2009 |
20090327009 | Managing Consistent Interfaces for Supply Chain Management 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 a freight request, a house shipment, a shipment request, a supplier freight invoice request, and/or a transportation booking request business object. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327010 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS OVER A NETWORK - A system for facilitating financial transactions over a network includes a first user device, a second user device and a payment processing device. The first user device is adapted to allow a first user to send an invitation to a second user, via a network, to accept a promise to pay (IOU). The second user device is adapted to allow the second user to generate a response to the invitation via the network. The payment processing device is adapted to receive the invitation and the response and to schedule a payment if the response is an affirmative response. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327011 | VEHICLE DISPATCHING METHOD AND SYSTEM - A system and method for dispatching a plurality of vehicles operating in a work area among a plurality of destination locations and a plurality of source locations includes implementing linear programming that takes in an optimization function and constraints to generate an optimum schedule for optimum production, utilizing a reinforcement learning algorithm that takes in the schedule as input and cycles through possible environmental states that could occur within the schedule by choosing one possible action for each possible environmental state and by observing the reward obtained by taking the action at each possible environmental state, developing a policy for each possible environmental state, and providing instructions to follow an action associated with the policy. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327012 | COOLING RESOURCE CAPACITY ALLOCATION USING LAGRANGE MULTIPLIERS - In a method of determining cooling resource capacity allocations for resource units in a shared environment for optimized operations, cost parameters associated with operating the resource units in at least one of delivering and receiving cooling resources are identified, one or more constraints associated with operating the resource units are identified, in which at least one of the one or more constraints comprises meeting at least a total cooling demand of components in the shared environment, a cost function that correlates the plurality of identified cost parameters is developed, a minimized cost function is solved for through application of a Lagrange multiplier subject to the identified one or more constraints, and cooling resource capacity allocations for the resource units that result in optimized operations in the shared environment based upon the minimized cost function solution are determined. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327013 | Method and Apparatus for Facilitation Introductions in an Employment System - An employment system provides personal introductions between system users in one embodiment. In one embodiment, the employment system provides qualified employment seekers with enhanced assistance applying for jobs, wherein the enhanced assistance includes sending a personal introduction about the employment seeker to an employee seeker (i.e., on behalf of an employment seeker). The personal introduction may include at least a portion of a human generated message about the employment seeker. In another embodiment, the employment system provides a personal introduction about an employee seeker to an employment seeker (i.e., on behalf of an employee seeker). For example, the personal introduction may include information about the employee seeker such as company showcases that highlight the benefits of working for the employee seeker. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327014 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING MAINTENANCE OF BUILDING FACILITIES - The present invention relates to a system for managing operational facilities that is of the type which utilizes predefined events to carry out managing operations for the facilities. The system includes one or more servers adapted to receive events from a client and forward the events to a clearinghouse via a communication link. The system further includes one or more clients, each of which has a unique login identity, adapted to selectively send events to the server via the communication link. Also included is a clearinghouse connected to each of the server and each of the client via the communication link for selectively storing data from each server and each client in a database, and being adapted to selectively authorize predetermined events by each client according to the login identity of each such client, to selectively schedule predetermined events in response to data stored in the database and to monitor the status of all events stored in the database. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327015 | PLANNING FOR VALUE - A target setting, forecasting, and budgeting method and tools are provided in which targets are selected at a high level of management through a process of strategic planning to select targets based on a combination of value expected to be added and manageability of the candidate targets, including computer simulations of increased cash flow expected to be generated by the target strategies. The strategically planned targets are then flowed down to the various levels of management, budgets are constructed around those target strategies, and the budgets are then consolidated and flowed upward. By defining organizational targets and then aligning those targets with strategic goals from the beginning, the number and scope of iterations of budget adjustments can be reduced. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327016 | WORK OPTIMIZATION BASED UPON LIFECYCLE TRACKING DATA - Tracking and management data for a survey distribution and response lifecycle is disclosed. The system generates and links tracking data for both the distribution and the response, generates indicators that include the tracking data, and encodes the indicators so that the indicators are detectable as the indicators traverse various events and locations throughout the lifecycle. A detailed audit trail of each event in the distribution and response lifecycle is constructed using data matching methods and various statistics regarding the lifecycle, such that the response habits of customers are formulated enabling an operation to more efficiently forecast, plan and conduct operations. | 12-31-2009 |
20100004967 | Method and System for Generating One Flow Models from Runtime Service Delivery Process - A method and system for generating new abstractions for existing process models and modifying existing process models in order to generate new process models by mining run-time service delivery processes. The method and system also “learns” new abstractions for business process models by modifying existing models. The method and system generates new business process models utilizing an online learning mechanism that mines run-time service delivery processes. | 01-07-2010 |
20100004968 | PATTERN-BASED POLICY APPLICATION MECHANISM FOR SCA - A pattern-based policy method for service component architecture (SCA) defines a policy pattern for SCA. The policy pattern includes a plurality of roles and one or more constraints between said plurality of roles. Each of said plurality of roles defines a plurality of intents or policy sets or combination thereof. One or more roles assigned to said one or more SCA components are identified and one or more intents or policy sets or combination thereof associated with said one or more roles are automatically applied to said one or more SCA components. Said one or more intents or policy sets or combination thereof applied to said one or more SCA components are validated based on said one or more constraints. | 01-07-2010 |
20100004969 | System and Method for Providing Online Education - A system and method for creating and offering online courses and classes provides a computer program accessible over a computer network. The program includes a template for creating a course by assigning predefined attributes and/or parameters, and by adding lessons, activities, and/or material in conformance with predetermined rules. A selected course is converted into a class for offering over the system which may be archived or deleted after the term. New classes may subsequently be made from the original course. Included are translation and/or conversion functions, wherein inputs and outputs may be translated between human languages and/or converted between different analog and digital forms, and a payment system wherein fees may be charged for access to the system, a course, and/or a class. Courses and course content may be saved and shared with other users having valid access parameters. | 01-07-2010 |
20100004970 | METHOD AND STRUCTURE FOR IMPLEMENTING B2B TRADING PARTNER BOARDING - A computerized method (and structure) of implementing a business-to-business (B2B) boarding process includes providing a set of questions related to the B2B boarding process to a new business to be boarded into an existing B2B system. | 01-07-2010 |
20100004971 | COORDINATING SHEDULES BASED ON CONTACT PRIORITY - Methods of the present invention provide for coordinating schedules by assigning a priority level to a user and scheduling an event using an electronic calendar. An exemplary method may comprise the steps of a profile manager matching a recommended time slot common to a range of time slots provided by a first user and second user, and a client side application used with an electronic calendar downloading the recommended time slot. | 01-07-2010 |
20100010855 | Scheduling a Meeting of Users of Networked Computers - During scheduling a meeting between users of networked computers, participants are assigned to groups of different priority based on importance of participant's presence at the meeting. Proposed schedule of the meeting is confirmed with the participants in an order of priority of their groups. The meeting is scheduled on a time interval during which availability of the participants is compliant with pre-selected group attendance requirements. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010856 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONSTRAINT-BASED PROJECT SCHEDULING - A method and system of constraint-based project scheduling. The method comprises maintaining a first database containing project scheduling data associated with at least a current period and a next period of an assignment plan; maintaining a second database containing data associated with a look ahead plan, the look ahead plan covering at least an overlap portion of the next period of the assignment plan such that the look ahead plan overlaps the assignment plan; transferring data associated with one or more shielded tasks having a starting time within the overlap portion of the next period from the second database into the first database as a modification of the project scheduling data associated with the next period of the assignment plan; and executing the project according to the next period of the assignment plan based on the modified project scheduling data associated with the next period in the first database. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010857 | INTELLIGENT POWER MONITORING - An electronic device operative to monitor and control processes and operations based on the power cost of those processes and operations are provided. The electronic device can identify processes or networked devices requiring power, determine the expected amount of power required for the process or networked device, and calculate the cost of the power requirement. For example, the electronic device can receive data or algorithms defining the manner in which a power supplier computes the cost of consumed power, and predict the expected cost of the particular power requirement. Based on the importance of the process or device, and the expected power cost, the electronic device can perform a process or provide power to a networked device, or alternatively delay or cancel a process to ensure that the power cost of the device remains within preset boundaries (e.g., the power cost of the device or of a home network of devices does not exceed a maximum cap). | 01-14-2010 |
20100010858 | WORKFLOW EXECUTION CONTROL APPARATUS AND WORKFLOW EXECUTION CONTROL METHOD - A workflow execution control method includes calculating a processing cost and an error occurrence probability for each of the services by acquiring a processing result for each of the services from the service providing servers, calculating for each of the services a normalized cost which is a cost normalized by using the processing cost that occurs in the event of an error in one of the services in order to process other ones of the services and also using the occurrence probability of the error, determining an execution order of the services in accordance with the normalized costs calculated for the services, and sequentially calling the services from the service providing servers in accordance with the execution order. | 01-14-2010 |
20100017241 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR A MAINTENANCE OPTIMIZATION MODEL - A method of developing maintenance optimization model includes finding relevant criteria to drive the design towards operational performances at minimal cost for the end user, selecting inputs necessary to assess criteria selected, defining mathematical models to jointly drive the equipment/sub-system/system design and its support towards better supportability, and presenting the maintenance optimization model results to enable the exploration of the cause and effect relationships between design decisions and their operational and support impacts. The selected inputs may cover all the potential factors influencing the criteria values. The mathematical modeling can facilitate leveraging the intuitive “cause and effect” relationship between design and support, and affordability. The maintenance optimization model method, system, and computer program product provides a solid basis for the supportability evaluation of equipment/system/sub-system choices, particularly when integrated in a systematic way into the design process and used from the beginning of the development cycle. | 01-21-2010 |
20100017242 | POWER STANDARD COMPLIANCE METHOD AND SYSTEM - Methods, systems, devices and program products are provided for effecting compliance with power usage specifications through positive feedback to a monitoring entity. A power usage specification is provided for a device for a task performed by the device using the device to perform the task, embodiments monitoring power used by the device to perform the task to generate power usage data, comparing the power usage data to the power usage specification, and if the power usage data exceeds the power usage specification, automatically providing a reward to a device end-user selected as a function of a value of the specification exceeding and an agreement with the end-user or a third party. Power usage specifications may comprise predicted power usage values and requirements for the device to perform the task during a first power rate period having a lower energy or resource cost than a second power rate period. | 01-21-2010 |
20100017243 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PORTFOLIO INVESTMENT THESIS BASED ON APPLICATION LIFE CYCLES - The disclosure provides a product/service portfolio investment calculation methodology based on an application life cycle. The present invention defines an application life cycle with a plurality of phases, and provides a mechanism to define a location within the application life cycle improving product and service investment decisions. In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention maps the application life cycle with respect to telecommunications and datacommunications products and services. | 01-21-2010 |
20100017244 | METHOD FOR ORGANIZING PROCESSES - Techniques for generating a target process are provided. The techniques include identifying at least one of one or more steps and one or more artifacts within a target process and one or more other processes, pre-fetching the at least one of one or more atomic steps, one or more decision steps and splits and one or more merges to be used in the target process from the one or more other processes, and associating the at least one of one or more atomic steps, one or more decision steps and splits and one or more merges to be used in the target process at one or more decision points to generate the target process. | 01-21-2010 |
20100017245 | RESERVATION MANAGEMENT - A method, information processing system, and computer program product managing reservations of items. A request to reserve an item is received from a first user. The request includes a specification of at least one of a date and a time for a first reservation of the item. A determination is made that a second user holds a prior reservation for the item that conflicts with the first reservation. A determination is made that the second user is no longer requires the prior reservation. The prior reservation is released in response to determining that the second user no longer requires the prior reservation. The first reservation as specified by the request is allowed in response to the releasing and in response to the receiving from the first user the request. | 01-21-2010 |
20100017246 | SOFTWARE USER INTERFACE FOR SPECIFICATION OF PROJECT TASK DEPENDENCIES AND DEADLINES - A software user interface applicable to project tracking software and a method of use thereof is disclosed that enables entry of dependencies and relative deadlines for sub-tasks of projects. Dependency indicators specify dependencies of sub-tasks on the project start time or on completion times of other sub-tasks, and duration indicators specify the timing of deadlines relative to those time events. A plurality of deadlines can apply to the same sub-task so as to indicate thresholds of overdue urgency, and visual indications such as colors can be assigned to sub-tasks within the plurality to enable indications of overdue urgency in visual presentations of project status. Sub-task visual elements can be included that list and name the sub-tasks, and relate the sub-tasks to dependency indicators. Permissions can be entered that control the abilities of users to view and/or enter parameters. The method can operate over a network or the internet. | 01-21-2010 |
20100017247 | System and Method for Re-home Sequencing Optimization - A system and method for rehome sequencing optimization of a telecommunications network. In a preferred embodiment, a practicable optimized rehome sequencing plan is determined for a rehome plan in order to migrate the network topology from an initial state to a final state while minimizing the costs incurred during the network state transitions across multiple time periods. Constraints that may be considered include specific market restrictions such as the limit on the number of network elements in a cluster, the limit on the number of clusters in a sequencing step, the limit on the number of sequencing steps, and the immobility limit on the network elements. Constraints also may include cost restrictions incurred during network transitions, such as individual cost limits during each network transition state and an overall cost limit of network transitions from the initial state to the final state. | 01-21-2010 |
20100017248 | PRODUCT TRACKING AND AUTHENTICATION USING AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION - According to one general aspect, a method may include generating a transfer order within a planning system. In some embodiments, the transfer order may include instruction for the transfer of at least one physical object from at least a first location to a second location and an expected transfer time. In various embodiments, the method may include automatically communicating at least part of the information included in the transfer order to an execution system. In some embodiments, the method may include monitoring, via the execution system, the movement of the physical objects via tags, wherein each tag is associated with one of the physical objects. In one embodiment, the method may include automatically communicating movement information regarding the movement of the physical object(s) to the planning system. | 01-21-2010 |
20100017249 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING AND POWER MANAGEMENT - Systems and methods for charging electric vehicles and for quantitative and qualitative load balancing of electrical demand are provided. | 01-21-2010 |
20100017250 | SYSTEMS, APPARATUS, AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT - Systems, apparatus, and methods are provided to facilitate product development by linking stages of product development with the allocation of resources and support for the product. Products are developed based on a structured framework having distinct stages in which each stage builds upon information of previous stages. At the end of each stage, a review is conducted to determine whether the product is suitable for further development. Upon each review, an integrated set of tools is used to identify and link the product with resources and support needed for the product. In addition, the tools assist in automatically identifying the resources and support needed for the product as it progresses through each stage. | 01-21-2010 |
20100023366 | Process and apparatus for comprehensive configuration valid bill of material planning and auditing - A computer-implemented process for planning a configuration valid bill of materials for a product includes the steps of inputting at least one MOD from a MOD list into a planning module to generate a part genealogy of a product; identifying a senior MOD of the MOD list based upon a progression level value and a ranking value for at least one location identifier; determining a shortest path in the part genealogy from at least one base part of the product to the senior MOD for the at least one location identifier; identifying a complete progression from each of the at least one base parts to each corresponding at least one senior MODs for each of the at least one location identifiers; generating a configuration valid bill of materials for the product; and conveying the configuration valid bill of materials. | 01-28-2010 |
20100023367 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING WORKSHEET PRIORITY, AND METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING WORKSHEET - A method for managing worksheet priority is disclosed according to embodiments of the present invention. The method includes steps of: obtaining worksheet information; calculating a worksheet priority based on a Service Level Agreement; and updating the worksheet information based on the worksheet priority. Also, a system for managing worksheet priority, a method and a system for processing worksheet are further provided according to the embodiments of the present invention. The priority of the worksheet is calculated based on the Service Level Agreement according to the embodiments of the present invention. Thus, it ensures that resources in an enterprise are allocated based on the Service Level Agreement, and a worksheet with a higher service level is processed first. As such, it ensures that internal resources in the enterprise are allocated based on the Service Level Agreement. Meanwhile, it may not occur that the user with a low Service Level Agreement is always given no opportunity of the service. | 01-28-2010 |
20100030604 | Executing Business Rules in a Business Process - Systems, methods, and apparatus, including software tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, involve executing a business process. A business rules repository that stores multiple business rules is maintained. Each business rule defines logic used in one or more business processes. A business process is identified, and the business process includes business operations and an identification of one or more business rules in the business rules repository. A business rule is retrieved from the business rules repository to a business process execution module based on the identification included in the business process. The retrieved business rule is executed using the business process execution module. One or more of the business operations is identified for execution based on a result of executing the retrieved business rule. The identified business operation is executed using the business process execution module. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030605 | Automated Timesheet Generation with Auto Summarizer - A method and apparatus for compiling data about the use of programs being used on a computer system by at least one user is disclosed. The method includes running a task logger on said computer system to monitor the action of each said user on their workstation to determine the use by each said user during a predetermined period and a text summarizer to provide a description of the content of said use. The invention further provides a computer system for compiling data about at least one user's work on a workstation, comprising a task logger module capable of monitoring monitor the action of each said user on their workstation to determine the use by each said user during a predetermined period, and a text summarizer module capable of providing a description of the content of said use. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030606 | MISSION SCHEDULING METHOD - Provided is a mission scheduling method. The mission scheduling method includes: when a time window representing a time range that a plurality of missions are executed and a duration of the missions are given, determining an execution start time and finish time of each of the missions; selecting a first mission that is first finished among the missions; selecting second missions which collide or do not collide with the first mission depending on the execution order of the second missions; and including in a schedule a mission that is first finished when the first mission and the second missions are respectively executed according to a combination of orders, wherein the first mission and the second missions according to the combination of orders do not collide with each other. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030607 | Digital Content Management System with Methodologies for Lifecycle Management of Digital Content - A digital content management system with methodologies for lifecycle management of digital content is shown and described. In one embodiment, for example, a digital content management system is described that comprises: an ingestion module for receiving from clients various components used to create digital content releases; a polishing module for matching received components to a particular release being created; a packaging module for encoding the received components that were matched for the particular release into a digital package suitable for delivery to one or more digital content providers; and a delivery module for delivering the digital package of the particular release to one or more digital content providers. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030608 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A CARBON CALCULATOR INCLUDING CARBON OFFSETS - A system and method for a carbon calculator including carbon offset determination is described. Distance and modes of transport may be used to determine carbon emissions and carbon offsets to compensate for the carbon emissions. The calculator may also provide trade-off comparisons between alternate modes of transportation such as air, truck, train, boat, and the like. The distance determination may involve actual mileage traversed in a shipment or may be calculated using GPS, for example. | 02-04-2010 |
20100036698 | Charging Resource Usage in a Distributed Computing Environment - A method of allocating costs for resource usage in a distributed computing environment includes creating a standardized template for deploying a desired functionality within the distributed computing environment; the standardized template defining computing resources of the distributed computing environment needed to support the desired functionality, associating fixed costs with the computing resources, and calculating a total allocated cost associated with the standardized template by referencing the fixed costs. A system of allocating costs for resource usage in a distributed computing environment includes a standardized template for deploying a desired functionality within the distributed computing environment, the standardized template defining a plurality of interconnected computing resources, a fixed cost associated with each of the plurality of interconnected computing resources, and a software application configured to sum the fixed costs to produce a total cost for deploying the desired functionality. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036699 | STRUCTURED IMPLEMENTATION OF BUSINESS ADAPTABILITY CHANGES - The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for structured implementation of business adaptability changes. In some embodiments, a pre-defined resource vocabulary is utilized to assist a decision making entity in selecting an appropriate response to a change trigger event. The pre-defined resource vocabulary provides a mechanism for a plurality of different organizations to consider resource selection for responding to change trigger events in a uniform, repeatable, and consistent manner so as to increase decision agility. In other embodiments, a pre-defined common vocabulary defines a range of business adaptability. The pre-defined common vocabulary provides a mechanism for a plurality of different organizations to consider changes in business adaptability in a uniform manner and provides a mechanism to produce consistent repeatable results for considered changes in business adaptability. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036700 | AUTOMATICALLY PRESCRIBING TOTAL BUDGET FOR MARKETING AND SALES RESOURCES AND ALLOCATION ACROSS SPENDING CATEGORIES - A facility for automatically prescribing, for a distinguished offering, an allocation of resources to a total marketing budget and/or individual marketing activities is described. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036701 | Physician And Medical Vender Appointment Coordination Method - A system and method of organizing appointments between physicians and venders of medical products and services, involving the steps of hosting an Internet based protocol that allows physicians to create an ID and input available appointment information from their office calendars, allowing venders to create an ID, input payment information, and select individual available appointments with physicians; wherein the system manages appointments and payments through a series of protocols governing the conditions under which payments for appointments are collected or forfeited. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036702 | Asset Management Systems and Methods - Systems, methods, and software for reliability, hazard, and integrity optimization are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the software includes an input module, a failure model module, a simulation module, and an optimization module. The input module accepts a list of assets to be managed and determines design data and process data for each asset. The failure model module determines probability of failure curve parameters for each asset degradation mode. The simulation module simulates an asset management plan to determine a total management cost that includes costs for predicted failures as well as risk-weighted costs for each degradation mode of each asset generates alternative management plans for evaluation by the simulation module and provides a selected management plan for display to a user. In each embodiment, the total management costs may account not only for direct costs, but also for safety costs, environmental costs, and business costs. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036703 | Analyzing a Content-Requesting Media Item - The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a computer-implemented method including receiving a first input from a publisher who has established an account with a content-distributing entity to publish content from others, the first input being generated based on a publisher media item configured to present at least part of the content and including code from the publisher media item for requesting the content. The method further includes obtaining the content from the content-distributing entity including using the code to generate a request for the content. The method further includes generating an analysis view available to the publisher, the analysis view generated using the content. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036704 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ALLOCATING REQUIREMENTS IN A SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE USING SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE STRING REPRESENTATION - A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium having programming instructions operable to assign a business process identifier to a business process and allocate requirements to the business process. Additionally, the programming instructions are operable to create one or more service strings used to provide the requirements for the business process, wherein each service string identifies software components used to execute the business process. Furthermore, the programming instructions are operable to create one or more hardware strings for the business process, wherein each hardware string identifies hardware components used to execute the business process. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036705 | System and Method for Improved Distribution of Market Information - A data distribution system and method are described herein to improve the distribution of market information to subscribing client devices. Market information updates are provided to subscribing devices over a communication link every time a change in the market occurs. If a bandwidth limitation is reached on the communication link, the preferred embodiments switch to a second mode of transmission such that the market information updates are provided only at predetermined intervals. The preferred embodiment monitors the bandwidth consumption to determine what mode of transmission to apply, and in response, it can dynamically change between modes of transmission. By dynamically adjusting the mode of transmission to comport with the current network bandwidth, the preferred embodiments may provide a network friendly, data intensive, and fast response market information feed. | 02-11-2010 |
20100042455 | MODEL-BASED REAL-TIME COST ALLOCATION AND COST FLOW - A costing process that takes advantage of real-time information about plant floor activities and provides a more accurate and timely financial feedback about the process efficiencies in response to new changes in the process operation. The costing process includes identifying stations that consume resources, consume activities and supply activities. The costing process also identifies a plurality of resources that are provided to one or more of the stations. The costing process also includes identifying resources from the plurality of resources that are used as needed and resources that are supplied in advance of being used. The costing process allocates costs for each resource to each station that the resource supplies, including calculating a cost rate, calculating a cost of used capacity and calculating a cost of unused capacity. The costing process then determines the cost that each station and product uses based on the allocations. | 02-18-2010 |
20100042456 | Integrated market-based allocation of resources within an enterprise - Allocating acquired resources within a firm is disclosed. The ability to list acquired resources of a firm on an internal marketplace is provided. A purchasing power asset is divided among the prospective users of an acquired resource of the firm. An intra-firm market enabling prospective users of an the acquired resource of the firm to attempt to obtain the acquired resource by offering to provide an offered amount of the purchasing power asset in exchange for receiving the acquired resource is provided. | 02-18-2010 |
20100042457 | SERVICE OPERATION DATA PROCESSING USING CHECKLIST FUNCTIONALITY IN ASSOCIATION WITH INSPECTED ITEMS - In one embodiment, a system is provided for performing at least one service operation in association with at least one inspected item. The system includes a service data device configured for displaying at least one data screen including at least one checklist configured for operative use in connection with performance of the service operation on the inspected item, the data device being portable and being configured for processing at least one communication; a service administrator having at least one data storage medium configured for storing at least one of the checklists displayed on the data device, the service administrator further having at least one server for enabling at least one communication between the service administrator and the data device; at least a portion of at least one of the checklists being customizable by at least the service administrator; and, at least a portion of at least one of the checklists being electronically interactive in association with performance of the service operation on the inspected item. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR §1.72(b). | 02-18-2010 |
20100042458 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PERFORMING OILFIELD PRODUCTION OPERATIONS - Methods and systems for performing well network production optimizations are described. For example, in one embodiment, a method of allocating an applied resource throughout a well network includes receiving topological data into an analytical model of a well network having one or more wells. The topological data includes a plurality of performance curves that relate well performance to one or more levels of an applied resource. The method also includes determining an optimum allocation of the applied resource using the analytical model to maximize an operating parameter of the well network, including converting a portion the analytical model having one or more wells and a linear inequality relationship to a modified portion having a single variable and a linear equality constraint. | 02-18-2010 |
20100042459 | Providing a Digital Image and Disposition of a Good Damaged During Transit - Systems and methods are disclosed for determining the disposition of a shipped good, such as a car, damaged during transit. After the damage is detected, a digital image of the is obtained. The image is uploaded to a server typically along with the vehicle identification number and/or other identification data. The server determines the appropriate individual(s) to be contacted, and generates a notification message, typically including the URL of a web site where further information can be obtained. The appropriate individual (“user”) logs onto the server to view the digital images and provides input regarding the disposition of the good. The user may direct the damaged car to a repair shop, a dealer, or another destination. Alternatively, the user may indicate delivery of the car as originally planned. The server may notify other systems of the disposition as well. Other embodiments apply to the disposition of delivered packages. | 02-18-2010 |
20100049567 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATED ADVERTISEMENT MANAGEMENT - The disclosure describes systems and methods for Integrated advertising management. An Integrated Ad Manager (IAM) loaded and stored within a media player on a user computer receives information from at least one publisher for use in managing advertisements. The information relates to available advertisement inventory of the at least one publisher of advertisements. The IAM facilitates determining advertisements to be served in connection with media content being rendered by the media player based at least in part on the received information. The IAM facilitates serving of advertisements, at least in part based on the determined advertisements, for visible display on a user computer in association with the media content being rendered. An ad management system serves or facilitates serving of the advertisements based at least in part on the information received from the IAM. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049568 | System and Method for an Extensible Workflow Management - A workflow management system provides a GUI Configurability tool that allows an end user to configure the system's workflow screens, workflow logic and data fields without the need to rewrite any programs. The system allows each workflow screen to represent and assist each individual task within a business process that may be defined and illustrated by a flowchart. The workflow screens work in conjunction with workflow logic to create an accurate one-to-one mapping of the individual tasks and decision logic within a business process flowchart. The system provides published interfaces that allow the use of third party hardware and software within workflows. The system also provides published interfaces to integrate extensible code that perform custom functions within the system. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049569 | System and Method for Quantity and Timed Limited Asynchronous Cost Recovery - An asynchronous two-dimensional limiting cost recovery system includes an expense activity sent from a client computer to a server computer. The extracted data is sent to a central message queue, where the client computer reads the data and graphically notifies the user of unbilled expense activity. An administrator defines a quota which determines how many unbilled expense activities can exist for a given user before a mandatory billing interface is displayed regardless of how much time it took to complete those activities, or defines a maximum time duration which determines how much time a user is given before a mandatory billing interface is displayed regardless of how many expense activities were completed, or both, whichever occurs first. A “snooze” option works in conjunction with the quota and maximum time duration limitations. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049570 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING RESOURCE USAGE OF EACH TENANT IN A MULTI-TENANT ARCHITECTURE - A computer implemented method and system for determining resource usage of a tenant in a multi-tenant architecture. The method includes the steps of: recording, within predetermined time intervals, total consumption of each resource in each predetermined time interval; obtaining total times of calling each operation by each tenant in each predetermined time interval; calculating consumption of each resource during each operation based on the total times and the total consumption obtained within the period of time; and calculating usage of each resource by each tenant within the period of time based on the calculated consumption of each resource during each operation and the total times of calling each operation of each tenant in each predetermined time interval. The system includes apparatus for performing the above method. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049571 | Residential Delivery System and Method - The present invention is a method and system for residential delivery. The invention also provides for a delivery-slot based delivery system. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049572 | ASSOCIATION OF BODY SHOPS WITH RETAIL NETWORK - A buyer-seller-provider matching system that uses an estimating/scheduling/pricing system to match buyers with providers who accept the work at the price and to complete the work within a specific time. A computer system that comprises a repository of information about the work to be performed, available participating body shop, pricing, time available to perform work and transport of the vehicle that may be provided over a network for users to access information about the work order. The matching system incorporates the use of existing collision estimating software that transfer the work and pricing information to a scheduling program that is then transmitted to participating body shops for their review to accept or reject the work. On a real time basis the system will transmit the decisions of the participating body shop and award the work, schedule pick up of the vehicle and time for delivery back to the seller. | 02-25-2010 |
20100057513 | AUTOMATIC APPOINTMENT SCHEDULER WITH HYBRID TIMELINE - An apparatus, method and computer program product are provided for creating and displaying a hybrid timeline including a contiguous and a non-contiguous portion that may be used to schedule an appointment. The contiguous portion may include a time entry associated with each of several consecutive time periods during which one or more appointments may be scheduled. These time entries may include sufficient detail to enable a scheduler to schedule an appointment during a time slot within the corresponding time period. The non-contiguous portion may, in turn, include time entries associated with only relevant time periods associated with the party for whom an appointment is to be scheduled, spread over a larger amount of time and including less detail than the time entries of the contiguous portion. Together, the contiguous and non-contiguous portions may comprise a single timeline on which substantially all relevant events may be presented with time-sequential integrity intact. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057514 | EFFECTIVE TASK DISTRIBUTION IN COLLABORATIVE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT - A method, system and computer program product are disclosed to support the dynamic (just-in-time) task distribution in the context of globally collaborative software development. Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system and computer program product for distributing tasks in a collaborative software development project, where said project has a multitude of work packets. An embodiment of the invention includes generating bidding request forms, and broadcasting the bidding request forms to a multitude of distributed teams; collecting completed bidding request forms having real-time information about attributes of the distributed teams; and matching eligible teams to the work packets. This embodiment further comprise optimizing a distribution plan of the work packets; ranking results of the distribution plan to give a final distribution plan; and notifying each of the distributed teams of any work packets assigned to them. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057515 | DYNAMIC ORDER WORKFLOW TEMPLATE INSTANTIATOR AND DECOUPLER - An application integration system greatly improves the configurability and efficiency of integration of multiple disparate applications, such as those found in telecommunications service provider architecture. The application integration system disassembles messages into component parts and dynamically rebuilds the component parts into a target message compatible with a target system. The application integration system employs a highly configurable configuration mechanism that can be modified on the fly and adapted to meet the requirements of any number of different applications that may need to communicate across the telecommunications service provider architecture. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057516 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHARING A CALENDAR OVER MULTIPLE GEO-POLITICAL REGIONS - A method of displaying a computerized calendar according to different geo-political regions that takes into account time differences between the geo-political regions, wherein the time differences include differences in start date and end date of implementing daylight saving time in the geo-political region, and differences in the time zone of the geo-political region; and displaying the transformed display. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057517 | Eco-systemic business model for a music entertainment company and the music industry - An eco-systemic business model for a Music Entertainment Company that will optimize the use of, and, exploit new method and system for generating, processing and allocating revenues earned in the Music Industry, optimize the use of, and, exploit new Mechanical Royalty Rate Formula and new Mechanical Royalty Rate (that can be Standardized within the Music Industry), and finally optimize the exploitation of entertainment assets such as (but not limited to) Record Artists and Music Catalogues, by implementing a new “Living 360° Music Entertainment Company” Business Model, which utilize the integration of various basic and transferable management and marketing strategies, business tools and business resources. Further, The “Living 360° Music Entertainment Company will exploit assets and products such as (but not limited to) Recording Artists, which will be developed, managed, marketed, place on tour (a tour produced by The “Living 360° Music Entertainment Company), exploited for merchandising opportunities, cross-marketing opportunities and product placements with advertising media and corporate sponsorships, and, exploited to selling albums/single records; all to be interrelated within one company and/or one network of associated and/or affiliated companies for the purpose of earning profit from all areas of the music industry, “across the board”. | 03-04-2010 |
20100063858 | METHOD FOR REDUCING FINISHED GOODS INVENTORY FOR PRECAST FABRICATOR - A method for reducing finished goods inventory for a precast fabricator includes a buffer evaluation procedure to evaluate a time buffer via a fuzzy logic using customer characteristics, element characteristics, and building characteristics as parameters. A due date adjustment procedure is then carried out to adjust production due dates of the elements according to the time buffer and erection dates of the building. Finally, a production scheduling procedure is used to arrange a production sequence for fabricating the elements based on the adjusted production due dates. | 03-11-2010 |
20100070321 | Project Management System With Inspection Functionality - A project management system manages project schedule data using project task state data. The project task state data indicates the current state of project tasks and is used to determine which project tasks are to be included in a member schedule editor, member schedule reports and inspection reports. The project management system also provides support for various inspection functionality. This includes, for example, identifying and naming inspection material for use in inspection meeting forms and inspection meeting documents. The inspection functionality also includes generating an inspection index and an inspection statistics report. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070322 | Method and Apparatus for Administering a Bidding Language for Online Advertising - A method and apparatus are provided for administering a bidding language for online advertising. In one example, the method includes providing an expressive bidding language that allows an advertiser to specify an ad campaign in a tree structure, receiving the ad campaign that is written in the expressive bidding language, translating the ad campaign into scripts, and using the scripts to access appropriate inventory from an ad inventory database. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070323 | Method and system for wealth management - In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for wealth management. These mechanisms and methods for wealth management can enable embodiments to provide a multi-tenant database that stores information about clients of the tenants. In a multi-tenant database, a system for managing financial accounts is established, which may be useful for a tenant that is a financial analyst or that employs financial analysts. The multi-tenant database may include a calendar application that automatically includes the team members associated with the event being scheduled in a list of invitees, and the multi-tenant database may also includes relationship groups, such that information about related individuals (whom may have separate accounts) are automatically associated with one another. The ability of embodiments that provide relationship groups and teams can enable efficiently gathering information about related parties and efficiently inviting that interested parties to an event. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070324 | Architectural Design for Plan-Driven Procurement Application Software - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing plan-driven 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 Inbound Delivery Processing process component, a Site Logistics Processing process component, an Inventory Processing process component, a Purchase Request Processing process component, a Purchase Order Processing process component, a Purchasing Contract process component, a Supplier Invoice Processing process component, a Demand Forecast Processing process component, a Supply and Demand Matching process component, an External Procurement Trigger and Response process component, and a Logistics Execution Control process component. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070325 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ESTIMATING RESOURCE FACTORS FOR EXECUTING A PROJECT - The present invention provides a method, system and computer program product for estimating resource factors for a steady state execution of a project. The resource factors are associated with a second set of resources. A required effort associated with a first set of resources executing the project is received. Thereafter, a primary effort estimate is calculated. Subsequently, first pre-defined parameters and second pre-defined parameters are assigned corresponding weights. A value corresponding to each of the resource factors is then generated on the basis of the primary effort estimate, weighted first pre-defined parameters and weighted second pre-defined parameters and available time associated with the second set of resources. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070326 | Methods for Designing, Pricing, and Scheduling Well Services and Data Processing Systems Therefor - Methods comprising for pricing and scheduling one or more well services comprising obtaining input data for the one or more well services, determining the well service specifications, determining a schedule for the one or more well services, determining costs for the one or more well services, and determining the price of the one or more well services based on a plurality of factors, wherein the plurality of factors comprises the schedule and the costs. Methods comprising for pricing and scheduling one or more well services comprising obtaining input data for the one or more well services, the input data comprising well characteristics of the one or more well service, determining a schedule for the one or more well services, determining the price of the one or more well service based on a plurality of factors, wherein the plurality of factors comprises the schedule and the well characteristics. | 03-18-2010 |
20100076802 | Autonomously Rescheduling Appointments - A method, system, and computer program product for autonomously rescheduling a future meeting in response to receiving a meeting cancellation notice of a previously scheduled meeting. A meeting rescheduling logic (MRL) of a server receives a cancellation of a scheduled meeting of an identified contact. The MRL may select a highest priority meeting from a plurality of meetings that has been flagged with an auto-move-up status. The MRL determines if all attendees of the selected meeting are available to attend the meeting at the open time slot of the identified contact's calendar. Upon determining that all attendees of the selected meeting are available at the open time slot, the MRL reschedules the selected meeting at the open time slot, and notifies all attendees. Additionally, the MRL may cancel a lower priority meeting of the attendees to accommodate moving a higher priority meeting into the open time slot. | 03-25-2010 |
20100076803 | Method and System for Dynamic Project Management and Capacity Management and capacity management - Described herein are systems and methods for dynamic project management and capacity management. Specifically, the systems and method include a management tool for performing project management, capacity management, and time and cost creation across systems and departments for the lowest levels of data. The management tool include a computer readable storage medium including a set of instructions that are executable by a processor, the set of instructions being operable to store projected time information and projected cost information for a project, store actual time information and actual cost information for the project, and display a correlation between i) the projected time information and actual time information, and ii) the projected cost information and the actual cost information. | 03-25-2010 |
20100076804 | PREVENTING SCHEDULING CONFLICTS WHEN PROPOSING NEW TIMES FOR CALENDAR EVENTS - Calendar entries can be added indicating a proposed change to a calendar event to electronic calendars of all event attendees when the proposed change is pending approval. This puts the attendees on notice of a possible change in a time or place of the calendar event so that these attendees can choose not to schedule conflicting calendar events while the proposed change is pending. | 03-25-2010 |
20100076805 | Adaptive Scheduling Of Storage Operations Based On Utilization Of Multiple Client And Server Resources In A Distributed Network Storage System - Scheduling operations such as asynchronous file system operations in a network storage system is accomplished by applying a bid-price online auction methodology, in which bid (willingness-to-pay) values and price (cost) values are dynamically set by storage clients and a storage server, respectively, based on utilization of computing resources. The system provides a framework for adaptively scheduling asynchronous file system operations, managing multiple key resources of the distributed file system, including network bandwidth, server I/O, server CPU, and client and server memory utilization. The system can accelerate, defer, or cancel asynchronous requests to improve application-perceived performance. Congestion pricing via online auctions can be employed to coordinate the use of system resources by clients, so clients can detect shortages and adapt their resource usage. | 03-25-2010 |
20100076806 | Inventory management tool using a criticality measure - A computer system for an inventory management tool using a criticality measure is disclosed. The computer system has a memory, at least one input device, and a central processing unit in communication with the memory and the at least one input device. The central processing unit calculates an amount of existing inventory for one or more parts used to produce a product and determines a lead time to receive the one or more parts. The central processing unit also determines a build time to produce the parts into the product and receives a criticality measure for the product, the criticality measure indicating an order time for delivering the product. Further, the central processing unit adjusts a supply chain process for the parts based on the lead time, the build time, and the criticality measure. | 03-25-2010 |
20100082391 | METHOD, DEVICE, AND SYSTEM FOR APPOINTMENT MESSAGING - Appointment information for a user may be entered at a computer. A first signal may be sent from the computer, via a network, to a server remote from the computer, the content of the first signal including for example data related to the appointment information. Sending the first signal may be triggered by completion of the entering appointment information for the user. The content of the first signal may be processed at the server according to the appointment information, and a message may be sent from the server to the user relating to the appointment. A response to the message may be received from the user. | 04-01-2010 |
20100082392 | MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION FOR ALLOCATION OF ADVERTISING RESOURCES - An advertising distribution system mediates and distributes advertising opportunities, especially insertions of ads on web pages, according to advertisers' representative targeting profiles. The number and characteristics of future ad impressions is forecast. A portion is allocated to guaranteed-delivery advertiser contracts and the remainder is offered on a spot market. A division between guaranteed and spot market allocations is sought to maximize revenue, taking into account a value associated with meeting the advertisers' representative profiles. The value of representativeness can be inferred from the marginal revenue of a spot market sale, and optionally weighted. The guaranteed and spot market revenues for all possible efficient allocations produces a curve. An operating point on the curve is determined by selecting a weighting factor or selecting a proportion of total revenue that shall be attributable to representativeness. | 04-01-2010 |
20100082393 | DISPLAY ADVERTISING CONTRACT PRICING - Example embodiments described herein may relate to pricing contracts for a display advertising system utilized, for example, in Web-based advertising. | 04-01-2010 |
20100082394 | Flight Schedule Constraints for Optional Flights - The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes receiving a number N | 04-01-2010 |
20100082395 | Systems and methods for analyzing a portfolio of intellectual property assets - Methods and systems consistent with embodiments of the present invention provide flexible analysis of a portfolio of intellectual property (IP) assets. IP assets may include, for example, granted patents, registered trademarks, copyrights, patent applications, trademark applications, etc. Analysis consistent with the present invention may include, for example, forecasting worldwide cost estimates for a portfolio of IP assets. An IP portfolio may consist of one or more families of assets. For example, a patent family may include granted patents and related patent applications filed in countries and regional patent offices around the world. Furthermore, IP assets may be categorized into groups. For example, IP assets may be grouped by technology group, company division, patent manager, etc. In certain embodiments, an IP asset may be part of several groups. | 04-01-2010 |
20100088136 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING CARBON EMISSION-CONSCIOUS ORDER FULFILLMENT ALTERNATIVES WITH MULTIPLE SUPPLY MODES - A system and method for optimizing order fulfillment by considering multiple supply modes in one aspect, plans supply of inventory by forecasting demand, estimating accuracy of said forecasted demand, and establishing reorder point policy based at least on said accuracy of said forecasted demand, a plurality of supply transportation modes, cost of carbon emissions and limit on carbon emission credits. Current inventory position is monitored and if the current inventory position is below the reorder point policy, orders are placed according to a selected shipping method. The selected shipping method may be based at least on customer order priority, transportation budget, and carbon emission limit. | 04-08-2010 |
20100088137 | WORK LISTS AND COCKPIT TO CONTROL COMPLEX PROCESSES - A method, system and article of manufacture for creating a worklist and organizing a cockpit to control complex processes execution. A process hierarchy is created, including a plurality of organizational levels. A worklist of a plurality of worktasks, grouped in accordance with the process hierarchy, is created. The plurality of worktasks includes both internal worktasks, to be executed on a local computer system, and external worktasks, to be executed on external computer systems. A number of worklist views are displayed, where each worklist view includes a corresponding subset of the plurality of worktasks organized in accordance with the process hierarchy. Executions of internal and external worktasks are initiated from one or more of the worklist. Further, detailed information relevant to the execution is received. The executions of the tasks are monitored on one the worklist views. | 04-08-2010 |
20100088138 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATED SHORT-TERM ACTIVITY RESOURCE STAFFING LEVELS AND LONG-TERM RESOURCE ACTION PLANNING FOR A PORTFOLIO OF SERVICES PROJECTS - An integrated method for achieving short-term activity resource staffing levels and long-term resource action planning for a portfolio of services projects is presented. The method establishes the short-term resource-staffing level for each project activity in a portfolio of services projects, subject to short-term resource availability in each skill type and substitutability among skill types. It further establishes the long-term resource-staffing level and long-term resource action planning using combination of a plurality of resource actions that include hiring, contracting, and cross-training of skill types. | 04-08-2010 |
20100088139 | PROJECT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ADAPTED FOR PLANNING AND MANAGING PROJECTS - A method is disclosed, that is practiced by a computer system, for planning and managing project plans associated with one or more projects in a business, the computer system including a processor that is responsive to input data, a recorder or display device, and a memory, the memory storing software, comprising: executing, by the processor, the software stored in the memory of the computer system in response to the input data including knowledge and experience data, and, in response to the executing step, generating one or more output displays adapted for planning and managing the project plans of the one or more projects in the business; recording or displaying, by the recorder or display device, the one or more output displays on the recorder or display device; wherein the one or more output displays being recorded or displayed on the recorder or display device include, Line-of-Sight (LOS) views of information pertaining to the business, the Line-of-Sight views providing a user with a view into the project plans of the one or more projects that is filtered based on the user's discipline or responsibility in the project and a level of detail that is appropriate to the user's role in the one or more projects. | 04-08-2010 |
20100088140 | AUTOMATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TIME MANAGEMENT - Productivity and efficiency may be improved by eliminating or reducing interruptions by providing indications of availability for individuals where are based on a current activity in which the individual is employed. Current activity may be set manually be the individual or automatically, for example by monitoring applications and/or electronic devices with which the individual interacts. Indicator may be positioned on or proximate desktops, doors or sent electronically to computers and communication devices. Relationships between availability and activities may be set by the individual and/or a system administrator. Electronic communication may be suppressed based on the current activity. Relationships between activities or availability and the type of electronic communication suppressed or originator of the communication may be set by the individual and/or system administrator. | 04-08-2010 |
20100088141 | PROCESS FOR COLLECTING OPERATIONAL AND CONDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INFRASTRUCTURES AND FOR RELATED PRIORITY SETTING - A process and system to collect operational and conditional information on infrastructure such as railroads or pipelines, for example, is disclosed. The process includes techniques for organizing, sorting, evaluating and selecting capital investments in the infrastructure, including identification of higher risk for maintenance, and in the case of railroads for derailments, even though a specific location or portion of infrastructure may not have been identified for evaluation. | 04-08-2010 |
20100088142 | Bulk Material Ship Routing and Inventory Management Schedule Optimization - The present invention is a computational system to generate feasible marine transportation schedules given a proposed bulk material supply chain. The decision support tool will fulfill the objectives and scope defined above. The technology employed will require (a) the use of mathematical programming modeling techniques (mixed integer linear programming) to mathematically formulate the business problem, and (b) advanced proprietary solution methods to produce solutions satisfying all constraints of the mathematical model while optimizing an objective function. The decision support tool has the following capabilities: Read input data, Generate feasible bulk material ship Schedule, Evaluate bulk material ship Schedule with User-defined Objective Function, Allow Case comparison, Graphical user interface (GUI) for specifying input data and displaying results. | 04-08-2010 |
20100094676 | CLOSED LOOP SELF CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE WITHIN A DOCUMENT PROCESSING ENVIRONMENT - The present application relates to techniques for closed loop monitoring and performance control of document processing equipment within a document processing facility. In particular, a maintenance feedback system and related methods for coordinating service actions for document processing equipment are disclosed, for determining the impact that an identified fault correction or performance service has on the actual operational performance of the document processing equipment. | 04-15-2010 |
20100094677 | PRIORITIZING PROBLEMS IN IT SERVICES - In an embodiment, the invention provides a method of prioritizing problems in IT services. The method comprises determining a plurality of N problems. An incident cost, a workaround cost, an expected resolution cost, and a total cost for each of the N problems is determined. A priority is assigned to each of the N problems such that each priority has an expected resolution time. The priorities are assigned such that the total cost for fixing all N problems is lower than any other selection of priorities. | 04-15-2010 |
20100100407 | SCALING OPTIMIZATION OF ALLOCATION OF ONLINE ADVERTISEMENT INVENTORY - A method for scaling inventory allocation includes mapping attributes to impressions through index tables; constructing a flow network of nodes each containing impressions of corresponding attributes projected to be available during a time period, contracts each including specific requests for impressions that satisfy a demand profile, and arcs to connect the nodes to the contracts that match the demand profiles of the contracts; sampling the arcs that flow into each contract at a sampling rate chosen to reduce the number of arcs to a fraction of the original arcs when the plurality of impressions that satisfy the contract is above a threshold number, the nodes corresponding to the sampled arcs being sampled nodes; and optimally allocating impressions from the sampled nodes to the contracts during the time period by solving the flow network with a minimum-cost network flow algorithm that maximizes delivery of the impressions from the sampled nodes to the contracts in a way that satisfies the corresponding demand profiles. | 04-22-2010 |
20100100408 | Professional continuing competency optimizer - A system, method, and computer product for implementing a multifaceted professional continuing competency management software product that addresses the evolved employment environment challenges. This comprehensive computer technology solution includes knowledge management, skill evaluation, individual portfolios, staffing methods, and performance management to enable implementation of a professional continuing competency optimizer for professional organization(s) and to the individual professional. | 04-22-2010 |
20100100409 | PROJECT PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT - A tool integrates various components of project planning and management. The tool enables the creation and tracking of authorization for expense (AFE) information for a project. Also, the tool allows risks to be assigned to corresponding activities of the project. | 04-22-2010 |
20100100410 | Systems and Methods for Ecological Evaluation and Analysis of an Enterprise - Systems and methods are described that improve, optimize and measure enterprise and consumer ecological sustainability, including use and disposal of energy, water, chemicals and waste thereof. Systems comprise combinations of networks, processors, software and analytics techniques, methodologies and technology. Systems and methods extend business intelligence through breakthrough mapping, integration, and modeling technologies to assess and expose the elements that contribute to ecological sustainability. | 04-22-2010 |
20100100411 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - Master equipment information including cost-related information on an information equipment that is recommendable as a substitute for the information equipment managed by an equipment managing server is stored in a master information memory unit. An equipment information collecting unit collects equipment information from the equipment managing server. A comparative analysis unit compares the equipment information collected by the equipment information collecting unit with the cost-related information included in the master equipment information, and specifies an information equipment that enables achieving cost reduction with respect to the information equipment managed by the equipment managing server as a recommendable information equipment. | 04-22-2010 |
20100106547 | Automated workflow generation - A computer-implemented method for generating a workflow includes receiving via an interactive user interface operator input that defines a first document that is to be filled in by a user and comprises a decision component. A first state of the workflow corresponding to the first document and a transition associated with actuation of the decision component are automatically defined. A second document that is to be presented upon user selection of the decision component in the first document is generated, and a second state of the workflow that corresponds to the second document and is linked to the first state by the transition is generated. In response to the first and second documents and the decision component, software code that corresponds to the workflow is produced for use in a workflow engine. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106548 | MANAGING MEETING CALENDAR ENTRIES - Techniques for managing a meeting calendar entry are provided. The techniques include scheduling a meeting by sending an invitation to one or more individuals, wherein the meeting is scheduled by a primary organizer via a meeting calendar entry, defining one or more secondary organizers for the meeting, and facilitating the one or more secondary organizers to manage a meeting calendar entry for the meeting. | 04-29-2010 |
20100114636 | Method and System of Multidimensional Attribution Analysis - Embodiments are directed to a method, medium, and system for generating a distribution attribution value to analyze distribution of telecommunications services. The method including compiling values for at least three variable elements associated with the distribution of telecommunication services. A first total value being defined as a product of first element values associated with the at least three variable elements. A second total value being defined as a product of second element values associated with the at least three variable elements. The method also including generating an attribution value representing an amount of influence at least one of the at least three variable elements has on a difference between the first and the second total values. The attribution value being calculated using the first and second total values. Also, the attribution value being adapted to at least one of verify and adjust the distribution of telecommunication services. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114637 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING DUE-TO REPORTS FOR ACTIVITIES THAT MAY NOT HAVE REFERENCE VALUE - Methods and apparatuses for computing a variance for the difference between two business metrics. In one embodiment, the method accesses a response model and a plurality of activities with start and end values for each of the plurality of activities. Furthermore, the method computes a variance for the difference between the first and second business metrics for each of the plurality of activities using the response model by setting that activity to one of the corresponding starting and ending values and setting others of the plurality of activities to the value state opposite of that activity, wherein the variance for an activity is the change in contribution for that activity between the start and end sales volumes. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114638 | Method and Software for the Measurement of Quality of Process - The invented method and software consolidate and automate the mechanism of quality of process (QoP) measurement in software development projects, and in any other business activity. Quality policy is defined as a collection of quality requirements, with software modules, that automatically calculate the value of each quality metric. Weighted average of all quality metrics is a QoP indicator, which can be used for project monitoring, team motivation and business feasibility study. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114639 | ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING MEDICAL TREATMENT UNITS AND PERIPHERAL DEVICES AS WELL AS A PERIPHERAL DEVICE AND TREATMENT UNIT FOR USE IN SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT - An assembly includes at least two medical treatment units, each of which can be allocated to a patient and at least two peripheral devices, each of which can be allocated to a patient. The peripheral devices and the treatment units have means for allocating a peripheral device to a treatment unit and means for verifying the allocation of a peripheral device to a patient. To allocate a peripheral device to a treatment unit, the peripheral device is placed by operators in a receiving unit belonging to the treatment unit. Said receiving unit is preferably designed as a charging station for the battery of the peripheral device. In the event of a successful allocation of peripheral device and patient, confirmed by the receipt of physiological data of the patient, the operators verify the correct allocation of a peripheral device to the patient and must confirm the correct allocation by confirmation means. The peripheral device is only released if the operator has confirmed the correct allocation, preferably within a predefined time period. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114640 | System and Method of Parallelizing Order-By-Order Planning - A system and method is disclosed for parallelizing order-by-order planning in a supply chain network. The system includes a database configured to store data describing a demand priority sequence, each demand priority sequence comprising at least one demand of an end-item and data describing the supply chain network comprising a plurality of network components, each network component configured to supply one or more items to satisfy demand. The system further includes a server coupled with the database, the server accesses the data describing the demand priority sequence and accesses the data describing the supply chain network. The server further creates mapping tables for each end-item, generates a dependency map for each end-item, generates a list of demand levels, and generates an order plan of end-items for planning in parallel comprising the orders planned for the demands at each demand level. | 05-06-2010 |
20100121665 | CALENDAR AVAILABILITY ASSESSMENT - A method for an electronic calendar and scheduling application to associate levels of availability (bookability) with time slots on individual calendars for minimizing the level of intrusiveness during the scheduling of a meeting includes: determining a set of feasible time slots bounded by a time range; determining a time slot with the lowest level of intrusiveness for one or more potential participants by: determining a level of intrusiveness in a time slot by: assigning a first weight based on a participant's attendance level to the meeting; assigning a second weight based on a participant's booking availability priority; performing a mathematical calculation with the first weight and second weight to obtain a calculated value; storing the calculated value; obtaining additional calculated values for additional participants; and wherein in the event there are no more additional participants: performing a mathematical combination of the stored calculated values to obtain an intrusiveness value. | 05-13-2010 |
20100121666 | MANAGEMENT AND AUTOMATIC INVOCATION OF SCHEDULED COLLABORATION EVENTS - A collaboration event framework can be used to schedule and automatically invoke a collaboration event. An event coordinator may schedule a collaboration event, and the framework will automatically initiate contact with event participants using participant contact preferences. Participants can be asked to enter an identifier to verify the participant's identity. An event coordinator may be presented with a display that indicates the status of participants of the collaboration event. A system administrator may review all scheduled collaboration events to determine resource shortages. | 05-13-2010 |
20100121667 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATED ADVERTISEMENT MANAGEMENT - The disclosure describes systems and methods for Integrated advertising management. An Integrated Ad Manager (IAM) loaded and stored within a media player on a user computer receives information from at least one publisher for use in managing advertisements. The information relates to available advertisement inventory of the at least one publisher of advertisements. The IAM facilitates determining advertisements to be served in connection with media content being rendered by the media player based at least in part on the received information. The IAM facilitates serving of advertisements, at least in part based on the determined advertisements, for visible display on a user computer in association with the media content being rendered. An ad management system serves or facilitates serving of the advertisements based at least in part on the information received from the IAM. | 05-13-2010 |
20100121668 | AUTOMATED COMPLIANCE CHECKING FOR PROCESS INSTANCE MIGRATION - A business process workflow editorial data processing system can be provided. The system can include a workflow management system such as a BPEL process editing tool, and a repository of templates each template defining a process. At least two of the templates can include a new template and an existing template for an executing instance of a business process. The system also can include compliance checking logic coupled to the workflow management system. The logic can include program code enabled to derive a log of changes between the new template and the existing template based upon added and removed activities and links between activities in the executing process instance, to group the changes in the log according to common activities, to determine a wavefront for the executing process instance, and to migrate the executing process instance to the new template only if the wavefront does not cross any of the groups of the changes, but otherwise rejecting a migration of the process instance to the new template. | 05-13-2010 |
20100121669 | System and method for determining how to prepare and maintain lawns and gardens - A system and method for determining how to prepare and maintain lawns and gardens. | 05-13-2010 |
20100121670 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING SHIPPING - There is provided a system and method for facilitating shipping. An exemplary method comprises automatically detecting that a user at a front-end of a computer system has booked a shipping service. The exemplary method also comprises obtaining shipping information associated with the shipping service. The exemplary method additionally comprises, based on the shipping information, automatically scheduling a pick-up service for the shipment being the object of the shipping service and sending an email message or an instant message incorporating the pick-up schedule information to the user. | 05-13-2010 |
20100121671 | Automated Channel Abstraction for Advertising Auctions - In a computer-implemented method of determining an abstraction of a plurality of differentiated goods available for exchange, data regarding each differentiated good is stored in a computer storage, wherein the data regarding each differentiated good includes an attribute value assigned to at least one attribute of the differentiated good. A processor of a computer determines a first abstraction of the plurality of differentiated goods based on the stored data. The first abstraction includes at least one abstract good. Each abstract good includes one or more differentiated goods. At least one abstract good of the first abstraction includes at least two distinct differentiated goods. The processor determines for each abstract good a specification for the abstract good based on the data regarding one or more differentiated goods forming the abstract good. The processor stores in the computer storage the specification determined for each abstract good. | 05-13-2010 |
20100125478 | TECHNIQUES FOR VISUAL INTEGRATION OF MEETING SPACE IN CALENDAR SYSTEMS - Techniques for visual integration of meeting spaces within a calendar system are presented. A meeting room can be viewed via a map and selected for scheduling a meeting. The map depicts the location of the meeting room within a facility of an enterprise. A meeting scheduler visually sees the meeting room within the map and can select the meeting room and acquire details about the meeting room. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125479 | MEETING SCHEDULER - A method of scheduling meetings includes: providing a first specification for a first set of meetings, wherein the first specification includes for each meeting an attendee list for specifying attendees, a duration for specifying meeting length, and a window for specifying acceptable meeting times; providing a first meeting schedule for the first set of meetings in accordance with the first specification, wherein the first meeting schedule includes a start time and an end time for each meeting; specifying an additional meeting to add to the first set of meetings, whereby a second set of meetings includes the first set of meetings and the additional meeting and a corresponding second specification includes for each meeting an attendee list, a duration, and a window; and determining a second meeting schedule for the second set of meetings by adjusting the first meeting schedule to include the additional meeting in accordance with the second specification. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125480 | PRIORITY AND COST BASED DEADLOCK VICTIM SELECTION VIA STATIC WAIT-FOR GRAPH - Systems and methods that enable resolving deadlock cycles by victim selection based on cost and/or priority of strongly connected components in a static wait-for graph. As such, victims can be selected by iteratively estimating total deadlock resolution cost (based on cost of strongly connected components) for remaining deadlock participants, selecting the participant with the least estimated total cost as the next victim, and reducing the wait-for graph after removing the victim vertex. The victim selection algorithm can be a cost-based greedy algorithm, wherein during each victim selection iteration, a single optimal victim is selected based on estimated remaining cost. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125481 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING INVESTMENT PRODUCTS - The invention relates, in various aspects, to systems, methods, and computer readable media suited for enabling partial owners of wholesale broker dealers to participate in providing investment products. Reports of wholesale fees received by and expenses incurred by a wholesale broker-dealer, in relation to wholesale support services for investment products, are stored. The wholesale support services are provided to registered representatives of a separate retail broker-dealer who are affiliated with the partial owners. The wholesale fees and expenses are allocated among the partial owners. A distribution is determined and effected for each partial owner based on a difference between the wholesale fees and the expenses allocated to the respective partial owner. | 05-20-2010 |
20100131319 | BUSINESS PROCESS SCHEDULE - Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for implementing a business process schedule based on temporal information. According to one embodiment, a method of utilizing temporal information associated with a business process definition can comprise storing the temporal information in a central repository. For example, the business process definition can comprise a Business Process Execution Language (BPEL) definition. The temporal information can indicate a time condition for a business process. A determination can be made as to whether the time condition has been satisfied. In response to determining the time condition has been satisfied, the business process definition associated with the temporal information can be identifying and executed. | 05-27-2010 |
20100131320 | IMPLEMENTATION OF BUSINESS MODELS IN A COMPLEX RUNTIME SYSTEM LANDSCAPE - A system for adding an additional business model to an existing productive runtime system landscape is described. An additional business model is implemented on an existing productive system landscape that includes an existing business model. The productive system is maintained independently from the implementing of the additional business model on the existing productive system landscape. The additional business model is deployed in the existing business model combined within the existing productive system landscape. | 05-27-2010 |
20100131321 | FAIR-SHARE LOGIC IN SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS - A subset of demands to fair-share is identified from a group of demands. An artificial demand is created to represent a total demand quantity based on the subset of demands. The artificial demand is fulfilled to determine an available quantity for satisfying the artificial demand. The quantity demanded for each demand in the subset is reduced to fair-share the available quantity. | 05-27-2010 |
20100131322 | System and Method for Managing Resources that Affect a Service - In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for managing a service includes monitoring, by one or more agents, the use of one or more tools by one or more workers. Each worker can have one or more assigned tasks corresponding to a service. In this example, metrics are collected corresponding to the monitored use of the tools by the workers. The metrics can be analyzed by a service analysis engine. In some embodiments, the service analysis engine may be embodied in computer-readable medium. In some cases, a report can be generated by the service analysis engine, which report can be based at least in part on the analyzed metrics. At least a portion of the report can be communicated to at least one worker. | 05-27-2010 |
20100131323 | TIME MANAGEMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM - Disclosed is a time management method which includes detecting a current activity of a user on a computer, classifying the current activity according to a predetermined characteristic, prioritizing the current activity according to a predetermined order of importance, and prompting the user to work on the highest important activity if not already working on it. Also disclosed is a computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method of time management, a computer program product and a system for time management. | 05-27-2010 |
20100131324 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SERVICE LEVEL BACKUP USING RE-CLOUD NETWORK - Embodiments relate to systems and methods for service level backup using a re-cloud network. A set of operating clouds can support one or more users. In embodiments, the one or more users can accept service based on a service level agreement (SLA), according to which the user is assured a certain level of service or support from the cloud, such as a minimum amount of uptime, a minimum amount of processor cycles or network bandwidth, or other guaranteed parameters of the usage of their virtual machine. In embodiments, the set of operating clouds in which the user's service is supported can be configured to communicate a service level augmentation request to a backup cloud to request additional resources to maintain the delivery of one or more SLA-specified support to one or more users. In embodiments, the backup cloud network can in turn be nested with other backup clouds or resources. | 05-27-2010 |
20100131325 | NETWORK RESOURCE CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GUARANTEEING ADMISSION RATE OF HIGH-PRIORITY SERVICE - Provided are a network resource control method and apparatus for guaranteeing an admission rate of a high-priority service. In the method and apparatus, the admission rate of the high-priority service is increased by differentiating between the high-priority service and a low-priority service by either rejecting the low-priority service or reducing a bandwidth allocated to the low-priority service when the low-priority service has already been accepted. | 05-27-2010 |
20100138264 | DYNAMIC BUSINESS ENHANCEMENT SYSTEM - A computer enabled business system is disclosed which provides a business with the ability to be aware on a moment-to-moment basis of their historic, current and future operational states. The business system uses a dynamic data engine for the purposes of creating and displaying historic transactions, current stock levels and forecasted demand data in real-time. As the data is created and cast forward, the data retains attributes of the original transaction data. These attributes are configured and modified dynamically resulting in precise and managed demand forecast, budget and purchasing information. Any change in the raw data as a result of a business transaction is immediately reflected in the demand forecast; hence, the data is in a perpetual dynamic state. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138265 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLY OF BUSINESS SYSTEMS FROM REUSABLE BUSINESS CONTROL ELEMENTS IN AN ASSET BASED COMPONENT BUSINESS MODEL ARCHITECTURE - A method and system for assembling business systems by identifying assets and commercialization mechanisms needed for a business system, which are then associated with business components described on a component business model (CBM) map, based on asset types and elemental control structures that are common across an industry, and therefore reusable. The generic elemental control structures needed for the business system are configured and then assembled into a service network for implementing the business system. A business system so assembled may be enhanced by adding elemental control structures to the service network. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138266 | MANAGEMENT OF MATERIALS ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE - A computer implemented method and computer system for management of materials on a construction site. In one embodiment, at least one cost scenario is defined for moving at least one material with a vehicle pool. A status of a project which uses the material is then determined. A report is generated which identifies a vehicle of the vehicle pool and defines a load of the material which is to be moved by the vehicle from a first location to a second location. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138267 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIND TURBINE HEALTH MANAGEMENT - A controller for use in managing an operational lifetime of at least one wind turbine is communicatively coupled to at least one wind turbine and a server sub-system. The controller is configured to receive operational data from the wind turbine, transmit the operational data to the server sub-system, and transmit a request for historical data corresponding to the wind turbine to the server sub-system. The controller is further configured to receive a response from the server sub-system, wherein the response includes historical data corresponding to the wind turbine, and to determine an estimate of a time failure of the wind turbine based on at least one of the operational data and the historical data. | 06-03-2010 |
20100145754 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, APPARATUSES AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR GENERATING CUSTOMIZED RETURN NOTIFICATIONS - An apparatus and system are provided for facilitating a customized return process in which notifications may be sent to a customer reminding the customer to return a product. The apparatus includes a processor capable of periodically monitoring tracking information associated with a product(s) and determine whether a product(s) corresponds to a particular type of package. The processor is also capable of determining, at a specified time, whether the product has departed a location of a first entity and determining whether the first entity was given a time frame in which the product(s) was scheduled to depart the location of the first entity and whether the product departed the first location upon the expiration of a time period. The processor is also capable of generating a message that is sent to the first entity instructing the first entity to send the product to another entity within a predetermined time period. | 06-10-2010 |
20100145755 | ARRANGEMENT AND A RELATED METHOD FOR PROVIDING BUSINESS ASSURANCE IN COMMUNICATION NETWORKS - A business-oriented system and a method for controlling a communications network where: a) network traffic is analysed in order to obtain data about service quality and possible error sources, b) the network functioning and service quality is analysed based on a business model of an operator of the network in order to obtain associated, business-related data effecting at least one factor, such as the operators revenue, churn, sales or marketing, and c) the functioning of the network is optimized by providing a technical correction based on data gathered in steps a) and h) on the basis of predetermined optimization criteria so as to change an operational architecture of the network by said technical correction in order to maximize the operator's revenue, when the operational architecture of the network is changed by said technical correction. | 06-10-2010 |
20100145756 | METHOD TO ANALYZE ECONOMICS OF ASSET MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS FOR NUCLEAR STEAM GENERATORS - A method to determine corrective actions of a nuclear steam generator, having the steps of modeling of steam generator tube and deposit heat transfer characteristics by analytically deriving specific deposit characteristics and descriptive model parameters, wherein the modeling uses historical thermodynamic data for an operating plant under evaluation, identifying a set of one of preventive and corrective maintenance alternatives to accomplish steam generator deposit objectives, determining through the modeling a power production impact of each of the set of one of preventative and corrective maintenance alternatives to determine an economic cost for each of the set of preventative and corrective maintenance alternatives, and initiating a maintenance alternative with a lowest economic cost as compared to the maintenance evaluation alternatives with higher economic costs. | 06-10-2010 |
20100145757 | MATCHING RESOURCES OF A SECURITIES RESEARCH DEPARTMENT TO ACCOUNTS OF THE DEPARTMENT - Systems and methods for allocating limited resources of a securities research department to accounts of the department are disclosed. According to various embodiments, the system includes an account scoring module and a resource matching module. The account scoring module is for generating a score for each account, and the resource matching module is for matching the resources of the department to the accounts based on the scores for each account. | 06-10-2010 |
20100145758 | COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A computerized method for natural gas distribution compliance management is provided. The method includes maintaining a database identifying a plurality of compliance events and a plurality of resources. A computer system is provided including a main computer and a remote computer adapted to communicate with the main computer. The main computer retains at least a portion of a main program and the database. The remote computer retains a remote program operative to display and modify a remote portion of the compliance events and a remote portion of the resources of the database. The database is periodically scanned to identify at least one of the compliance events requiring a response and to identify at least one of the resources to respond to the compliance event requiring the response. Compliance events are matched and scheduled with the resource to respond to the compliance event. | 06-10-2010 |
20100153156 | Critically/vulnerability/risk logic analysis methodology for business enterprise and cyber security - Method and apparatus for computer-aided assessment of risk, criticality, and vulnerability with respect to a site. The method and apparatus may use multiple factors to determine overall risk. In some embodiments, the method may assess or determine an impact if a site or asset is lost. The method and apparatus may identify and quantify what risks are acceptable and unacceptable. In an embodiment, a method and apparatus may incorporate mathematical evaluations and numeric assignments that result in a criticality vector and a vulnerability vector. In some embodiments, the criticality vector and vulnerability vector may be used to represent a site's overall risk and/or prioritization and ranking relative to other sites. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153157 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING NETWORK RESOURCE GROWTH MANAGEMENT - An approach is provided for network resource growth management. Utilization of a network resource that is hierarchically associated with one or more other network resources is determined. If the utilization exceeds a first predetermined threshold, a growth notification is triggered. The growth notification specifies additional network resources required to modify the utilization of the network resource according to a second predetermined threshold. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153158 | PROVIDING PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE APPLICATION AS ENTERPRISE SERVICES - Methods and apparatus, including systems and computer program products, for a service architecture design that provides enterprise services having project management 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. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153159 | PROJECT TIMELINE VISUALIZATION METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Methods, systems, and computer readable storage mediums for presenting project information are disclosed. Project information may be presented by receiving electronic planning information associated with a project, where the received electronic planning information includes at least one milestone associated with two or more phases of the project and occurring during the two or more phases. The received electronic planning information is then transformed into a graphical representation of the received electronic planning information for visual presentation to a user and presented for perception by the user. The presented graphical representation includes two or more bars corresponding to the two or more phases and a connection between the two or more bars corresponding to a time at which the milestone occurs. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153160 | SYSTEM FOR SUPPORTING COORDINATION OF RESOURCES FOR EVENTS IN AN ORGANIZATION - A system and method for supporting coordination of resources for events in an organization includes a knowledge component storing a resource-utilization model, the resource-utilization model comprising at least one ontology, each ontology comprising a respective schema and data stored according to the schema; a knowledge acquisition component adapting the resource-utilization model in real-time in response to receiving data from various sources about resource utilization in the organization; a domain reasoner adapting the resource-utilization model based on contents of a modifiable set of rules applied by the organization; and a query endpoint receiving queries about resources for events and responding to the queries based on the resource-utilization model. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153161 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WORKFORCE REQUIREMENTS MANAGEMENT - The present invention provides a workforce requirements management system and method that determines future demand for service related transactions or activity and optimizes the planning of workforce to meet the future demand. Initially, the workforce requirements management system reviews historical data regarding transaction volume and service activity to determine the future demand for such transactions or service activities. The historical data may come from a conventional enterprise resource planning application and/or include demographic data and/or economic indicators. The workforce requirements management system can optimize a forecast by isolating certain variance factors and refining the forecast accordingly. A forecast can also be optimized by estimating transaction times and correlating variance factors with estimated transactions times. Additionally, the workforce requirements management system can optimize the forecast based on the queuing model employed for the particular service. Finally, the workforce requirements management system can create a long term resource plan that identifies the most efficient balance of full time equivalent and part time equivalent staffing levels to meet the long term forecast need at the desired service level at the lowest overall labor cost. Specific outputs generated by the workforce requirements management system include a transaction forecast, a resource forecast, a resource plan, and a resource schedule. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153162 | On-Line Appointment System - Improved approaches for providing on-line appointments over a network are disclosed. The network is, for example, a global computer network such as the Internet. According to one aspect, users are able to schedule appointments over the network by on-line means. The users are typically individuals or service providers. Service providers are often those businesses that offer appointments to schedule their services. | 06-17-2010 |
20100161364 | Make-to-Specification Process and Data Model - In various implementations, a sales order are received from a sales order requester for at least one good, wherein the sales order includes product options for ordered goods via a sales product requirement specification object. A sales order confirmation is generated at least partially based on the sales order and a plan for production of the ordered goods. The ordered goods to be produced based on the plan are allowed. And an outbound delivery request defined by a planning product requirement specification object is generated, wherein the ordered goods are delivered to the sales order requestor based on the delivery request. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161365 | DIFFERENT SALES AND PLANNING PRODUCT OPTIONS - In various implementations, sales orders are received and product requirement specifications is generated based on the sales orders. Planning for the production of the goods occurs based on the product requirement specification and the goods are produced based on the plan. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161366 | PRODUCT REQUIREMENT SPECIFICATION IN PRODUCTION MODEL - In various implementations, sales orders are received and product requirement specifications is generated based on the sales orders. Planning for the production of the goods occurs based on the product requirement specification and the goods are produced based on the plan. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161367 | Customizing Online Calendar Entries - Disclosed is a method for customizing online calendar entries. A contact list for an online calendar is created including individuals and groups. An exception list is created from the individuals and/or groups on the contact list. When an online invitation is created, but not yet sent, conflict resolution tools allow the creator of the invitation to check all invitee's calendar entries for potential conflicts. A conflict resolution tool checks the calendar of an invitee for potential availability of a time corresponding to an open time slot. A conflict resolution tool responds to the online invitation with an acceptance response. A user can customize the acceptance response. The customized acceptance response is linked to the exception list. If a subsequent online invitation is received from an individual or group member on the exception list during the blocked time slot, the blocked time slot is detected as open, and scheduling of events during the blocked time slot is allowed. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161368 | MANAGING ENERGY IN A DATA CENTER - An approach that manages energy in a data center is provided. In one embodiment, there is an energy management tool, including an analysis component configured to analyze an operating state of each of a plurality of systems within a data center to determine a set of systems from the plurality of systems within the data center that is currently using energy. The energy management tool further comprises a priority component configured to prioritize a routing of a workload to the set of systems from the plurality of systems within the data center that is currently using energy. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161369 | APPLICATION OF RELATIONSHIP WEIGHTS TO SOCIAL NETWORK CONNECTIONS - A method and system for relationship weighting in social networks are provided. The method includes identifying a plurality of sources of relationship data and extracting from each source a list of connected contacts with a relationship strength for each connection. The lists of contacts from the sources are aggregated into an aggregated list, with each source having a source weighting. The aggregated list is applied to an un-weighted social network to provide relationship strengths between contacts. | 06-24-2010 |
20100169140 | Preparing a Time-Sensitive Delivery Request - Some implementations provide a system for preparing a time-sensitive delivery request at least a predefined interval of time before the delivery request is to be forwarded to a supplier. This delivery request may be a request for a component that is to be assembled as part of a production order. This delivery request may be created by a detail-planning system and stored in a resource-planning system. This delivery request may be forwarded to the supplier upon determining that assembly of the production order has reached a first reporting point. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169141 | TIME REQUEST QUEUE - A group scheduling solution offers an organized and formalized solution to the time management problem in which the desired meeting includes one person who is difficult to schedule. In the inventive approach, a scheduling system is provided in which a hard-to-schedule attendee takes over responsibility for setting the start time of an event. In the invention, a workflow is provided, in which the organizer sends a request to the hard-to-schedule person. The request preferably contains the desired duration of the meeting. The request may contain a list of attendees, location, and other details. These requests are maintained in a queue for the hard-to-schedule person. Batching requests in a queue is a key feature of the invention. The hard-to-schedule person, or their proxy, can then review these requests and select a suitable time for the meeting, set this time in a meeting request, thereby causing an update to be sent back to the organizer and the other attendees, thus indicating the appointed time for the meeting. The organizer of the meeting can still update the meeting details, etc. However, any changes in the start time or the duration of the meeting must be made by the hard-to-schedule person or their proxy. The hard-to-schedule person can also decline the meeting entirely. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169142 | USER INTERFACE FOR DISPLAYING AN ITEM OF WORK IN A WORKFLOW CONTEXT - A user interface for use in, e.g., a healthcare computing environment, for displaying an item of work in a workflow context associated with a particular resource is provided In one embodiment, the user interface includes a first workflow context display area configured to display a current workflow state of the item of work and at least one of a past workflow state and a potential future workflow state of the item of work. The user interface may further include a selectable workflow view indicator, whereby following the selectable workflow view indicator allows a user to navigate to a second workflow context display area configured to display an identity of at least one additional resource associated with the item of work and a status of the item of work as it pertains to the additional resource. | 07-01-2010 |
20100174575 | MEETING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH FAILOVER AND FAILBACK CAPABILITIES FOR MEETING MODERATORS - Meeting management software can include a moderator assigner module. The moderator assigner can include a moderator failover capability and a moderator failback capability. The moderator failover capability can substitute a replacement for a moderator when the moderator is determined to be unavailable for a scheduled meeting. The moderator failback capability can substitute a moderator for a replacement when a believed to be unavailable moderator is determined to be available for a scheduled meeting for which the replacement has been established. | 07-08-2010 |
20100174576 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING OPERATION OF VEHICLES - Systems, methods, devices, and computer programming products useful for the gathering and use of data relating to structural loading and other operational use of transit and other vehicles, and their systems. Systems according to the invention can, for example, comprise one or more data acquisition devices such as strain gauges, accelerometers, or other sensors; data processors; memories; and communications systems. Such systems, methods, and programming are useful in a wide variety of ways, including, for example, monitoring the structural status and use of vehicles and their systems, including fatigue other operational analyses; gathering and applying data useful in the maintenance of such vehicles and the routes they travel; monitoring the use/abuse of such vehicles by operators and other individuals; reporting traffic events or anomalies; and routing transit and other vehicles around such events or anomalies. Rainflow, level-crossing and other peak-counting or event-counting algorithms are applied to advantage, such that required data storage is greatly reduced, and life-long monitoring is feasible. | 07-08-2010 |
20100179846 | COMPUTERIZED PERSONAL SHOPPING ASSISTANT ORDERING IN A STORE - One embodiment for ordering one or more items, i.e., goods or services, within a store includes choosing, by a person in a store, the one or more items on a computerized personal shopping assistant, wherein the computerized personal shopping assistant may be optionally associated with a cart. Further, the method includes selecting, by the person in the store, a request date-time on the computerized personal shopping assistant for each of the one or more items chosen, and, thereby, resulting in an order of one or more selected items at a selection date-time, wherein the request date-time is subsequent to the selection date-time. Further still, transmitting, by the computerized personal shopping assistant, the order to a data collection center associated with the store. Yet further, the method includes filling, by the store, the order after the transmitting and then providing the order by the request date-time subsequent to purchasing the order. | 07-15-2010 |
20100179847 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING AND EXPRESSING RISK-EXTENDED BUSINESS PROCESS MODELS - A method and computer program product for integrating risk management concepts into a standard business process metamodel by defining a set of metamodel extensions to standard process modeling languages that incorporate risk information directly in the process model. The method includes collecting risk-relevant information for addition to a business process model, and enabling visualizing of a risk-extended business process model. using a notation to express notions as failure modes of resources, root cause events, and sources of execution failure and low job output quality directly in the context of process models. Additionally, the method enables the computation of risk-related impacts on the distribution of process performance measures using a Bayesian network model or a discrete-event simulation model. | 07-15-2010 |
20100179848 | DUAL-WAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALCULATING THE MINIMUM JOINT COST OF A SUPPLY CHAIN - A dual-warehouse management system for a supply chain and a method for calculating a minimum of a joint cost thereof are provided. A manufacturer function module and a distributor function module are used to estimate a manufacturer's total cost and a distributor's total cost respectively. Afterwards, a joint cost optimization module is used to calculate a minimum joint cost. Accordingly, a product lot and a delivery time of a deteriorating item delivered from the manufacturer to the distributor are obtained in a planning horizon. | 07-15-2010 |
20100179849 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING BACKHAUL OPPORTUNITIES - A method for identifying backhaul opportunities is provided. The method includes receiving data corresponding to a position, time and status from a plurality of vehicles. The method includes generating a database of trips made by the plurality of vehicles based on the data received, wherein each of the trips is identified with a start point and an end point. The method also includes determining similarity between the trips to cluster the trips, wherein said determining comprises comparing a spatial distance between respective start points and respective end points with a pre-determined distance criteria. The method further includes identifying a frequency of each of the trips clustered made by the plurality of vehicles, wherein each of the trips are actual routes traveled between respective start points and respective end points. The method also includes generating a model for historical vehicle movement based on the identified frequent trips. The method also includes identifying a plurality of backhaul opportunities for a proposed empty trip using the model generated. The method further includes ranking the backhaul opportunities based on a frequency and cargo status of trips intersecting the proposed empty trip. | 07-15-2010 |
20100179850 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SCHEDULING THE OPERATION OF BUILDING RESOURCES - Described herein are systems and methods for scheduling the operation of building resources. In overview, some embodiments provide a central interface for allowing the scheduling of a large number of devices within a building, irrespective of the manufacturer or scheduling requirements of the individual devices. For example, one embodiment provides, a software product that executes on a processor for allowing a user to submit scheduling preference in relation to one or more building resources. The software package analyses and applies these preferences across the devices described by the building resource or resources. | 07-15-2010 |
20100185480 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RESOURCE ALLOCATION OF SEMICONDUCTOR TESTING INDUSTRY - A system and a method for resource allocation in the semiconductor testing industry are provided. In the system, an industry characteristic conversion module is used to transform the industry characteristic obtained from an input module into a chromosome structure. Next, an artificial intelligence evolution module proceeds to find an optimal solution by handling the chromosome structure until a candidate solution having a maximum final total profit converges to a value. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185481 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY ALLOCATING RESOURCES - Embodiments of the present invention provide a computer system having a plurality of partitions, comprising a pay-per-use (PPU) system including at least one computing resource available for use in the computer system on a chargeable basis, a resource management system for receiving a computing resource request from one of the partitions and allocating computing resources amongst the partitions, wherein the resource management system is arranged to allocate a computing resource from the PPU system to the requesting partition according to the received request without charge by the PPU system, and to allocate a corresponding computing resource to the PPU system from another of the partitions. | 07-22-2010 |
20100198641 | ECOMMERCE MARKETPLACE INTEGRATION TECHNIQUES - Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for integrating ecommerce marketplaces. An ecommerce integration framework has definitions for common data entities that are commonly used by multiple ecommerce marketplaces for listing items. Definitions for common operations that can manipulate the common data entities are provided. An application programming interface is provided that uses the common data entities and common operations to enable enterprise resource planning systems to exchange data in a standardized format with ecommerce marketplaces. Catalogs of items to be sold in ecommerce marketplaces can be created and managed using a customizable structure. The customizable structure enables catalogs to be created in a hierarchical manner with at least one parent catalog and zero or more child catalogs. Data values specified in a respective child catalog override data values specified in the parent catalog. A method for communicating with a particular ecommerce marketplace using an ecommerce integration framework is described. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198642 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING ONE OR MORE PROCESSES IN AN ORGANIZATION - The present invention provides a method, system and computer program product for managing one or more processes in an organization. The system enables a user to define various process clusters. The process clusters include various associated processes that are made compliant with a predefined set of standards. Further, the system integrates various process clusters and enables interaction among various processes. Furthermore, the system provides a common access to the process clusters and the associated processes. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198643 | DRINKS MACHINE WITH NETWORK DRINK ORDERING - One or more drinks machines are used for preparing or providing drinks using a computers' network, and an adapter connected in between. The users can order drinks through a graphic interface and monitor the status of the drinks and of the machines. The orders can be managed using a queue and each user can be notified through the computer when the drink is ready or can he prepared. The adapter can he connected to an existing machine or provided with one. Another possibility is that the adapter would include wireless communication support. It may he possible that the adapter would also monitor the drink machine as well as sending commands for preparing ordered drinks. | 08-05-2010 |
20100205029 | SYSTEM FOR DIGITAL COMMERCE AND METHOD OF SECURE, AUTOMATED CREDITING OF PUBLISHERS, EDITORS, CONTENT PROVIDERS, AND AFFILIATES - The disclosure relates to a system and method of distributing digital content to authenticated users, such as on-line subscribers, wherein all interested parties, such as, but not limited to, publishers, editors, content providers, affiliates, payment processors, and service providers, are credited automatically for their contributions in such as manner as to be perceived as being fair, transparent, and resistant to abuse. The system and method may include a digital rights management system, but this is not required. The system supports a unique method of accounting that provides appropriate incentives to editors and affiliates, as well as publishers, with facilities for specifying a set of flexible parameters that enable automated payment, accounting, reporting, and administrative functions needed to support secure, subscription-based on-line publications. Such a system can be the basis for sharing revenues from subscriptions and/or advertising, or in a non-commercial context it can provide a useful, trustworthy metric for assessing the relative merit of individual contributors to a shared repository of information. | 08-12-2010 |
20100211424 | Organization of reverse flexible meeting schedules - A method and system for scheduling a meeting between a schedule entity and a plurality of booking entities over a communications network. The method comprises presenting a meeting schedule of the schedule entity for access by the plurality of booking entities, such that the meeting schedule defines a meeting period including a start time and an end time and the meeting period is divided into a first meeting interval and a second meeting interval such that the intervals are located in the meeting period between the start and end times. The method also confirms booking of a first meeting for a first booking entity of the plurality of booking entities in the first meeting interval and maintains the availability of the first meeting interval to accept another meeting booking by another booking entity of the plurality of booking entities based on a booking number threshold defining the maximum number of allowed meeting bookings for the first meeting interval. The method also confirms a second meeting for a second booking entity of the plurality of booking entities in the same first meeting interval, wherein the meeting intervals are restricted from accepting one or more further meeting bookings based on a comparison of their respective booking number threshold with a total number of booked meetings in the respective meeting interval. | 08-19-2010 |
20100211425 | Arranging on a communications network meetings between persons where the instant estimated time of arrival at a meeting of each prospective attendee is calculated and displayed to the subject attendee, and to all prospective attendees - In a method performed on and between communicating devices distributed upon a communications network for the purpose(s) of soliciting and arranging and initiating a meeting, the communication device of each prospective attendee of a meeting supplies its instant geographical location to a central computer. The central computer calculates from the received instant geographical locations, and preferably also any of weather, traffic flow rate, traffic roadblocks and stoppages, the traffic route being followed to the meeting location, and the actual rate of progress along the route to the meeting location—the estimated time of arrival of each prospective attendee at the meeting. This ETA for each prospective meeting attendee is sent from the central computer to the communications devices of all prospective attendees, permitting each and all to see their own progress or lack thereof, and also that of others, to the meeting. The instant geographical locations of all prospective attendees supplied to the central computer are likewise preferably distributed by the central computer to all prospective attendees, and graphically displayed in real time. | 08-19-2010 |
20100211426 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTION OF SINGLE-PRODUCT-TYPE UNLABELED PACKAGES - Systems and methods for the distribution of single-product-type unlabeled packages are provided. For each distribution, the system coordinates the processes required for: (1) transporting unlabeled packages containing the product from a manufacturing location to a carrier hub; (2) printing and applying respective shipping labels to the unlabeled packages; and (3) sending the labeled packages to their various retail locations. By delegating the tasks of receiving, labeling, and shipping the packages containing the product to a single carrier, the systems and methods allow the carrier to receive the packages for continued processing without the presence of any identifying labels. | 08-19-2010 |
20100211427 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR BROKERING UNDER-UTILIZED AMENITIES AND ASSETS OF PRIVATE CLUBS - Methods and systems for brokering under-utilized amenities and assets of private clubs. In tougher economic times, private clubs may face economy-related membership attrition and overall revenue shortfalls. A marketplace for trading available assets and amenities among a controlled audience in a simple, orderly manner for private clubs may help private clubs endure economic downturns. Revenue may be generated from the sale of mailing lists of members, percentages of asset sales, related amenity sales, or sales of other services reserved or made through the site. In addition, a network and community of committed, affluent subscribers may benefit from such a marketplace through forums, chats, discussions and blogs to further foster their relationships. Vendors seeking to make targeted advertisements may also find such a community beneficial. | 08-19-2010 |
20100217640 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ADAPTIVE CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCING - A computer implemented method and computer system for adaptive construction sequencing. In one embodiment, a scheduling component is used to access a schedule for completing a project is. A 3-dimensional (3-D) simulation component is used to generate a 3-D model of at least one component used in completing the project. The 3-D simulation component is used to generate a 3-D simulation showing the construction of the project in accordance with the schedule. A cost estimating component is used to generate a cost estimate of the cost of completing the project in accordance with the schedule. | 08-26-2010 |
20100217641 | Community Portal - A group community portal is provided. Data associated with an address book interface is provided. The address book interface includes at least one contact associated with a first group and an option to launch a community portal interface from the address book interface. The community portal interface is configured to provide a first group community page for members of the first group, launching the community portal interface from the address book interface to provide the first group community page, and providing the community portal interface for display. | 08-26-2010 |
20100217642 | System and method for single-action energy resource scheduling and participation in energy-related securities - A system for single-action energy resource scheduling and participation in energy-related securities, comprising a communications interface executing on a network-connected server and adapted to receive information from a plurality of client user interfaces and a secure action server coupled to the communications interface, wherein the secure action server, on receiving a connection from a client user interface, assigns a unique client identifier to the client user interface and associates the unique identifier with a client account, and wherein the secure action server, on receiving a request from a client user interface, determines whether the client user interface is mapped to an authorized market participant who has enabled single-action scheduling, execution order, or participation confirmation functionality for the client user interface, and passes information to the client user interface pertaining at least to a single action needed to confirm scheduling, execution order, or participation and wherein the secure action server, on receiving indication from the communications interface that a required single action has been taken, at least updates information about the market participant who took the action, is disclosed. | 08-26-2010 |
20100217643 | Mass Request Organization System - A computer-implemented method for receiving and fulfilling special intention Mass requests includes receiving at a central processing system a request for a special intention Mass and stipend payment from a requester. The request includes at least one request criterion. A database of the central processing system is then searched for an available Mass that meets the at least one request criterion. A confirmation inquiry message is transmitted from the central processing system to a Church to confirm a date and availability of the available Mass. A confirmation response message from the Church confirming the date and availability of the available Mass is received at the central processing system. The stipend payment from the central processing system is transmitted to the Church. A confirmation and a Mass Card is transmitted from the central processing system to the requester and the Church. | 08-26-2010 |
20100217644 | Electronic Calendar Auto Event Resolution System and Method - A system and method for event resolution. The method includes determining whether a post-scheduled event or a pre-scheduled event conflicts with a scheduled event. The method further includes extracting details of the post-scheduled event or the pre-scheduled event and automatically populating a response with at least some of the extracted details. The method further includes sending the response with an accept indication when the post-scheduled event or the pre-scheduled event does not conflict with the scheduled event, or sending the response with a cancel indication when the post-scheduled event or the pre-scheduled event conflicts with the scheduled event, or sending the response with a tentatively accept indication when the post-scheduled event or the pre-scheduled event conflicts with the scheduled event. | 08-26-2010 |
20100223084 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ROUTING FUEL TO PORTABLE POWER GENERATORS - Methods and systems for routing fuel to portable power generators are described. In one embodiment, a plurality of generator burn rates may be calculated for a geographic area. A particular generator burn rate of the plurality of generator burn rates may be associated with a particular portable generator site in the geographic area. The particular burn rate may be based on an amount of fuel consumed by a particular portable electronic generator in a particular portable generator site during a time period. A fuel delivery route may be electronically generated for a plurality of portable generator sites in the geographic area based on the calculating of the plurality of generator burn rates. Additional methods and systems are disclosed. | 09-02-2010 |
20100223085 | MODULARIZATION OF DATA CENTER FUNCTIONS - In one example, a data center may be built in modular components that may be pre-manufactured and separately deployable. Each modular component may provide functionality such as server capacity, cooling capacity, fire protection, resistance to electrical failure. Some components may be added to the data center by connecting them to the center's utility spine, and others may be added by connecting them to other components. The spine itself may be a modular component, so that spine capacity can be expanded or contracted by adding or removing spine modules. The various components may implement functions that are part of standards for various levels of reliability for data centers. Thus, the reliability level that a data center meets may be increased or decreased to fit the circumstances by adding or removing components. | 09-02-2010 |
20100223086 | Determining A Course Of Action While Managing Resources - According to one embodiment, determining a course of action includes receiving a problem description describing an optimization problem. The optimization problem comprises resources and adversarial objects. A resource performs an action, and an adversarial object performs a reaction in response to the action. The optimization problem is decomposed into sub-problems, where each sub-problem corresponds to an adversarial object. Each sub-problem is solved to yield an optimal sub-solution. It is determined whether there are one or more resource conflicts among the sub-solutions. A resource conflict occurs if a resource is required to perform more than one action at a stage. If there are one or more resource conflicts, a fixing procedure is applied to address the resource conflicts. | 09-02-2010 |
20100223087 | Coupling of ERP systems with process control systems for the automated transmission of plant structures and plant data - A method for maintaining a technical plant including several components is provided. The method provides a system for planning the use of an enterprise resources system and a control system, with the enterprise resource system connected to the control system and structures of the technical plant are automatically set up in the enterprise resource system. | 09-02-2010 |
20100228586 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MONITORING PRIVATE UTILITIES - A method and system is provided for allowing interested parties in a private utility, such as owners, government regulators and maintenance providers, to access and provide information about that utility. The system provides reminders and alerts to the interested parties about maintenance deadlines and alarms. Each interested party only has access to those private utilities in which they have an interest, for example a government regulator has access only to those private utilities within their jurisdiction, and a maintenance provider only has access to those private utilities with which they have a maintenance contract. The system provides a means for those interested parties to quickly determine which private utilities require their immediate attention. | 09-09-2010 |
20100228587 | SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE LIFECYCLE ORGANIZATION CHANGE MANAGEMENT - An approach that manages an SOA lifecycle organization change is provided. In one embodiment, there is a change management tool, including a retrieval component configured to retrieve a proposed change; a lifecycle defining component configured to define an SOA lifecycle based on the proposed change; a services portfolio component configured to identify a plurality of SOA shared services in services portfolio that addresses the proposed change; a stakeholder component configured to identify stakeholders having an interest in the proposed change; an impact component configured to determine impacts of the proposed change on the stakeholders; a deployment planning component configured to develop a service deployment plan and communication plan related to the proposed change; and an implementation component configured to implement the plurality of SOA shared services that addresses the proposed change. | 09-09-2010 |
20100235210 | SCHEDULED DELIVERY SERVICE SYSTEMS, APPARATUSES, METHODS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAMS EMBODIED ON COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIA - A system that enables a carrier to provide scheduled delivery service to a consignee is provided. The disclosed system allows the carrier to receive a consignee order from a consignor, determine whether scheduled delivery service is available, and, if scheduled delivery service is available, determine time windows from which the consignee may select for scheduled delivery. Scheduled delivery service may be available if the consignee delivery address is located within an area in which signature is required for delivery, there is a high frequency of failed delivery attempts, or there is a high frequency of inclement weather or traffic congestion/accidents, among other factors. The carrier may determine time windows from which a consignee may select based on the frequency of failed delivery attempts, inclement weather, and/or traffic congestion/accidents in the area surrounding or leading to the consignee delivery address, among other factors. | 09-16-2010 |
20100235211 | RECRUITING COMPENSATION MODEL - A method for compensating a searcher that presents a candidate for hire to a client, wherein the candidate receives annual compensation and is eligible for delayed compensation, includes the following: calculating a Stage I searcher fee based on a percentage of the candidate's annual compensation, wherein the percentage is a first percentage if the candidate is presented to the client by a first predetermined date, and a second percentage if the candidate is presented to the client by a second predetermined date; calculating a Stage II searcher fee based on a percentage of the candidate's delayed compensation, wherein the percentage is a function of a candidate performance rating that is given after the candidate has been employed for a predetermined amount of time; and compensating the searcher with the Stage I and Stage II searcher fees. The method may optionally be implemented in a system and/or via a computer readable medium. | 09-16-2010 |
20100235212 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR UPDATING A CALENDAR DATABASE FROM AN AVAILABILITY DATABASE AND A REPORTING STRUCTURE DATABASE - A method apparatus and system for assembling meeting data to update a calendar database are provided, based on meeting request data including meeting invitees and a given time period, and further based on availability data from at least one availability database. Availability data associated with each meeting invitee is processed to determine availability of each meeting invitee during the given time period, and determine at least one unavailable invitee that is unavailable during the given time period. Reporting structure data is processed, from a reporting structure, to determine a respective alternate invitee for each at least one unavailable invitee. Availability data associated with each alternate invitee is processed to determine whether each alternate invitee is available during the given time period. If so, meeting data is assembled, for storage in the calendar database, the meeting data including respective identifiers of meeting invitees available during the given time period and of each alternate invitee, and meeting data is caused to be stored in the calendar database. | 09-16-2010 |
20100241476 | Apparatuses, Methods and Systems For A Volunteer Sponsor Charity Nexus - The present disclosure details apparatuses, systems and methods for providing a Volunteer Sponsor Charity Nexus. The Nexus enables volunteers, sponsors and charities to easily identify, connect, and coordinate with one another. The disclosed systems and methods collect profile data for volunteers, sponsors, and charities. The Nexus connects volunteers, sponsors, and charities, increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of charitable efforts. | 09-23-2010 |
20100241477 | 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 |
20100241478 | METHOD OF AUTOMATING SECURITY RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT WITH A COST-OPTIMIZED ALLOCATION PLAN - A method of automating security risk assessment and management and corrective feedback with a cost-optimized allocation plan is disclosed. The method, operable in a computer system, includes presenting an on-line survey questionnaire and receiving, in response to the on-line survey questionnaire, a user-provided answer. The method further includes extracting data from the computer system and calculating, in response to the user-provided answer and the extracted data, a security risk. The method also includes producing, in response to the security risk, the cost-optimized allocation plan. The data and the user-provided answer are recorded in a data repository. The cost-optimized allocation plan is produced using a game-theoretical approach. The cost-allocation allocation plan includes changes to break even a cost differential of an expected cost of loss (ECL), and further assigns realistic market-oriented mitigation costs to each line of action for the user's computer or system. | 09-23-2010 |
20100241479 | SESSION MANAGER - According to one general aspect, a method may include acquiring, by a session manager, a list of active sessions. In various embodiments, each session may include a grouped plurality of sub-tasks that are configured to be sequentially performed in order to accomplish a business management task. In some embodiments, the method may include receiving a selection of one of the sessions to supervise. In one embodiment, the method may include retrieving a list of the at least one event listener(s) from a session context associated with the selected session. In another embodiment, the method may include receiving events generated by the session. | 09-23-2010 |
20100241480 | System and Method for Dynamic Manipulation of Data Describing User Availability - In one embodiment, a scheme is disclosed for processing data in relation to a user's availability. The data relates to one or more time slots identified as available or unavailable, each time slot having a start time and an end time as well as an availability status indicator. The scheme involves determining an earliest of start times and a latest of end times associated with the time slots, and storing only the earliest of start times and latest of end times for the user so as to condense the availability information on a user-by-user basis. | 09-23-2010 |
20100241481 | SERVICE OPERATION DATA PROCESSING USING CHECKLIST FUNCTIONALITY IN ASSOCIATION WITH INSPECTED ITEMS - In one embodiment, a system is provided for performing at least one service operation in association with at least one inspected item. The system includes a service data device configured for displaying at least one data screen including at least one checklist configured for operative use in connection with performance of the service operation on the inspected item, the data device being portable and being configured for processing at least one communication; a service administrator having at least one data storage medium configured for storing at least one of the checklists displayed on the data device, the service administrator further having at least one server for enabling at least one communication between the service administrator and the data device; at least a portion of at least one of the checklists being customizable by at least the service administrator; and, at least a portion of at least one of the checklists being electronically interactive in association with performance of the service operation on the inspected item. | 09-23-2010 |
20100241482 | WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A network clearinghouse may be provided that brings together organizations (subjects) requiring outsourcing of a service and service providers (operators). The clearinghouse manages the bidding and awarding of contracts, by collecting and authorizing requests for proposals (RFPs), sending bid invitations to operators that meet the requirements of the subject, sending a notification that the contract has been awarded, and collecting payment from the subject and paying the operator. | 09-23-2010 |
20100250313 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENFORCING FIDUCIARY COMPLIANCE - Systems and methods for enforcing compliance with fiduciary responsibilities related to the administration of a retirement plan are disclosed. The systems and methods include accessing compliance requirements corresponding to the fiduciary responsibilities related to administration of the retirement plan by a fiduciary. Upon accessing the requirements, compliance tasks are extracted in an example implementation. Once compliance tasks are extracted from the requirements, due dates for the compliance tasks are determined based on dates associated with the compliance requirements, or in some examples based on date chosen by a fiduciary. The compliance tasks are then stored in a database, in an example. The systems and methods then monitor the one or more compliance tasks and send alerts based on monitored activities. Finally, in an example implementation, responses to the alerts are tracked to determine whether any follow up action needs to be triggered. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250314 | SERVICE PORTFOLIO APPROACH FOR SOA GOVERNANCE - Methods, including service methods, articles of manufacture, systems, articles and programmable devices are provided for implementing a business services portfolio-centric, service-oriented architecture governance framework. Business stakeholders are enabled to manage a business services portfolio, and information technology stakeholders are enabled to manage realization components of the business services portfolio through a service-oriented architecture governance framework. The business stakeholders influence the service-oriented architecture governance framework through interaction with the business services portfolio and an enterprise business portfolio. Some interactions with business services and enterprise business portfolios include establishing a current state of organizational processes of the service-oriented architecture governance framework, assessing a strategic need for enablement of the business services portfolio as a function of the current state, defining a management construct for the business services portfolio as a function of the strategic need, and defining measurement criteria for the business services portfolio as a function of the construct. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250315 | SCHEDULING AND RESOURCING ALLOCATION ACROSS MULTIPLE DOMAINS - A telepresence conferencing system is disclosed in which scheduling and resource and personnel reservations may be made across various entities (i.e.; domains). Additionally, each location that is part of the telepresence conference may selectively, and independently of the other locations, designate all or selected portions of its media stream be carried over a different network from the one used to setup, control, and reserve resources for the telepresence conference. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250316 | DEVELOPING A SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE SHARED SERVICES PORTFOLIO - An approach that develops a service oriented architecture (SOA) shared services portfolio is provided. In one embodiment, there is a portfolio tool, including a decomposition component configured to decompose a business architecture of an enterprise into a set of SOA shared services, and a development component configured to develop a SOA shared service portfolio that is populated with the set of SOA shared services. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250317 | Resource Modeling Tool - A method and apparatus for allowing a user to model the level of resources required by resource type to support a specific funding level. The model is based on a plurality of factors such as resource rates per hour, amount of resources burned monthly, and the current level of resource staffing. The model allows a user to quickly view “what if” funding scenarios and may further be utilized to determine the level of funding that can be effectively utilized by anticipating the number of resources needed to support the funding level. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250318 | Apparatus, Methods and Articles of Manufacture for Addressing Performance Problems within an Organization via Training - Apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture are provided to address performance gaps within an organization. Initially, a gap between actual work performance and expected work performance by a group of one or more persons within an organization is identified. Knowledge and/or skills required to reduce the performance gap are identified and a training program for supplying the group with the identified knowledge and/or skills is selected. A pre-test is administered to the group on a date prior to the training date, and a post-test is administered to the group on a date after training has occurred. An identified performance metric is measured before and after training to determine if the group has changed its behavior to an acceptable degree within the organization. The cost associated with administering the training to the group is determined, and a return on investment value may be calculated. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250319 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR OPTIMAL RESOURCE ALLOCATION - Method and apparatus to automatically allocate and schedule weapon systems to threats for maximizing an engagement objective. In one aspect, methods and systems maximize threat killed. In another aspect, methods and systems maximize asset survival against threats. The methods and apparatus considers temporal and resource constraints such that weapons systems are able to engage threats assigned to them. | 09-30-2010 |
20100262449 | CONTEXT BASED MOBILE MARKETING - A marketing system is provided that leverages context information including location as well as extrinsic data, among other things. Advertisers can create and register advertisements or promotional offers with the system. System users can create a profile comprising preferences that identify desirable advertisement. A correlation component is then employed to match advertisements to users as a function of preferences, location, and extrinsic data. Subsequently matched advertisements are delivered to a user, for example by way of a mobile computing device. | 10-14-2010 |
20100262450 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MOBILE ASSET MANAGEMENT - A method and system related to managing mobile assets, the method including receiving asset event data associated with a plurality of mobile assets including information indicative of location status, motion status, and cargo status of the plurality of mobile assets; determining asset segment data defined by the asset event data of the plurality of mobile assets during a time interval based on the asset event data; determining turn time data for each of the plurality of mobile assets; calculating a set of metrics for the plurality of mobile assets based on the asset segment data and the turn time data; determining an optimal asset pool size for a location to be serviced by the plurality of mobile assets; and providing an output of the determined optimal asset pool size for the location. | 10-14-2010 |
20100262451 | Simplified Approach for Service Composition and Orchestration - The different advantageous embodiments provide a method, apparatus, and computer program product for improved workflow management. A workflow model is executed. The workflow model may include a number of worklets. Each worklet in the number of worklets may have a number of associated assistlets. A determination is made as to whether a number of associated assistelets for a first worklet in the number of worklets execute during execution of the workflow model. In response to a determination that the number of associated assistlets for the first worklet execute, the number of associated assistlets for the first worklet are executed. | 10-14-2010 |
20100268561 | Ten-Level Enterprise Architecture Systems and Tools - This disclosure describes sets of systems and tools that drive complex enterprise execution logic top to bottom, end to end and site to site through the discrete execution and control of ten levels of mission-critical enterprise structure:
| 10-21-2010 |
20100268562 | System and Method for Managing Resource Use - Therefore, the illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method and system for determining individual resource needs for each plant in a plurality of plants. Current conditions are identified using a sensor system. A plurality of per plant prescriptions are calculated for the plurality of plants using the individual resource needs and the current conditions. A resource is obtained from a selected resource source in a number of resource sources. The resource is stored in a mobile utility vehicle and applied from the mobile utility vehicle to each plant in the plurality of plants according to the plurality of per plant prescriptions. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268563 | Proximity scripting - A system and method for detecting events and in response to those events, generating scripting actions that can enable communications among participants within an organization. In one illustrative embodiment, these events can be informal such as impromptu meetings, document updates, presence detections, notifications and communications sessions, to name a few. Using these informal events, policies can be used to link issues to formal work through scripted actions. Often, these policies can be defined by a manager or the like. The policies can take advantage of a deontic task tree. Those skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that both formal and informal events can be processed and handled with the provided responses compatible with the current availability of resources with the organization. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268564 | AUTOMATIC SELF-OPTIMIZING QUEUE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A queue management system for e.g. supermarket checkouts uses counting devices located at checkouts and optimally entrances/exits in conjunction with P.O.S. information to produce a schedule of how many checkouts are needed to avoid queue length exceeding preset limits. The system includes a dynamic learning system which can optimise calculated schedules on the basis of historical data. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268565 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS AND BUSINESS IMPACT MANAGEMENT - A system architecture and a method for managing using a cellular architecture to allow multi-tier management of events such as the managing of the actual impact or the potential impact of IT infrastructure situations on business services. A preferred embodiment includes a high availability management backbone to frame monitoring operations using a cross-domain model where IT component events are abstracted into IT Aggregate events. By combining IT Aggregate events with transaction events, an operational representation of the business services is possible. Another feature is the ability to connect this information to dependent business user groups such as internal end-users or external customers for direct impact measurement. A web of peer-to-peer rule-based cellular event processors preferably using Dynamic Data Association constitutes management backbone crossed by event flows, the execution rules, and distributed set of dynamic inter-related object data rooted in the top data instances featuring the business services. | 10-21-2010 |
20100274609 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPTIMIZING SHIPPING PRACTICES - According to various embodiments, a load planning system is provided for simulating shipments based on a shipping entity's planned routing of packages and a shipper's (e.g., shipping entity customer) historical shipping volume. By using the load planning system to simulate shipments according to a variety of package routing plans, a user of the load planning system may identify shipping routes along which certain shipments may by-pass the sorting process of regional shipping hubs. These by-passing routes allow the shipping entity to provide the shipper with more efficient and less costly shipping options according to various embodiments. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274610 | ORDER AGGREGATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A computerized system, method, and computer-readable medium implementing a method for aggregating orders for items to be filled is presented. Given a plurality of received orders, a plurality of individual orders that are aggregatable based on one or more predetermined aggregation criteria are identified and aggregated into an aggregate order. Items combined in the aggregate order may be grouped into one or more fulfillment groups independently of the individual orders from which the items originated and comprising items from the aggregate order to be simultaneously filled. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274611 | DISCRETE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - Discrete resource tracking systems (and corresponding methodologies) that collect, tag and store resource consumption and usage values associated with industrial environment processes are provided. The specification can track water, air, gas, electricity, or steam consumption and usage view of a discrete (or batch) processes. Emissions and/or effluents associated with processes and sub-processes can also be collected, tagged and stored as desired. These stored resource consumption and usage and/or emissions and/or effluents data elements can be used for a variety of purposes including, but not limited to, simulation, planning, forecasting, valuating, optimizing, etc. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274612 | UTILIZING SUSTAINABILITY FACTORS FOR PRODUCT OPTIMIZATION - An industrial control system is provided. The system includes a processor to analyze one or more sustainability factors and a scoring component to assign a weight to the sustainability factors. An optimizer automatically adjusts a production process in view of the sustainability factors, the weight, and at least one of a recycling requirement, a carbon footprint, a procurement process, a shipping process, or a regulatory requirement. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274613 | REFERRAL SENDING, TRACKING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A referral sending, tracking and management system for generating, exchanging and managing local referrals based on an input from at least one member in a business network is disclosed. The system comprises a means for searching at least one member, a means for sending referrals to at least one member, a means for receiving referrals from at least one member and at least one referral center for managing all stages of referrals from origination to completion. The system provides full accountability of the status and stages of all referral lead between each member. Each member may access profiles of all members in the business network through links provided in the webpage. Each member in the business network may be from a group of local business professionals and service providers. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274614 | Mobile Device Management System - A mobile device management system including a method for monitoring a remote video camera and event scheduling, synchronization and modification using location information. Video from a remote camera is encoded by a computer and streamed in real time over a network to a mobile device for decoding and display. The computer encoder and mobile device decoder are software-based. Event calendar and schedule information is incorporated, shared and automatically updated among multiple mobile devices. Location information, such as from a locator network or a satellite-based global positioning system, is used to provide real time updates to a mobile device calendar or event schedule. A map or other indicia of the location of other mobile devices may be provided. | 10-28-2010 |
20100280865 | Systems and Methods for a Real-Time Workflow Platform - Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for enabling design, generation, and execution of real-time workflows. Such embodiments provide a graphical designer including a plurality of shapes representing the various objects of a workflow that are used to model the workflow. In addition, various embodiments of the graphical designer provide shapes to model aspects of the workflow not found in previous graphical designers. Various embodiments also provide a code generator that converts the representation of the workflow into executable code for multiple target languages. Various embodiments also provide a workflow engine based on a Petri net model responsible for executing the workflow and for delegating tasks to be performed for the workflow to an operating system. In various embodiments, the workflow engine further includes a platform abstraction layer that provides a transition layer from the Petri net language to the operating system language. | 11-04-2010 |
20100280866 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING UGC INCLUDING ADVERTISEMENT - An apparatus for providing UGC including a UGC manager storing UGC provided from UGC creators and making a list of UGC provided, an advertisement manager receiving advertisements and advertising information from sponsors attempting to combine an advertisement to a specific UGC, making a list of advertisements and advertising information, and providing the list of advertisements and advertising information to the UGC creators, a UGC provider inserting an advertisement selected by the UGC creator into the UGC, removing the advertisement from the UGC when a total advertising budget is exhausted or in response to a request from a sponsor, and providing the UGC to a user in response to a request from the user, and an advertisement exposure calculator calculating an advertising price by counting mere exposure and click-through exposure of the advertisement combined to the UGC. | 11-04-2010 |
20100280867 | Advanced Sales System - A first entity maintains an advanced sales system on a server accessible over a global communications network. The first entity provides access to the server to a second entity which is a sales oriented business. The server houses at least a database, a product selection module, and a proposal generator. The database contains information on products for sale, information about the sales oriented business, and information about customers of the sales oriented business. The product selection module facilitates selection and accessorizing of products by the second entity. The proposal generator creates proposals based on input to the product selection module and information in the database. The advanced sales system provides structure to extremely large product offerings with large numbers of accessories associated with the product offerings. Some embodiments of the advanced sales system provide additional ordering support. | 11-04-2010 |
20100280868 | METHOD FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY CONSIDERING CUSTOMER COMMIT DATES AND CUSTOMER REQUEST DATES - The invention disclosed here is a method for achieving simultaneous consideration of multiple customer demand dates within an advanced planning system. The invention provides a method of production planning that considers multiple due dates. The invention solves a production planning model based upon the second (commit) date to produce a first solution, sorts the demand records in order of importance, and then re-solves the production planning model based upon the first (request) date to produce a second solution. The re-solving process is performed on each demand item in the sorted order of importance. The invention optimizes between the first solution and the second solution. Before re-solving the production planning model, the invention changes the lower bound constraints on backorder variables. The re-solving process changes the required date for a single demand item, and this re-solving process is repeated for all demand items that have a first (request) date that is before a corresponding required date. The invention reports the optimal solution produced during the optimizing process. The system and method integrate the consideration of multiple demand dates with an advanced planning system for optimizing established planning objectives (e.g. customer service, short lead times, low inventory, and prioritized allocation of supply and capacity) to compute a feasible production plan for the division. | 11-04-2010 |
20100280869 | System for acquiring building material and completing a building improvement project - A system is provided to acquire building supplies and use the building supplies in a renovation project. The system includes a transaction control system, a delivery confirmation apparatus to confirm delivery of building supplies, and the acquisition by a lender of first lien rights and vendor lien rights as a mechanism to sell securitized bonds to fund lending for a building renovation project. | 11-04-2010 |
20100280870 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SERVICE PARTS PLANNING IN A MULTI-ECHELON NETWORK - Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a system and method for service parts planning in a multi-echelon network having one or more service parts. For at least a subset of the one or more service parts, a calculation is performed to determine a location within the multi-echelon network at which allocating the service part provides the greatest gain in system availability per item cost. In one embodiment, the calculations take into consideration violations of incremental optimal allocation. In an embodiment, the calculations take into consideration violations of convexity. | 11-04-2010 |
20100287018 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ARRANGING EQUIPMENT IN A DATA CENTER - A system and method for providing a layout of equipment in a data center, the equipment including a plurality of equipment racks, and at least one rack-based cooling provider. In one aspect, the method includes receiving data regarding airflow consumption for each of the plurality of equipment racks and cooling capacity of the at least one cooling provider, storing the received data, determining a layout of the data center, displaying the layout of the data center. In the method determining a layout can include pairing each equipment rack of the plurality of equipment racks with another equipment rack of the plurality of equipment racks based on airflow consumption of each of the plurality of equipment racks to create a plurality of pairs of equipment racks, determining a combined airflow consumption value for each of the pairs of equipment racks, arranging the pairs of equipment racks to form a two-row cluster of equipment racks based on the combined airflow consumption value of the equipment racks, wherein each pair includes an equipment rack in a first row of the cluster and an equipment rack in a second row of the cluster, and determining a location of the at least one cooling provider in the cluster. | 11-11-2010 |
20100287019 | SERVER FARM MANAGEMENT - Techniques and systems are disclosed that can measure capacity of a server farm, and project capacity needs based on traffic and resources. Server farm system information is collected for managing the server farm by identifying a list of servers in the server farm. Performance metrics are collected from identified servers and stored in a collection database. The stored performance metrics are analyzed in accordance with a server farm management request. | 11-11-2010 |
20100287020 | CONSTRAINT-BASED PRODUCTION PLANNING AND SCHEDULING - The present invention is a constraint-based planning tool that specifically addresses the needs of complex discrete and process industries by providing a computationally efficient method and system for fulfillment of customer orders in a supply chain. By comprehensively synchronizing and optimizing the flow of materials through the enterprise, the present invention creates a feasible plan for manufacturing operations that simultaneously optimizes both material and capacity constraints by planning and scheduling multiple customer orders, planning for use the various resources located in remote locations needed to fulfill such orders, and scheduling the used resources for replenishment at appropriate times so that the resources meet the needs of the orders. | 11-11-2010 |
20100287021 | CONSTRAINT-BASED PRODUCTION PLANNING AND SCHEDULING - The present invention is a constraint-based planning tool that specifically addresses the needs of complex discrete and process industries by providing a computationally efficient method and system for fulfillment of customer orders in a supply chain. By comprehensively synchronizing and optimizing the flow of materials through the enterprise, the present invention creates a feasible plan for manufacturing operations that simultaneously optimizes both material and capacity constraints by planning and scheduling multiple customer orders, planning for use the various resources located in remote locations needed to fulfill such orders, and scheduling the used resources for replenishment at appropriate times so that the resources meet the needs of the orders. | 11-11-2010 |
20100293021 | Method and system for task tracking and allocation - Task tracking and allocation can be performed using software implemented technology which allows authorized individuals to use a web interface to a tracking application. The application can include features allowing tasks to be delegated, new issues to be added, and various activities to be tracked. Business features such as display of profit margin in terms of worker, job, month, task or other information can also be included in such applications. | 11-18-2010 |
20100293022 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTRONICALLY SCHEDULING A VEHICLE ORDER - A method and system for scheduling an electronic vehicle order. The method includes receiving an electronic vehicle order, which has a plurality of associated vehicle-option inputs, from a customer; expanding the order by associating each vehicle option with a plurality of part codes to generate a subset of part codes; applying a first set of rules that has non-deterministic criteria to the subset of part codes for conflict determination; resolving any conflict(s) between part codes by applying a second rule set, which has deterministic criteria; and scheduling a vehicle build order based at least in part on the part code subset. | 11-18-2010 |
20100293023 | FRAMEWORK FOR DEVELOPING ENTERPRISE SERVICE ARCHITECTURE - The invention provides a framework for developing the architecture of an enterprise information technology (IT) eco-system for an organization. The framework includes a business function appliance module, a core architecture appliance module, and a technology architecture appliance module. The business function appliance module provides one or more functionalities for the business processes of the information technology eco-system. The core architecture appliance module provides one or more functionalities for the deployment and integration of the one or more functionalities provided by business function appliance module across IT processes, based on metadata configuration. The technology architecture appliance module is configured to provide technical operational services for the one or more functionalities provided by the core architecture appliance module based on the metadata. The framework, therefore, provides a metadata-based architecture that enables the business configuration to be defined, stored and managed as an independent layer. | 11-18-2010 |
20100293024 | Apparatus and Method for Optimizing File Transfer Based Upon Available Bandwidth - A file transferring method and system (FTMS) optimizes delivery of targeted advertisement files (TAF) to different target groups (TG) that consist of mobile handheld display device (MHDD) users. A server transmits small metadata packets containing a transmission schedule, target group identification (TGID), and information on each TAF, such as file identification, checksum, file size, and number of packets in the file to each MHDD which, on receipt of this metadata, checks the TGID in the metadata packet with a pre-stored TGID in the MHDD. If the TGID received matches the TGID stored in the MHDD, then the MHDD downloads and stores the metadata information. The MHDD then wakes-up during scheduled advertisement (AD) file transmission and downloads the TAFs. The MHDD uses the metadata to verify whether all packets of the TAF have been received without error. In case of error or shortfall, the MHDD wakes-up and downloads missing packets during a next scheduled transmission. | 11-18-2010 |
20100293025 | DIMENSIONAL SERVICE-ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE SOLUTION MODELING AND COMPOSITION - Transforming data provided in an enterprise management framework to provide solutions through a multidimensional model for a business process. Enterprise wide data may be aggregated and integrated through a three-dimensional visual model that synchronizes the data to enable relationships between multiple categories of data. The three-dimensional visual model enables the real-time composition of virtual solutions to business processes. | 11-18-2010 |
20100293026 | Crowdsourcing - Crowdsourcing is described, for example, where solutions to tasks such as designing a logo, writing a piece of code or answering a question are solicited by making open calls to large scale communities. In an example, a crowdsourcing node models a plurality of contests as all-pay auctions, each contest having a task and a reward. In examples, the crowdsourcing node is arranged to set rewards for the contests so that the optimal results are received for each contest owner, those owners having provided a budget and using a utility function for each of the contests. In examples, the crowdsourcing node is arranged to recommend contests to potential participants so that those participants can more easily decide which tasks to take on next. | 11-18-2010 |
20100299170 | Stages, Phases in a Project Workflow - A method is presented for creating a life cycle workflow for a project on a server computer. One or more workflow phases are created on the server computer. Each workflow phase corresponds to a plurality of workflow stages for the project. One or more workflow stages are created on the server computer. Each workflow stage corresponds to a specific sequence of workflow activities. One or more project detail pages are created on the server computer. Each project detail page is a web page that is made visible during the workflow stage. When a workflow stage is created, a workflow phase is selected to be associated with the workflow stage and one or more project detail pages are selected for the workflow stage. | 11-25-2010 |
20100299171 | Summary Tasks for Top-Down Project Planning - Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward providing a method utilizing project management software for creating a project plan utilizing a top-down strategy allowing a user to describe high-level objectives before filling in details for the underlying tasks of which the high-level objectives are comprised. As an alternative to basing summary task dates and durations solely on subtask data, the present invention allows a user to enter dates and duration values into summary tasks regardless of when the corresponding subtasks occur. By utilizing a top-down project management approach, embodiments of the present invention promote utilizing summary tasks as a starting point of project planning. Users are able to input high-level objectives of a project when more specific details of subtasks are unknown. Because summary task data is not rolled-up from the subtask data, a user may specify details such as dates and durations of subtasks at a later time. | 11-25-2010 |
20100299172 | EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A system may manage equipment distribution with an automated interface that is accessible over a network. The system may include data regarding a number of job sites and the equipment at each site, as well as any available equipment. The data may be monitored and updated for tracking, scheduling, and billing for the distribution of the equipment to job sites. In one example, a construction company may monitor and control the location of its construction equipment through an equipment management system that is also used by an operator of a job site for requesting the equipment needed for that job site. The equipment management system may handle the renting and assigning of equipment for each job site, as well as providing information regarding all the equipment and each job site. | 11-25-2010 |
20100299173 | AGGREGATING AND CAPTURING SUBSCRIBER TRAFFIC - System(s), method(s), and device(s) that can aggregate all or substantially all data traffic, such as wireless data traffic egressing to the Internet, at one or more regional aggregation hubs and capture a portion(s) of data traffic associated with a subscriber(s) of interest at the regional hub(s) are presented. Data traffic associated with subscribers can be aggregated at an access concentrator(s) and respective public Internet Protocol (IP) addresses can be given to respective subscribers. The data traffic can be aggregated at the regional hub(s) and data traffic associated with a subscriber(s) of interest can be identified based at least in part on the public IP address(es) of the respective subscriber(s) of interest. The data traffic associated with a subscriber(s) of interest can be captured and provided to a consumer (e.g., law enforcement, service provider) who desires such data. | 11-25-2010 |
20100306004 | Shared Collaboration Canvas - A computing system causes a plurality of display devices to display user interfaces containing portions of a canvas shared by a plurality of users. The canvas is a graphical space containing discrete graphical elements located at arbitrary locations within the canvas. Each of the discrete graphical elements graphically represents a discrete resource. When a user interacts with a resource in the set of resources, the computing system modifies the canvas to include an interaction element indicating that the user is interacting with the resource. The computer system then causes the display devices to update the user interfaces such that the user interfaces reflect a substantially current state of the canvas. In this way, the users may be able to understand which ones of the users are interacting with which ones of the resources. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306005 | Workflow Management System and Method - Systems and methods improve the equitable distribution the processing capacity of a computing device processing work items retrieved from multiple queues in a workflow system. A retrieval priority is determined for each of the plurality of queues and work items are retrieved from each of the multiple queues according to the retrieval priority. The retrieved work items are then stored in a central data structure. Multiple processing components process the work items stored in the central data structure. The number of processing components is selectively adjusted to maximize efficiency. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306006 | Truthful Optimal Welfare Keyword Auctions - There is disclosed a method for auctioning a set of keywords. Bids may be received from a plurality of advertisers. Each bid may include a value of a click-through and a budget expressed as a maximum number of click-throughs. A flow graph may be created that relates the set of keywords to the bids received from the plurality of advertisers. A minimum cost flow solution may be determined for the flow graph, and the keywords may be allocated to the advertisers based on the minimum cost flow solution. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306007 | ENTERPRISE PROJECT TYPES - A selection of an enterprise project type is received from a plurality of enterprise project types. The enterprise project type may include a plurality of pages. Each page may include a plurality of input fields for collecting values of properties. A project page from the enterprise project type is displayed. The project page may include a create project interface element. When a selection of the create project interface element is received, an instance of the enterprise project type is generated. The instance of the enterprise project type represents an entity, such as a project plan, an application plan, or a product plan. The pages are displayed. The values of properties are collected through the pages. The entity is generated by transforming the values of properties into the entity. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306008 | EXTENSIBLE ROLE-BASED ACCESS CONTROL MODEL FOR SERVICES - Architecture removes the limitation of a fixed set of roles and scopes, allows more effective permission auditing, and provides a convenient delegation model. Administrators can create roles fine-tuned to business needs without changing permissions on the resources. The new roles can be easily examined and delegated to other administrators. Moreover, scoping and delegation is simplified. This is possible because permissions are granted as a role (a unit of permission assignment is a role), which can include multiple entries. The entries correspond to end-user actions and are not related to implementation-dependent resource rights. The actions can include web services or API calls, script or executable file names, specialized commands that implement particular operation, and associated parameters, etc., essentially any action that the end-user performs. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306009 | SPECIAL-ORDERED-SET-BASED COST MINIMIZATION - An embodiment of the invention is directed toward determining a solution to an objective function that is to be maximized or minimized. An initial feasible basis is determined. An entering variable is determined to enter the initial feasible basis. It is determined if there is an exiting variable. While there is an exiting variable, the exiting variable is removed from the feasible basis, the entering variable is added to the feasible basis, and a new entering variable is determined. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306010 | INTERACTIVE MAP/DIAGRAM OF ERP CODE AND MODEL ELEMENTS - A diagramming system for dynamically generating and rendering a diagram depicting graphical representations of modules and elements of an ERP application, and their dependencies, is provided. In some embodiments, the diagramming system provides a dynamic, interactive graphical representation of user-selected elements and/or modules and their dependencies. In some embodiments, the diagramming system allows a user to view additional information about a specific element, such as the dependencies associated with that element that are not displayed in the diagram and also to select these elements for inclusion in the diagram. In this manner, the user can customize the diagram to show additional dependency information for a specific element or set of elements in which the user is interested. In some embodiments, the diagramming system may display an indication of dependencies between the selected element and the modules. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306011 | 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 |
20100306012 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING AND PREDICTING CROP PERFORMANCE - The invention provides a method of managing fertiliser and irrigation inputs for a crop, the method comprising obtaining management data for the crop, the management data including a planting date for the crop; obtaining weather data representative of the geographic area of the crop; obtaining soil description data representative of the geographic area of the crop; calculating an emergence date at least partly from the planting date; calculating a plurality of nitrogen deficit values at least partly from the emergence date and the soil description data, the nitrogen deficit values associated with respective dates each later than the emergence date; calculating a plurality of water deficit values at least partly from the emergence date and the weather data, the water deficit values associated with respective dates each later than the emergence date; and presenting on a display a schedule of recommended nitrogen application values, irrigation values and application dates, the schedule calculated at least partly from the nitrogen deficit values and the water deficit values. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306013 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SCHEDULING A MEDICAL SERVICE - A method for scheduling a medical service employing at least one computer system is described. A request for a medical service is received at the computer system. The medical service is scheduled for a requested date. At least one nonpayment exposure factor is analyzed to determine whether providing the medical service involves a nonpayment exposure to a medical service provider. The medical service may then be rescheduled for a date after the requested date if the analysis indicates nonpayment exposure to the medical service provider. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306014 | UTILITY SERVICE COMPONENT RELIABILITY AND MANAGEMENT - A computer-implemented method and system performing allocating capital assets for managing a plurality of utility service components. The method includes ranking each of the utility service components based on data retrieved corresponding to the utility service components, calculating a base failure metric for each of the utility service components, receiving a selection of at least one utility service component of the plurality of utility service components inputted by a user, analyzing the selected utility service component under a plurality of improvement scenarios, calculating an estimated failure metric of the selected utility service component based on each of the improvement scenarios, and displaying comparison information between the base failure metric and the estimated failure metric. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306015 | Systems and Methods to Schedule Transactions - Systems and methods are provided to facilitate online transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes an interchange coupled with a data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats and to communicate with the common format processor in a common format. The common format processor is to instruct a first controller of the controllers, via a first converter of the converters, to communicate with a mobile phone at a mobile phone number of a user to schedule at least one future transaction, and to transmit one or more premium messages to the mobile phone to collect, via a telecommunication carrier of the mobile phone, funds in accordance with an amount scheduled for the future transaction. | 12-02-2010 |
20100312598 | COST SAVINGS IN A PRINT QUEUE CONTROL SYSTEM - A method of recording cost savings performed by a print queue control system includes calculating a cost associated with performing an original print job provided by a device in communication with the print queue control system, and calculating a cost associated with performing an altered print job derived from the original print job. The method further includes, in response to the altered print job being performed instead of the original print job, storing details of a cost saving associated with performing the altered print job instead of the original print job. | 12-09-2010 |
20100318392 | Industrial status viewer system and method - A method of providing industrial status views reflecting a schedule for industrial project plan generated by a project schedule planning and management application includes uploading the industrial project plan schedule, uploading CAD drawing files comprising a physical layout of resources, structural elements and equipment units included in the project plan schedule, extracting project data from the uploaded project schedule and CAD drawing files and generating Plan progress views that reflect expected completion percentages of intended project tasks and operations over a fixed industrial project timeline, according to the plan schedule, as well as Comparison progress views depicting a difference between the expected and actual project progress. | 12-16-2010 |
20100318393 | DYNAMICALLY DISPATCHING WORKFLOWS IN RESPONSE TO WORKFLOW RULES - Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for dispatching a workflow responsive to a request. A plurality of dispatch rules may be defined based on user input. Each of the plurality of dispatch rules may specify a workflow and an associated condition for invoking the respective workflow. Each workflow may manage a set of web services in a service-oriented architecture (SOA) system. The dispatch rules may be stored onto a storage device. A request may be received by the SOA system. The request may be evaluated against the plurality of dispatch rules. Further, a workflow may be determined based on the evaluation. The determined workflow may be dispatched responsive to the request, without requiring any source code modification and without requiring the request to specify the determined workflow. | 12-16-2010 |
20100318394 | EXECUTING TRANSACTIONS AS AN ATOMIC UNIT - Multiple operations of a local transaction are enabled to be performed atomically at a resource. A local transaction scope is invoked that includes multiple transaction operations and a commit operation. A local transaction object is generated that includes a transaction identifier. The transaction identifier is initialized with a unique identification number. The transaction identifier is included in a request message that includes a transaction operation. The request message is transmitted to a web service to be provided to a resource, and a response is received. One or more additional request messages including corresponding operations are also transmitted to the web service, and corresponding response messages are received. A completion protocol message that includes the transaction identifier and a commit instruction or an abort instruction is transmitted to the web service, and a completion type response message is received. | 12-16-2010 |
20100318395 | DETERMINING CAPABILITY INTERDEPENDENCY/CONSTRAINTS AND ANALYZING RISK IN BUSINESS ARCHITECTURES - The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for determining capability interdependency and analyzing risks in business architectures. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention can be used to drive an understanding of the relative interdependency (complexity) of a capability and how capabilities impact one another. Connectedness and/or data exchanged between capabilities can be used to formulate relative interdependency (complexity) of a capability and can be analyzed to inform a number of strategies from data architecture and business intelligence and project risk. Other risk/impact analysis data can be combined with interdependency (complexity) to present risk/impact analysis scenarios for organizations. | 12-16-2010 |
20100318396 | FRAMEWORK FOR SUPPORTING REPAIR PROCESSES OF AIRCRAFT - A framework for supporting one or more repair processes of one or more aircraft. The repair processes are based on repair information or repair solution corresponding to the damages to one or more structural components of the aircraft. The framework includes a knowledge engine, and a deployment engine. The knowledge engine automatically generates one or more knowledge interpretation systems based on the user inputs. The knowledge interpretation systems provide the repair information corresponding to the various structural components of the aircraft based on the user inputs. The deployment engine fulfils the deployment requirements corresponding to the one or more knowledge interpretation systems. | 12-16-2010 |
20100324959 | Processing Shipment Status Events - Disclosed are various embodiments for processing shipment status events. An instance of a first event is obtained from a carrier. The instance of the first event is associated with a shipment in transit with the carrier, and the first event is associated with a set of first events used by the carrier to describe shipment status. The instance of the first event is mapped to an instance of a second event. The second event is associated with a set of second events, each describing a shipment status and being normalized with respect to sets of first events associated with multiple carriers. At least one action based at least in part on the instance of the second event is implemented. | 12-23-2010 |
20100324960 | Predicative Recruitment Reporting and Management - Methods, computer-readable media, and apparatuses process data for an employee requisition, in which a contracted company may assume responsibility for supporting portions of the requisition process by filtering candidates. Consequently, only qualified candidates for a specified job assignment are interviewed by the contracting company (client). By looking at requisitions that are in process and focusing on whether or not they have achieved an expected threshold of activity, a requisition system can predict bottlenecks in the process before the requisition is filled. An interprocess report organizes and acts on data to provide a management team a prediction of how a recruitment team will perform by individual recruiter and requisition level. In addition, actions are identified that the manager can initiate to correct issues early in the requisition process in order to reduce an impact on the client as per a service level agreement. | 12-23-2010 |
20100324961 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF PROVIDING SERVICE ASSISTANCE USING A HIERARCHICAL ORDER OF COMMUNICATION CHANNELS - An approach provides service assistance using a hierarchical order of communication channels. Service requests are received from a user. A plurality of different modes of communication functionality can be made available for interactivity with the user. A hierarchical order of the modes can be established in relation to the respective degree of communication interactivity. The mode of least degree of communication interactivity in the hierarchical order can be selected for initial communication with the user in response to the request for service. After communicating with the user in accordance with the selected mode, communication with the user can be changed to a communication mode higher in the hierarchical order if the service request has not been resolved. | 12-23-2010 |
20100324962 | SMART BUILDING MANAGER - A building manager includes a communications interface configured to receive information from a smart energy grid. The building manager further includes an integrated control layer configured to receive inputs from and to provide outputs to a plurality of building subsystems. The integrated control layer includes a plurality of control algorithm modules configured to process the inputs and to determine the outputs. The building manager further includes a fault detection and diagnostics layer configured to use statistical analysis on the inputs received from the integrated control layer to detect and diagnose faults. The building manager yet further includes a demand response layer configured to process the information received from the smart energy grid to determine adjustments to the plurality of control algorithms of the integrated control layer. | 12-23-2010 |
20100332277 | METHOD, ARTICLE AND SYSTEM FOR CONSOLIDATED CHANGE MANAGEMENT - A change manager may receive a new event notification. Once a new event notification has been received by the change manager, change information may be received by the change manager. The change information may be associated with one or more data objects that have been changed during the processing of a new event. As each change is received by the change manager, the changes may be stored within a consolidated change buffer. After a new event has been completed, a consolidated change notification may be sent by the change manager to one or more consumers. | 12-30-2010 |
20110004501 | Methods and Apparatus for Automatically Generating Social Events - A social event is generated by a computer having a data processor in signal communication with a memory. Initially, each user of a plurality of users is associated with a respective user location, a respective user time window, and at least one respective user interest. The computer then determines a common interest group, the common interest group comprising a subgroup of the plurality of users having user locations that collectively exceed a predetermined geographic density, overlapping user time windows, and a common user interest. After determining the common interest group, the computer proceeds to determine a venue and a meeting time for the social event. The computer then transmits the venue and meeting time to at least a portion of the users within the common interest group. | 01-06-2011 |
20110010214 | Method and system for project management - Methods and systems of project management can utilize work packages to produce a project result. Methods and systems of project management can comprise defining work packages for a project and arranging the defined work packages in a sequence of execution such that the execution of the sequenced work packages produces a project result in accordance with a goal of the project. A method of defining a work package can comprise analyzing project materials of a project to determine stand alone work, grouping one or more tasks implementing the stand alone work to form a stand alone set of one or more tasks, wherein the work package comprises the set of one or more tasks, wherein the set of one or more tasks defines the work package and wherein the performance of the set of one or more tasks during the execution of the work package produces a deliverable. | 01-13-2011 |
20110010215 | METHOD FOR A BIN RATIO FORECAST AT NEW TAPE OUT STAGE - A method for providing a bin ratio forecast at an early stage of integrated circuit device manufacturing processes is disclosed. The method comprises collecting historical data from one or more processed wafer lots; collect measurement data from one or more skew wafer lots; generating an estimated baseline distribution from the collected historical data and collected measurement data; generating an estimated performance distribution based on one or more specified parameters and the generated estimated baseline distribution; determining a bin ratio forecast by applying a bin definition and a yield degradation factor estimation to the generated estimated performance distribution; determining one or more production targets based on the bin ratio forecast; and processing one or more wafers based on the one or more determined production targets. | 01-13-2011 |
20110010216 | SOFTWARE LICENSE USAGE AMONGST WORKGROUPS USING SOFTWARE USAGE DATA - An approach is provided that receives a message from a first user. The first user's message requests a license to a licensed product that has previously been purchased by the organization. The system identifies current users in the organization that currently have licenses to the licensed product. A need score is calculated that reflects a needs analysis of the first user to the licensed product. Current user need scores are calculated and these need scores correspond to the needs of the current users pertaining to the licensed product. The first user's need score is compared to the current user product need scores and a second user is selected based on the comparison where the first user's need score is better than the second user need score. The second user's license to the licensed product is revoked and the first user is granted a license to the licensed product. | 01-13-2011 |
20110010217 | Service Oriented Architecture Governance Using A Template - Embodiments of the invention are directed to establishing a governance procedure for a selected service oriented architecture. One embodiment of the invention, directed to a method, comprises the steps of furnishing one or more first governance tasks, and furnishing one or more second governance tasks. The method further comprises providing a user of the governance procedure with a template, wherein the template is configured for operation by the user to selectively modify at least one of the first governance tasks. The template is configured further to be incapable of modifying any of the second governance tasks, when the template is being operated by the user. Each modified first governance task is combined with each of the second governance tasks, and also with each unmodified first governance task, to provide the governance procedure. | 01-13-2011 |
20110015959 | APPOINTMENT ALERT SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present invention relates to a system and method of alerting clients of the status of a scheduled appointment comprising the steps of: accepting an appointment from a client; logging the appointment time into an electronic calendar; transmitting an appointment reminder to the client; transmitting an appointment status alert to the client on the day of the scheduled appointment; and providing the client with the option to reschedule the scheduled appointment. If the client should elect to reschedule after receiving the appointment status alert, the client's new appointment time is logged into the electronic calendar. The appointment reminder and appointment status alert according to the present invention is transmitted over a communications network, where the communications network may be either the Internet and/or a wireless communications network. The client may receive the appointment reminder and appointment status alert on a cell phone, a smart phone or a telephone. | 01-20-2011 |
20110015960 | APPARATUS, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR REWARDING HEALTHY BEHAVIORS AND/OR ENCOURAGING APPROPRIATE PURCHASES WITH A REWARD CARD - A wellness program is set up for employees of an employer and participation in the program by at least a first one of the employees of the employer is tracked to determine if the at least first one of the employees has earned a reward by virtue of the participation. In response to determining that the reward has been earned, it is determined whether this is the employee's initial earned reward. If such is the case, a reward payment card is created for the employee; an amount associated with the reward payment card is initialized; and the card is provided to the employee. Subsequently-made purchases by the employee with the card are detected. In some cases, based on purchase level data associated with the subsequently-made purchases, it is determined if the employee is eligible for a supplemental award; if this is the case, supplemental award value is associated to the reward payment card. In other instances, purchase-level data associated with at least those of the subsequently-made purchases which are qualified purchases is reported to the employer. | 01-20-2011 |
20110022437 | ENABLING COLLABORATION ON A PROJECT PLAN - Systems, methods, and software applications for enabling the collaboration on a project plan are described in the present disclosure. A computer readable medium is configured to store instructions that are executable by a processing device. According to one embodiment, among many, the computer readable medium includes logic adapted to enable a member of a project team to submit a proposal for modifying a current project plan to a project manager. The computer readable medium also includes logic adapted to enable the project manager to accept or reject the proposal for modifying the current project plan. Various team members make changes to a single shared copy of the project plan. The changes can be to a respective team member's section of the plan | 01-27-2011 |
20110022438 | METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING RESOURCE ALLOCATION - Conventional resource allocation process has intrinsic inefficiency because of the resource fragmentation. A solution is provided to defragment the resource so that the customers' requests are better served and provider's resource utilization rate is improved. | 01-27-2011 |
20110029343 | APPOINTMENT ALERT SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present invention relates to a system and method of alerting clients of the status of a scheduled appointment comprising the steps of: accepting an appointment from a client; logging the appointment time into an electronic calendar; transmitting an appointment reminder to the client; transmitting an appointment status alert to the client on the day of the scheduled appointment; and providing the client with the option to reschedule the scheduled appointment. If the client should elect to reschedule after receiving the appointment status alert, the client's new appointment time is logged into the electronic calendar. The appointment reminder and appointment status alert according to the present invention is transmitted over a communications network, where the communications network may be either the Internet and/or a wireless communications network. The client may receive the appointment reminder and appointment status alert on a cell phone, a smart phone or a telephone. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029344 | Creating Purchase Orders with Mobile Devices - Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method of remotely generating a purchase order is to be initiated. The method includes receiving a communication in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. The ERP system has a purchasing transaction configured for communicating with each of multiple vendor systems for performing the acquisitions. The received communication is sent wirelessly from a mobile device operated by a user. The mobile device is configured for obtaining information from the user in a process compatible with the purchasing transaction for generating a purchase order in the ERP system. The method includes generating the purchase order in the ERP system. The purchase order includes an instruction to a vendor operating a first vendor system to deliver a quantity of a product type. The method includes forwarding the purchase order from the ERP system to the first vendor system. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029345 | Managing Planning of Component Requirements - Component planning for a product manufacturing enterprise having a central computer device and respective local manufacturing computer devices. A BOM for product types manufactured at the multiple manufacturing plants is maintained in the central computer device, defining that each of the product types belongs to a platform design and includes at least (i) a first component common to all of the products types and (ii) a second component not common to all of the product types. First-component data and second-component data from the BOM are forwarded to a central planning unit in the central computer device for generating a central plan for the first component, and to local planning units in the manufacturing computer devices configured to generate a local plan for the second component used by the corresponding manufacturing plant, respectively. The components are purchased according to the central plan and the local plan. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029346 | Host apparatus connected to image forming apparatuses and rearrangement setting method thereof - Disclosed are a host apparatus which is connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a rearrangement setting method thereof. The rearrangement setting method includes displaying on a host apparatus a current arrangement drawing of the plurality of image forming apparatuses and an arrangement management window of the plurality of image forming apparatuses; inputting a rearrangement attribute value at the arrangement management window to rearrange at least one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses; performing a simulation according to the input rearrangement attribute value to rearrange the image forming apparatus; and rearranging the image forming apparatus according to a result of the simulation. With this, a host apparatus and a rearrangement setting method may efficiently rearrange at least one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses in a proper location based on usage amount information of the plurality of image forming apparatuses. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029347 | METHOD FOR WIRELESS NETWORK VIRTUALIZATION THROUGH SEQUENTIAL AUCTIONS AND CONJECTURAL PRICING - A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for wireless network virtualization through sequential auctions and conjectural pricing. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a plurality of service providers operable to bid on network resources on behalf of a plurality of individual receivers and a wireless network operator, communicably coupled to the plurality of service providers, to perform resource allocation using an auction to allocate network resources to the plurality of service providers based on instantaneous channel conditions and traffic information of each of the individual receivers and to schedule transmissions in time and space to the individual receivers. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029348 | SCHEDULING USAGE OR PROVISION OF RESOURCES - Methods and systems for obtaining a value indicative of resource-related activity in respect of a plurality of devices using a network of metering means arranged to be in communication with one another, the metering means being associated with resource-consuming or resource-providing devices and being arranged to obtain local resource-related activity data therefrom, the method comprising: a first metering means initiating a circulation procedure by sending a token to a downstream metering means, the token comprising an activity field for carrying a value indicative of resource-related activity data; the circulation procedure continuing, until the token has returned to the first metering means, by each downstream metering means in turn receiving the token, updating the activity field in dependence on its own locally-obtained resource-related activity data, and forwarding the token to a further downstream metering means; and once the token has returned to the first metering means, obtaining a value indicative of the combined level of resource-related activity in respect of devices associated with the metering means in said network in dependence on the value carried by the activity field. | 02-03-2011 |
20110035247 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, APPARATUSES, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR DETERMINING PRODUCTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH RETRIEVING ITEMS IN A WAREHOUSE - An apparatus is provided for managing productivity associated with retrieval of items in real-time according to various embodiments. The apparatus includes a memory and a processor configured to generate a first time for traveling to one or more locations in which the items are located. The processor is also configured to generate a second time for retrieving the items from the locations and a third time for accessing one or more access points corresponding to each location. The third time is based on a respective height of each access point. The processor is also configured to add the first, second, and third times to generate a fourth time representing a target pick time for retrieving the items. Corresponding computer program products and methods are also provided. | 02-10-2011 |
20110035248 | Distributed Service Platform Computing with a Guaranteed Quality of Service - A device and method are provided for guaranteeing a quality of service (QoS) for a network-connected device in a distributed service platform (DSP) or cloud computing system. The method establishes a first set of attributes or performance criteria for a selected platform component. The selected platform component may be a system component for processing data or a network component for connecting system components. For example, the first set of attributes may be supplied by a client in an SLA. A second set of attributes is derived for the unselected platform component necessary to support the first set of attributes. For example, if a first set of attributes is established for a system component, then a second set of attributes would be derived or calculated for a network component. As a result, a DSP QoS is supplied to a network-connected (e.g., client) device, guaranteeing the first set of attributes. | 02-10-2011 |
20110035249 | MAIL ACCEPTANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD - A mail acceptance system selects a mail center that is near a client by using mail acceptance information input by the client, calculates transport cost of the selected mail center, selects a mail center that is appropriate for making loads of mail centers equal and minimizing the transport cost as a suitable mail center from among the selected mail centers, and sets a visit and acceptance schedule for visiting and accepting the client's mail. | 02-10-2011 |
20110040595 | REAL-TIME SERVICE MANAGEMENT AND DISPATCH SYSTEM - A real-time management and dispatch system includes a controller configured to control data flow and processing of management and dispatch operations. A database server is configured to control storage, organization, retrieval, and distribution of management and dispatch data. At least one workstation is configured for accessing dispatch functions and management functions. At least one Global Positioning System (GPS) enabled handheld device is configured to receive and transmit dispatch information over a local wireless communication network. The local wireless communication network provides real-time information transmission between the controller, at least one work station, and the at least one handheld device. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040596 | Virtual Production Control System and Method and Computer Program Product Thereof - A virtual production control system (VPCS), and a virtual production control method and a computer program product thereof are provided. At first, the VPCS processes historical work-in-process (WIP) information and a current shipping plan sent from a supplier side, thereby obtaining a plurality of sets of WIP input/output historical data and a goods output schedule. Then, the VPCS performs an integer programming (IP) method to find the latest output schedule in accordance to the current shipping plan; uses a genetic algorithm (GA) to fit the historical distributed-parameters; adopts a neural network (NN) method to predict the future distributed-parameters of production; and finally utilizes a Petri Nets to simulate and obtain a latest feasible input schedule and a latest feasible output schedule. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040597 | System and Method for Utilizing Excess Printing Capability - The present invention is a system and method for utilizing excess printing capacity. The present invention utilizes a printing network that consists of a printing service provider, one or more print jobs, a printing distribution system, and printing partners. The printing service provider uses a printing distribution system to distribute standardized print jobs to printing partners at a fixed price. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040598 | 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, wherein at least one meeting may be generated for the at least one client by the meeting editor in accordance with at least one of the at least one business rule, and at least one tracker communicatively 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. The method may include a receiving a logging onto the application, receiving a meeting identifier, receiving a selection of at least one venue for the meeting, receiving an identification of participants for the meeting, sending the participants invitations to the meeting, assembling statistics on replies to the invitations, sending reminder notices to the participants upon the assembling of statistics, tracking expenses for the meeting, and generating reports concerning the meeting. | 02-17-2011 |
20110054972 | CALCULATION/DETERMINATION OF BUDGET AND EMPLOYEE ALLOCATION TARGETS USING A MODEL - In various embodiments, systems, methods, and user interfaces are provided for calculating and/or determining budget and employee allocation targets using a model. In one example, users can create a model by selecting an allocation method and a set of allocation criteria. Allocation criteria can be organized into a table or interactive matrix that enables the user to interact with the model and preview application of the model to a budget or target. Users can enter values they want to model for employees who meet that criteria combination. In some embodiments, the first criterion is used to automatically create the broadest grouping and subsequent criteria creating subgroups within the larger group. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054973 | LABOR RESOURCE DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM - A labor resource decision support system, in which labor resource data is maintained across multiple units within an organization using a standardized data record format. A demand measurement for a first type of labor resource having a unique combination of values for fields of the standardized data record format is determined based on input describing forecasted demand for the first type of labor resource within the organization and a supply measurement for the first type of labor resource is determined based on input describing forecasted supply for the first type of labor resource within the organization and the labor resource data. A gap measurement is calculated based on the determined demand measurement and the determined supply measurement and an output is provided based on the calculated gap measurement. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054974 | ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES ACROSS AN ENTERPRISE - A computer-assisted method provides for allocating resources across an enterprise to match needs for different business units across the enterprise. The method includes defining business unit categories in a software system. Each of the business unit categories includes a plurality of business factors. The method further includes collecting data associated with the business factors and defining the service levels in the software system. The method further includes forming an impact matrix to relate the service levels to the business factors and analyzing the impact matrix using the software system to provide an analysis to assist in allocating resources. | 03-03-2011 |
20110060622 | MULTI-PROVIDER FORMS PROCESSING SYSTEM WITH RETRY UPON FAILURE - A multi-provider forms processing system with retry upon failure comprises: a plurality of portable computing devices, a plurality of service providers and a paper-like forms server coupled by a network. The paper-like forms server performs the scheduling, routing, logging, verification and billing for the paper-like processing of compound documents. The paper-like forms server comprises a central schedule, a retry module and a billing module. The multi-provider forms processing system is advantageous because it monitors for failure of transactions, automatically issues a retry or replacement transactions and adjusts the billing for the failed transaction. In particular, the central scheduler tracks and determines when transaction failures occur, and based on these failures revises the billing to users and credits to service providers. The central scheduler also monitors the logs for completion as well as restarts, attempts, failure, reworked and re-performed transaction steps and modifies the bills accordingly. | 03-10-2011 |
20110060623 | System and Method for Resource Workflow Scheduling - A system and method for resource workflow scheduling providing a resource workflow scheduling interface where a resource is defined along a first axis and time is defined along a second axis. Tasks are represented as movable objects which are scheduled and may be rescheduled according to constraints stored in a database. Tasks that must be scheduled over multiple days are represented as visually and structurally connected objects. Constraints stored in the database comprise rules and restrictions defining the sequence of tasks required to complete a job, the association of tasks to resources, the time a particular resource requires to complete the task, and the date that task must be completed. | 03-10-2011 |
20110060624 | Design and process scheduling optimization method - The design and process scheduling optimization method is a technique that circumvents problems encountered in previous optimization techniques. The method performs comparison against multiple possible outcomes rather than a single-valued benchmark. Pattern Recognition (PR) techniques are utilized to classify the work planned at specified cut-off dates during the planning stage. Classification is used to monitor and evaluate the progress during the construction stage. The PR technique generalizes a virtual benchmark to represent the whole project based on multiple possible outcomes generated at a given cut-off date. The generalization feature offers a potential tool to overcome the problem of variation in the quality of data collected. Patterns are constructed to encode work of the project at different cut-off dates. The present invention utilizes a robust pattern recognition method applied to Critical Path Method (CPM) procedures to monitor and evaluate progress of construction projects. | 03-10-2011 |
20110066467 | SCHEDULING MULTIPLE PROJECTS USING PHASE WORK-IN-PROCESS AND RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS - Some embodiments provide a system for scheduling multiple projects. During operation, the system can receive a set of projects. Each project can be associated with a due date, and can include a group of tasks whose interdependencies are representable using a task dependency network. Next, the system can associate at least some tasks in some of the projects with a phase. The system can then determine project start times and project end times for at least some projects in the set of projects so that the aggregate weight of the projects that are in the phase at any given time is less than or equal to a work-in-process (WIP) limit associated with the phase. The system can also impose resource usage constraints. Further, the system can enable the user to evaluate the impact on the project schedules if the duration of one or more phases is changed. | 03-17-2011 |
20110071876 | PLANNING AND ORCHESTRATING WORKFLOW INSTANCE MIGRATION - A method and information processing system manage workflow instance migration. An initial workflow process model is compared with a new workflow process model. A set of differences between the initial workflow process model and the new workflow process model are determined. At least one set of activities associated with the initial workflow process model that is migrateable to the new workflow process model is identified based on the set of differences. A migration plan associated with the initial workflow process model and the new workflow process model is generated. The migration plan includes the at least one set of activities associated with the initial workflow process model. The migration plan is then used to evaluate a set of workflow instances associated with the initial workflow process model and migrate one or more of these workflow instances to the new workflow process model based thereon. | 03-24-2011 |
20110071877 | HEURISTIC CROSS SHIPPING OF DISASTER RELIEF SUPPLIES AT POINTS OF DISTRIBUTION - Distributing disaster relief supplies, in one aspect, may include determining cross shipping of disaster relief supplies between points of distribution using one or more combinations of information. The information may include one or more of on-hand inventory of each point of distribution, in-transit inventory to each point of distribution, demand queue of disaster victims at each point of distribution, traveling time between supply staging area and points of distribution, traveling time between points of distribution, number of transportation vehicles available for cross shipping, minimum batch size for cross shipping, frequency of cross shipping, and point of distribution activation status, or combinations thereof. | 03-24-2011 |
20110071878 | MOBILE APPLICATION FOR CALENDAR SHARING AND SCHEDULING - The embodiments discussed herein describe an application device and method for calendar sharing and scheduling over a communication network. When a meeting is to be scheduled between two or more participants, the organizing participant enters an identification of the participants and requests a time suggestion. In response to the request, information relating to the availability and/or preferences of each participant is gathered from one or more databases and processed centrally in a remote server to determine a block of time during which all the participants are commonly free. The block of time is pushed to a user interface for display. If the organizing user selects the block of time, a meeting request may be sent to the participants to confirm the meeting. | 03-24-2011 |
20110077991 | METHODS FOR SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT - According to various embodiments, the present teachings include inventory control policies that are defined in terms of functions of aggregate cost rates, involving thresholds Ω and an order-up-to point S. An embodiment of the present teachings includes a method. The method includes tracking an inventory position of each of the plurality of items by a logistics network and determining an item cost rate for each of the plurality of items based on the tracked inventory position. The method also includes determining an aggregate cost rate for the plurality of items based on the determined item cost rates, comparing the aggregate cost rate with a cost rate threshold Ω, and ordering the plurality of items to an order-up-to point S if the compared aggregate cost rate is greater than or equal to the cost rate threshold Ω. | 03-31-2011 |
20110077992 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS PRODUCT AND/OR SERVICE OFFERINGS - Some embodiments provide sales management methods, apparatus and computer program products. A customer at a public retail site is identified, along with a reason for a visit of the customer to the public retail site. A customer profile of the customer is identified responsive to the identification of the customer. A telecommunications product and/or service available to the customer is identified based on the customer profile and the identified reason for the visit. A display of information relating to the identified available telecommunications product and/or service is provided at a terminal positioned at the public retail site. | 03-31-2011 |