06th week of 2013 patent applcation highlights part 43 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20130035898 | UTILIZATION OF HFR-BASED CATHODE INLET RH MODEL IN COMPARISON TO SENSOR FEEDBACK TO DETERMINE FAILED WATER VAPOR TRANSFER UNIT AND UTILIZE FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CODE AND MESSAGE - A system and method for determining whether there is a cross-over leak, or other failure, in a WVT unit that humidifies the cathode inlet airflow to a fuel cell stack in a fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes an HFR circuit that determines the humidity level of the membranes in the fuel cell stack and an RH sensor that measures the relative humidity of the airflow to the cathode side of the fuel cell stack. The HFR humidity calculation is compared to RH measurements from the RH sensor, and if the difference between the two RH values is greater than a predetermined calibration value, then the system may determine that the WVT unit is failing and needs to be serviced or replaced. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035899 | TESTING FRAMEWORK FOR CONTROL DEVICES - The present disclosure generally relates to the automated testing of a system that includes software or hardware components. In some embodiments, a testing framework generates a set of test cases for a system under test using a grammar. Each test case may perform an action, such as provide an input to the system under test, and result in an output from the system under test. The inputs and outputs are then compared to the expected results to determine whether the system under test is performing correctly. Specifically, the system under test may be analyzed to determine whether it is capable of properly processing control instructions and input signals and/or generating expected output control signals and additional control/feedback information. The data can then be interpreted in the grammar system and/or used as input to a fault isolation engine to determine anomalies in the system under test. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035900 | Method for Promoting Hygiene and Cleanliness - The present invention provides a method for promoting hygiene in an away-from-home location. The method collects data from an away-from-home location by testing common areas and personal areas within the away-from-home location and takes this data to develop a plan of action to reduce the contaminants within the away-from-home location. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035901 | ATMOSPHERIC MONITORING - Method and arrangement for monitoring an atmosphere includes a sensor system arranged to obtain data about the atmosphere at its location and a communications system coupled to the sensor system for providing data obtained by the sensor system to a monitoring facility, e.g., by wireless transmits, which monitors the atmosphere. A location determining system may be arranged in connection with the sensor system for determining the location thereof. The communication system is coupled to the location determining system and transmits the location of the sensor system along with the data obtained by the sensor system to the remote facility. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035902 | METHODS OF DESIGNING EARTH-BORING TOOLS USING A PLURALITY OF WEAR STATE VALUES AND RELATED METHODS OF FORMING EARTH-BORING TOOLS - Methods of designing an earth-boring tool are described, including calculating one or more performance parameters based on drilling conditions, a plurality of wear state values, and a set of values of other design variables. Methods of enhancing a performance parameter in the design of an earth-boring tool are also described, including calculating the performance parameter based at least partially on a plurality of wear state values and a first set of values of other design variables, calculating the performance parameter based at least partially on the plurality of wear state values and a second set of values of design variables different than the first set, and comparing the calculated performance parameters to determine which of the first and the second set is closer to a target range or value across a range of the plurality of wear state values. Related methods of forming an earth-boring tool are also described. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035903 | METHODS OF DESIGNING EARTH-BORING TOOLS USING A PLURALITY OF DEPTH OF CUT VALUES AND RELATED METHODS OF FORMING EARTH-BORING TOOLS - Methods of designing an earth-boring tool are described, including calculating one or more performance parameters of the tool based on drilling conditions, a plurality of depth of cut values, and a set of values of other design variables. Methods of enhancing a performance parameter in the design of an earth-boring tool are also described, including calculating the performance parameter based at least partially on a plurality of depth of cut values and a first set of values of other design variables, calculating the performance parameter based at least partially on a second set of values of the other design variables different than the first set, and comparing the calculated performance parameters to determine which of the first and the second set is closer to a target range or value across a range of the plurality of depths of cut. Related methods of forming an earth-boring tool are also described. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035904 | 3D PLANT MODELING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for leveraging a preliminary plant model to create a detailed physical plant model are presented. The system stores instances of component primitives, and can utilize stored geometries of the component primitives to identify a plurality of physical components to form a physical plant model. The physical plant model can realize at least a portion of the component runs based on equations and mapping definitions that establish relationships among the geometries of the equipment and piping. The components of the physical plant model can be mapped to catalog items based on the geometries of the components. After translation, a bill of materials listing the physical plant model components can be produced. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035905 | Method and system for operating electron guns in magnetic fields - A method of configuring an electron gun for generating and injecting an electron beam into a linac accelerating waveguide operating in magnetic fringe fields of an MRI scanner in the absence of a magnetic shield is provided using an appropriately programmed computer to determining an anode drift tube diameter at an injection point of a linac according to a magnetic field value from an MRI scanner and to a predetermined current density, where the magnetic field has an isocenter, determining a transverse diameter of a Type M cathode in an electron gun, according to the anode drift tube diameter and the current density, and minimizing an emittance value in an electron beam of the electron gun at an entry point of the anode drift tube by optimizing the distance between the cathode and the anode, where the electron beam is along an axis of symmetry of the magnetic field. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035906 | METHOD FOR CONFIGURATION AND/OR EQUIPMENT OF A VEHICLE CABIN, IN PARTICULAR OF AN AIRCRAFT - The invention relates to a method for the automatic configuration and/or equipment of a vehicle cabin, more particularly of an aircraft, wherein the cabin ( | 2013-02-07 |
20130035907 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING FENCES - A post sleeve installation device is used to install post sleeves at selected positions and orientations to support the fence posts of a fence. Data, such as relative spacing, orientation, and elevation of the post sleeves is collected for off-site manufacture of fence panels. A consumer views a rendering of the fence and selects a fence design on a web site or at a retail location. A manufacturer obtains the collected data and the consumer-selected design, and fabricates the fence panels accordingly. The panels are then transported to the fence location and installed on the fence posts. Additionally, a repository is provided, to which the data is transmitted for retention, and from which the data can be retrieved for manufacture of replacement fence panels. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035908 | Identifying invariant candidates based on proofs - Candidate invariants are selected from a proof of a property. In some exemplary embodiments, a proof of a property with respect to a bounded model having a bounded number of cycles may be obtained. The bounded model may comprise an initial axiom and a transition relation axiom. The proof of the property is a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG). Each non-leaf node of the DAG is deducible from its child nodes. A root of the DAG is the property. Leaves of the DAG are associated with an axiom of the bounded model. A set of candidate invariants may be selected from the DAG. A subset of the set of candidates may be determined such that the subset comprises invariants which are held during each cycle of an unbounded model, wherein the unbounded model is an unbounded version of the bounded model. The invariants may be utilized for model checking of the unbounded model. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035909 | SIMULATION OF REAL WORLD EVOLUTIVE AGGREGATE, IN PARTICULAR FOR RISK MANAGEMENT - The invention concerns a computerized system for simulating real-world evolving aggregates including a memory, for storing data structures, proper, for a given real-world element, with an element-identifier and a series of element-magnitudes corresponding to the respective element-dates. The memory then stores the aggregate data, defined by groups of element-identifiers, each group being associated with a group-date, whereas an aggregate-magnitude can be derived from element-magnitudes corresponding to the group's element-identifiers, at each group-date. The system also includes a simulation generator, arranged to establish a computer model relative to an aggregate to match particular functions to respective leading parameters, selected for the aggregate in question, each particular function resulting from adjustment of the history of the aggregate magnitude with respect to the history of its respective leading parameter, up to a residue, the adjustment being attributed a quality score. In addition, the model relative to the aggregate includes a collection of mono-factorial models, defined by a list of leading parameters, a list of corresponding particular functions and their respective quality scores. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035910 | CONTINUOUS ANNEALING PROCESS FAULT DETECTION METHOD BASED ON RECURSIVE KERNEL PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS - A fault detection method in a continuous annealing process based on a recursive kernel principal component analysis (RKPCA) is disclosed. The method includes: collecting data of the continuous annealing process including roll speed, current and tension of an entry loop (ELP); building a model using the RKPCA and updating the model, and calculating the eigenvectors {circumflex over (p)}. In the fault detection of the continuous annealing process, when the T | 2013-02-07 |
20130035911 | Reference Library Generation Method for Methods of Inspection, Inspection Apparatus and Lithographic Apparatus - A library of model diffraction patterns is generated where each represents a diffraction pattern expected from a target structure defined by a set of parameters and having a first part and a second part, the first part comprising a scattering object. The target structure is defined. The scattering effect of the first part of the target structure is defined by a set of first part parameters, for a plurality of different sets of first part parameters. The scattering effect of the second part of the target structure defined by a set of second part parameters, for a plurality of different sets of second part parameters. The results of the calculations is used to calculate the model diffraction patterns. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035912 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF PROCESSING PERSONALITY INFORMATION - A computer-based system and associated processes are disclosed for making personality-related recommendations to an entity. The system receives indications of one or more personality attributes of an entity. The system acquires indications of one or more personality attributes of a desired partner of the entity. The system applies a mathematical model to the one or more personality attributes of the entity and the one or more personality attributes of the desired partner of the entity. The mathematical model calculates one or more recommended changes to the personality attributes of the entity to increase a predicted relationship satisfaction score between the entity and the desired partner. The system selects a recommended action from a database of recommended actions, based at least in part on the recommended changes to the personality attributes of the entity. The system presents the recommended action. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035913 | Method and System For Finite Volume Simulation of Flow - There is provided a method for modeling a hydrocarbon reservoir that includes deriving a computational mesh on a fine unstructured mesh using a multilevel mixed multiscale finite volume (MMMFV) method. Deriving the computational mesh includes computing a first algebraic multilevel basis function for a pressure, constructing an interaction region, and generating a primary mesh. A second algebraic multiscale basis function for a velocity approximation is computed and the primary mesh is discretized. The hydrocarbon reservoir is simulated using the computational mesh. A data representation of a physical hydrocarbon reservoir is generated in a non-transitory, computer-readable, medium based at least in part on the results of the simulation. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035914 | SERVO CONTROLLER - A servo controller includes: a reference model unit which inputs a reference to generate a model output and a model input; a feedback control unit which generates a feedback input so that a control output of a plant follows the model output; and an adder which adds the model input and the feedback input, in which the reference model unit includes: a mathematical model which simulates characteristics of the plant, and generates the model output and a state variable from the model input; a model input memory which outputs a past model input; a model controller which inputs the reference, the state variable, and the past model input to generate the model input; and a model controller determining unit which determines the model controller based on the reference, the state variable, and the past model input. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035915 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTIPLE TARGET TRACKING - Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to systems and methods comprising First Order Multiple Hypothesis Testing for a Global Nearest Neighbor Data Correlation solution. Generating and storing multiple target hypotheses to allow immediate recovery in case of a false decision in uncertain association environment, improves the system's ability to handle multiple target tracking, in terms of tracker error, and creates a more accurate situational picture for a system's operator. Introducing the quality factor, and a configurable number of maximum hypotheses testing, assures the system is easily adjustable to different environments, to balance tradeoffs between its estimation accuracy and computational load. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035916 | DYNAMIC OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE FOR CROWD SIMULATION USING LANE COORDINATES - One embodiment of the invention sets forth a technique for avoiding collisions between agents traversing different lanes of a multi-lane path in a crowd simulation. A perception data structure is maintained per agent that keeps track of the speeds and locations of neighboring agents in the crowd simulation. At each frame, the perception data structure corresponding to a particular agent is analyzed to identify any projected collisions. If the perception data structure indicates that the agent is projected to collide with another agent, then a collision avoidance operation is executed to avoid the collision. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035917 | REAL-TIME EULERIAN WATER SIMULATION USING A RESTRICTED TALL CELL GRID - One embodiment of the present invention sets forth an Eulerian fluid simulation technique which enables real-time simulations of large scale three dimensional fluid volumes that include free surface water. A hybrid grid representation composed of regular cubic cells on top of a layer of tall cells is used to reduce computation time. Water above an arbitrary terrain can be represented without consuming an excessive amount of memory and compute power, while focusing simulation effort on the area near the surface of the water to produce accurate results. Additionally, the grid representation may be optimized for a graphics processor implementation of the fluid solver. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035918 | MULTI-GRID FLUID PRESSURE SOLVER HANDLING SEPARATING SOLID BOUNDARY CONDITIONS - One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a geometric multi-grid technique which enables accurate simulations of three dimensional (3D) fluid volumes. A model of the fluid to be simulated is represented using a cubic cell grid. The geometric multi-grid is generated to provide a hierarchy of increasingly coarser representations of the model that are used by a fluid pressure solver. During fluid simulations, the linear complementarity problem (LCP) resulting from discretizing the Poisson equation, subject to separating solid boundary conditions, is solved using the geometric multi-grid. Visual artifacts such as liquid sticking to a bounding surface are minimized and the computations performed to solve the LCP are simplified. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035919 | SYSTEMS AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PERFORMING A FULLY AUTOMATED WORKFLOW FOR WELL PERFORMANCE MODEL CREATION AND CALIBRATION - Systems and program product for creating and calibrating production and injection well models for a reservoir, are provided. An example of a system for creating and calibrating well models can include a well performance modeling computer and well performance modeling program product program product. The well performance modeling program product can include instructions that when executed by the well performance modeling computer cause the computer to perform operations including those for performing a comprehensive retrieval or gathering of required data components, feeding the gathered data into well performance software to thereby develop a model of the well, performing an initial calibration of the well model, performing a total system calibration on the well model, and performing a recalibration to fine tune the well model. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035920 | METHODS FOR PERFORMING A FULLY AUTOMATED WORKFLOW FOR WELL PERFORMANCE MODEL CREATION AND CALIBRATION - Methods for creating and calibrating production and injection well models for a reservoir, are provided. An example of a method for creating and calibrating well models can include performing a comprehensive retrieval or gathering of required data components, feeding the gathered data into well performance software to thereby develop a model of the well, performing an initial calibration of the well model, performing a total system calibration on the well model, and performing a recalibration to fine tune the well model. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035921 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ESTIMATING TEMPERATURE IN A BODY - The invention relates a method and an apparatus of predicting or planning a temperature distribution ( | 2013-02-07 |
20130035922 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PLANNING A NEUROSURGICAL OPERATION | 2013-02-07 |
20130035923 | Methods Of Modeling Physical Properties Of Chemical Mixtures And Articles Of Use - Included are methods for modeling at least one physical property of a mixture of at least two chemical species. One or more chemical species of the mixture are approximated or represented by at least one conceptual segment. The conceptual segments are then used to compute at least one physical property of the mixture. An analysis of the computed physical properties forms a model of at least one physical property of the mixture. Also included are computer program products and computer systems for implementing the modeling methods. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035924 | Electronic Data Processing System Having A Virtual Bus Server Application - An electronic data processing system comprises a first application program that is capable of operating in a first mode and a second mode. The first mode comprises software emulation of a vehicle data bus and one or more network elements. The second mode comprises communications access to the vehicle bus and the one or more network elements. The electronic data processing system is capable of executing an operating system. A virtual bus server application comprises a shared memory and a message router. The operating system facilitates communication between at least two dynamic link libraries in shared memory. The message router is capable of routing data messages between the first application and a first hardware module as a network element in the second mode. A first dynamic link library interface provides an interface between the first application program and the virtual bus server application. The first dynamic link library is capable of communicating with the shared memory of the virtual bus server application. A second dynamic link library interface provides an interface between the virtual bus server application and the first hardware module. The second dynamic link library is capable of communicating with the shared memory of the virtual bus server application. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035925 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VERSATILE CONTROLLABILITY AND OBSERVABILITY IN PROTOTYPE SYSTEM - A method for emulating a circuit design includes receiving, at an emulation interface, signal values associated with probed signals from a verification module of a custom prototype board which can be described by at least one board description file and can comprise at least one field programmable gate array for emulating the circuit design. The method can also include processing, the probed signal values associated with a portion of the circuit design being emulated, the emulation interface being capable of being configured to provide timing and control information to at least the verification module, and can comprise a controller and a memory device, with the controller being capable of being configured to receive the probed signal values. The method can further include storing the processed information and transmitting it to the host workstation. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035926 | AUTOMATIC TRANSLITERATION OF A RECORD IN A FIRST LANGUAGE TO A WORD IN A SECOND LANGUAGE - This specification describes an innovative method for automatic transliteration of a record in a first language to a word in a second language. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035927 | DISPLAY APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD AND SERVER THEREOF - A display apparatus, a method of controlling the same, and a server thereof are provided, in which the display apparatus includes: a communication unit which communicates with a terminal via a conversation mode; a video processor which processes an image related to the conversation mode; a display unit which displays the image processed by the video processor; and a controller which controls the display unit to display a conversation graphical user interface (GUI) comprising a translation selection item and a conversation window for having a conversation with a user of the terminal if the conversation mode is selected, and provides a result from a translation of the conversation if the translation selection item is selected. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035928 | TxtAnalizer - Text to motion pictures software program working on sentences that can have visual interpretation: you type in the sentence, the program understands the meaning of the sentence (that means one can say the same thing in other words) and starts an external process, a video file. The video file closes itself after the video finishes and the program is ready to process the next sentence. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035929 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit, an analysis unit, and a generation unit. The acquisition unit is configured to acquire a status of a user while the user is working with a resource. The analysis unit is configured to acquire text information included in the resource by analyzing the resource. The generation unit is configured to generate at least one work label from the status of the user and the text information, and to generate a work history including a part of the text information, to which the work label is assigned. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035930 | PREDICTING LEXICAL ANSWER TYPES IN OPEN DOMAIN QUESTION AND ANSWERING (QA) SYSTEMS - In an automated Question Answer (QA) system architecture for automatic open-domain Question Answering, a system, method and computer program product for predicting the Lexical Answer Type (LAT) of a question. The approach is completely unsupervised and is based on a large-scale lexical knowledge base automatically extracted from a Web corpus. This approach for predicting the LAT can be implemented as a specific subtask of a QA process, and/or used for general purpose knowledge acquisition tasks such as frame induction from text. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035931 | PREDICTING LEXICAL ANSWER TYPES IN OPEN DOMAIN QUESTION AND ANSWERING (QA) SYSTEMS - In an automated Question Answer (QA) system architecture for automatic open-domain Question Answering, a system, method and computer program product for predicting the Lexical Answer Type (LAT) of a question. The approach is completely unsupervised and is based on a large-scale lexical knowledge base automatically extracted from a Web corpus. This approach for predicting the LAT can be implemented as a specific subtask of a QA process, and/or used for general purpose knowledge acquisition tasks such as frame induction from text. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035932 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF GENERATING RESPONSES TO TEXT-BASED MESSAGES - A system to generate a response to a text-based natural language message includes a user interface, processing device, and a computer-readable storage medium storing executable instructions to generate the response to the text-based natural language message. The instructions and a method for generating the response include identifying a sentence in the text-based natural language message, identifying an input clause in the sentence, and parsing the input clause, thereby defining a relationship between words in the input clause. The instructions and method also include assigning a semantic tag to the parsed input clause, comparing the input clause to a previously received clause, the previously received clause being correlated with a previously generated response clause, and generating an output response message derived from the previously generated response clause. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035933 | AUDIO SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS AND AUDIO SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD - Likelihood calculation means extracts audio features expressing features of a voice signal and a non-voice signal from an acquired audio signal, and calculates likelihood expressing probability that the voice signal is included in the audio signal using the audio features. Spectral feature extraction means performs a frequency analysis to the audio signal to extract a spectral feature. Using the spectral feature, first basis matrix producing means produces a first basis matrix expressing the feature of the non-voice signal. Second basis matrix producing means specifies a component having a high association with the voice signal in the first basis matrix using the likelihood, and excludes the component to produce a second basis matrix. Spectral feature estimation means estimates a spectral feature of the voice signal or a spectral feature of the non-voice signal by performing nonnegative matrix factorization to the spectral feature using the second basis matrix. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035934 | DYNAMIC CONTROLLER FOR IMPROVING SPEECH INTELLIGIBILITY - A system or method may facilitate delivery of network-specific dialing codes to a mobile node. When a mobile node is registered to a network part of the network infrastructure of a radio communication system, a request is generated by the mobile node, requesting download thereto of the dialing codes used in the network part to call service centers associated therewith. The requested dialing codes are downloaded to the mobile node. The downloaded dialing codes are indexed together with the dialing codes normally used by the mobile node to call the corresponding service centers. Subsequently, when a call is placed to a service center, the dialing codes are transposed, if necessary, to permit the call to a designated service center to be completed. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035935 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING SEPARATION CRITERION OF SOUND SOURCE, AND APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEPARATING SOUND SOURCE - The present invention allows a man to recognize a location of a sound source in a three-dimensional space using two ears and applies a method of separating a sound source in a certain orientation to improve the performance of an application technology using a speech in a noisy environment. The present invention acquires a speech signal using two sensors and determines an orientation angle of a sound source in a zero-crossing point step with respect to a frequency separated signal with a band pass filter bank. An object of the present invention is to obtain excellent sound source orientation detection and division performance which is difficult to be obtained in an existing crossing correlation method calculated in units of time frames in a noisy environment with a plurality of sound sources. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035936 | LANGUAGE TRANSCRIPTION - A transcription system is applicable to transcription for a language in which there is limited pronunciation and/or acoustic data. A transcription station is configured using pronunciation data and acoustic data for use with the language. The pronunciation data and/or the acoustic data is initially from another dialect of a language, another language from a language group, or is universal (e.g., not specific to any particular language). A partial transcription of the audio recording is accepted via the transcription station (e.g., from a transcriptionist). One or more repetitions of one or more portions of the partial transcription are identified in the audio recording, and can be accepted during transcription. The pronunciation data and/or the acoustic data is updated in a bootstrapping manner during transcription, thereby improving the efficiency of the transcription process. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035937 | System And Method For Efficiently Transcribing Verbal Messages To Text - A system and method for efficiently transcribing verbal messages to text is provided. Verbal messages are received and at least one of the verbal messages is divided into segments. Automatically recognized text is determined for each of the segments by performing speech recognition and a confidence rating is assigned to the automatically recognized text for each segment. A threshold is applied to the confidence ratings and those segments with confidence ratings that fall below the threshold are identified. The segments that fall below the threshold are assigned to one or more human agents starting with those segments that have the lowest confidence ratings. Transcription from the human agents is received for the segments assigned to that agent. The transcription is assembled with the automatically recognized text of the segments not assigned to the human agents as a text message for the at least one verbal message. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035938 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RECOGNIZING VOICE - The present invention includes a hierarchical search process. The hierarchical search process includes three steps. In a first step, a word boundary is determined using a recognition method of determining a following word dependent on a preceding word, and a word boundary detector. In a second step, word unit based recognition is performed in each area by dividing an input voice into a plurality of areas based on the determined word boundary. Finally, in a third step, a language model is applied to induce an optimal sentence recognition result with respect to a candidate word that is determined for each area. The present invention may improve the voice recognition performance, and particularly, the sentence unit based consecutive voice recognition performance. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035939 | System and Method for Discriminative Pronunciation Modeling for Voice Search - Disclosed herein is a method for speech recognition. The method includes receiving speech utterances, assigning a pronunciation weight to each unit of speech in the speech utterances, each respective pronunciation weight being normalized at a unit of speech level to sum to 1, for each received speech utterance, optimizing the pronunciation weight by identifying word and phone alignments and corresponding likelihood scores, and discriminatively adapting the pronunciation weight to minimize classification errors, and recognizing additional received speech utterances using the optimized pronunciation weights. A unit of speech can be a sentence, a word, a context-dependent phone, a context-independent phone, or a syllable. The method can further include discriminatively adapting pronunciation weights based on an objective function. The objective function can be maximum mutual information, maximum likelihood training, minimum classification error training, or other functions known to those of skill in the art. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035940 | ELECTROLARYNGEAL SPEECH RECONSTRUCTION METHOD AND SYSTEM THEREOF - The invention provides an electrolaryngeal speech reconstruction method and a system thereof. Firstly, model parameters are extracted from the collected speech as a parameter library, then facial images of a speaker are acquired and then transmitted to an image analyzing and processing module to obtain the voice onset and offset times and the vowel classes, then a waveform of a voice source is synthesized by a voice source synthesis module, finally, the waveform of the above voice source is output by an electrolarynx vibration output module, wherein the voice source synthesis module firstly sets the model parameters of a glottal voice source so as to synthesize the waveform of the glottal voice source, and then a waveguide model is used to simulate sound transmission in a vocal tract and select shape parameters of the vocal tract according to the vowel classes. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035941 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRONIC APPARATUS BASED ON VOICE RECOGNITION AND MOTION RECOGNITION, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS APPLYING THE SAME - An electronic apparatus and a method for controlling thereof are provided. The method recognizes one of among a user voice and a user motion through one of among a voice recognition module and a motion recognition module, and if a user voice is recognized through the voice recognition module, performs a voice task corresponding to the recognized user voice, and, if a user motion is recognized through the motion recognition module, performs a motion task corresponding to the recognized user motion. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035942 | ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING USER INTERFACE THEREOF - An electronic apparatus and a method for providing a user interface (UI) thereof are provided. Specifically, an electronic apparatus which displays an executable icon of an application which is controllable through voice recognition distinctively from an executable icon of an application which is uncontrollable through voice recognition in a voice task mode, and a method for providing UI thereof are provided. Some of the disclosed exemplary embodiments provide an electronic apparatus which is capable of recognizing a user voice command and a user motion gesture, and displays an executable icon of an application which is controllable through voice recognition and a name of the executable icon distinctively from an executable icon of an application which is uncontrollable through voice recognition and a name of the executable icon in a voice task mode, and a method for providing a UI thereof. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035943 | ENCODING DEVICE, DECODING DEVICE, ENCODING METHOD AND DECODING METHOD - Disclosed is an encoding device capable of improving decoded signal quality. A local search unit ( | 2013-02-07 |
20130035944 | PERSONALIZING COMMUNICATIONS BASED ON AN ESTIMATED SENSITIVITY LEVEL OF THE RECIPIENT - A “message broker” personalizes messages based on the recipient's estimated “privacy sensitivity.” By carefully estimating the sensitivity, the message broker can achieve the advantages of personalized messaging without incurring the disadvantages of offending or scaring away the recipient. In a first set of embodiments, messages are sent to a recipient, and information about the recipient's responses is collected and analyzed. The sensitivity level of the recipient is estimated based on this collected information. In a second set of embodiments, messages are sent that include an offer in which an incentive will be given to the recipient in exchange for allowing a certain type of access to specific information associated with the recipient. In a third set of embodiments, the message broker sends messages that request information associated with the recipient, but the messages do not include explicit offers to give incentives in exchange for the information. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035945 | Method for Increasing Patient Compliance With Screening While Reducing Associate Professional Liability - In accordance with the present invention, methods consistent with the present invention increase patient compliance with screening while reducing economic risk to health service providers. In one embodiment of the invention, a patient acknowledges informed consent for a particular medical service, agrees to arbitrate any disputes arising from the service, accepts an insurance policy, and undergoes the service. The premium for the insurance policy is a function of certain risk factors, including factors associated with the patient, the particular service, and the health service provider. In the event of an unfavorable outcome, the policy proceeds are paid to the patient. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035946 | SOCIAL NETWORKS FOR CARE COORDINATION, MANAGEMENT, AND SUPPORT AND HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE - Provided are social network based systems and methods for health information sharing and care management and coordination among different groups of individuals and organizations. The systems and methods are particularly useful for care management and coordination for patients having chronic diseases or conditions, including physical and mental illnesses. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035947 | CLAIMS PAYOUT SIMULATOR - Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of technologies that can be used to generate medical-claims simulations that can provide information about medical claims. In one exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, medical claims data is received, and a dynamic questionnaire is output. Selections of questionnaire options are received, and based on the medical claims data and the selection of the questionnaire options, at least one medical-claims simulation is generated. The dynamic questionnaire can be driven by user interaction and can enable users of the system to select, validate, and filter data, which can then be submitted for payment and mapping analysis. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035948 | Discharge summary method and apparatus for a physichart system - A diagnostic medical system management tool that emphasizes local data collection in a global clinical environment to create a cohesive network of computer systems. This invention automates the necessary relationship between caregivers and digital knowledge resources through a functional diagnostic interface. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035949 | Integrated wellness index and method of measuring overall wellness and treatment - A tool and method of diagnosis and treatment of a patient by employing an integrated wellness index to achieve maximum health and to determine the underlying causes of disease states. A wellness index assigns a point system for essential health factors to measure various health parameters and overall health of a patient and assist the tracking of a patient's health status over time. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035950 | MANAGEMENT OF PHARMACY KITS - A system for managing pharmacy kits comprises a reading station configured to read tag information from a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags associated with a pharmacy kit, and an information processing system operatively connected to the reading station and configured to receive the tag information from the reading station and determine a status of the pharmacy kit based on the tag information, a plurality of stored templates defining contents to be included in each of a plurality of pharmacy kits, and a plurality of kit records indicating the current contents of a plurality of pharmacy kits. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035951 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR REDUCING TRANSFUSIONS DURING OR AFTER SURGERY AND FOR IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE AND FUNCTION IN CHRONIC DISEASE - The present invention relates to methods of treating subjects preparing to undergo surgery or methods of treating chronic disease and methods for reducing transfusions and a computer readable storage medium and a physical computing device for carrying out these methods which include: a) receiving a profile of said subject, in a physical computing device, including a level of hemoglobin of said subject, level of creatinine of said subject, and information regarding current or past history of disease; b) applying said level of hemoglobin and said level of creatinine, in said physical computing device, to determine level of transfusion risk; c) applying said information regarding current or past history of disease of said subject, in said physical computing device, to determine level of comorbidity; d) applying said level of hemoglobin, said level of transfusion risk, and said level of comorbidity, in said physical computing device, to determine a patient care plan. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035952 | DRUG SUBSTANCE INTERACTION AND GENERIC SUBSTANCE INFORMATION RETRIEVAL - A data processing system configured for computer visualization of drugs for drug interaction information retrieval is disclosed. For each of multiple different substances and using a camera within the mobile or other computing device, imagery of at least one external characteristic of a physical body of the substance is acquired. An identity of each of the multiple different substances is determined based upon the at least one external characteristic from the acquired imagery. Drug interaction data is retrieved for each of the multiple different substances using the determined identities. Drug interaction data for at least one of the multiple different substances is correlated with at least one other of the multiple different substances. At least one generic substance and/or cost information of at least one of the multiple different substances is identified. The correlated drug interaction data, the at least one generic substance, and/or the cost information are displayed. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035953 | Provider Supply & Consumer Demand Management - Amongst other things, one or more requests is received from at least one consumer of services to consult with a service provider associated with a brokerage system and having a service provider profile that satisfies at least some attributes in a set of attributes. The consumer demand is measured for consultations with one or more service providers associated with the brokerage system and having service provider profiles that satisfy at least some attributes in the set of attributes. A supply of active service providers associated with the system and having service provider profiles that satisfy at least some attributes in the set of attributes is also measured. It is determined whether an imbalance exists between the consumer demand for and the supply of active service providers having service provider profiles that satisfy at least some attributes in the set of attributes. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035954 | Genomics-based alerting systems - A computer alert to system and apparatus is arranged about DNA sequence markers whereby the genome of a specific human subject is considered in view of a plurality of discrete rules to affect alerts which may be generated and transmitted in electronic form over standardized e-mail systems (Internet/SMTP protocol for example) to a user workstation which may be equipped with a browser or custom application (includes a special genome viewers, review tools; etc.). Alerting systems described in this disclosure included mechanical/a chemical systems for analyzing a human DNA sample to produce a genomic data set representing genetic indicators or markers on alleles of interest including those as well SNPs associated with important trial traits disease and characteristics. A genome dataset is stored as a portion of a data a record having a one-to-one correspondence with membership in a membership database. A dynamic rules that of its reality of discrete rules provides a query engine with logic which can be executed against membership data stored in accordance with standardized database procedures to produce a genomic result set from which appropriate alerts may be formed in an alert to module computer apparatus. These alerts may be characterized as including multimedia information and they may be prefer to play conveyed to membership with whom the underlying data is associated. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035955 | Method and System to deliver state of the art concierge medical services to healh care consumers via a control center and a network of mobile medical platforms - The method and system regard a medical concierge service combining a control center with a network of mobile medical platforms incorporating onsite and remote medical professionals, advanced medical, internet, videoconferencing, satellite, communication, computing, digital devices, electronic heath record and clean energy technologies to deliver state of the art medical services to patients at their chosen appointment time and location. The method and system increases access to healthcare, reduces associated costs and enhances traditional medical services while creating a here to unknown way of providing patient healthcare. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035956 | VISUALIZATION OF PATIENT TREATMENTS - Method, system, and computer program product for visualization of patient treatments are provided. The method includes: selecting a patient; retrieving data records of patients with similar conditions requiring treatment to the selected patient; and building a tree structure for display with nodes of treatment options and a temporal axis showing treatment results of the similar patients. The tree structure includes representing side effects of a treatment option at a node including a visualization of the strength of the side effect. The tree structure also includes providing edges between the nodes representing a length to progression of the condition requiring treatment. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035957 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR COMPUTER-ASSISTED REPRESENTATION AND/OR EVALUATION OF MEDICAL EXAMINATION DATA - Computer-assisted structuring of medical examination data and/or one or more examination data records is disclosed. A method of at least one embodiment includes providing at least one medical examination data record, which includes patient-specific data described textually and/or symbolically and/or at least one image data record created with the aid of a radiological examination device; providing at least one body model image, which represents a body model matching the examination data; and registering the at least one examination data record with the body model, wherein at least one position in the body model is assigned to the examination data record; the position being made known for interaction by way of a user interface. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035958 | KEYSTROKE CODED TEMPLATE FOR CREATING MEDICAL RECORDS - Disclosed is a medical record keeping system that includes a computer that operates a medical record software for maintaining patient records. The system may be operated in the following manner: (1) inputting an initial keystroke set that corresponds to the group consisting essentially of a symptom or negative review of systems, exam entries, or visit entries, (2) inputting a second keystroke set after the first keystroke set, the second keystroke set corresponds to a particular organ system or anatomical part, (3) inputting in a third keystroke set after the second keystroke set that pertains to a condition or medical observation. The steps of first typing, second typing, and third typing define the reference code, wherein the reference code results in the display of said at least one phrase. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035959 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TRACKING MEDICAL CARE - Methods and systems for tracking medical care are described. In an example embodiment, a method for ambulatory care tracking, comprises entering a chief complaint into an electronic file in a computing system, assigning a chief complaint point value based on the chief complaint, associating the chief complaint point value to the electronic file in the computing system, determining a further point value based on patient education, assigning the further point value based on the determination, adding, using a processor, the further point value to the chief complaint point value to generate a total point value, determining, using a processor, a level of service based on the total point value, and communicating, over an electromagnetic communication channel, the level of service to a billing system. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035960 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GROUPING CLAIM RECORDS ASSOCIATED WITH A PROCEDURE - A system and computer-implemented method for grouping medical records implements a multi-level analysis of the records. The level of analysis for ach record is determined based upon the time proximity of each record to the defining medical procedure or service (anchor procedure) to be analyzed. Claim records are processed to determine whether any of the records should be grouped with the anchor procedure into a procedure episode group (PEG) using the date of service for each claim record and a level of relationship between the claim records and the anchor procedure. The requisite level of relationship between the claim records and the anchor procedure depends upon the position of the records within the time window. Claim records having the requisite relationship level associated with the portion of the time window in which they fall are included in the PEG. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035961 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING USER CORRECTIONS TO MEDICAL FACT EXTRACTION - Techniques for applying user corrections to medical fact extraction may include extracting a first set of one or more medical facts from a first portion of text documenting a patient encounter. A correction to the first set of medical facts may be received from a user. The correction may identify a fact that should be associated with the first portion of the text. A second set of one or more medical facts may be extracted from a second portion of the text based at least in part on the user's correction to the first set of medical facts. Extracting the second set of facts may include extracting one or more facts similar to the identified fact from the second portion of the text. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035962 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING DATA RELATED TO GROUP BENEFIT INSURANCE HAVING CRITICAL ILLNESS COVERAGE - A computer system for processing data related to a group benefit insurance policy issued to a group policyholder to extend coverage to individual insureds and having a critical illness benefit includes a data storage device storing data indicative of: a plurality of categories of medical diagnoses; a plurality of diagnoses associated with each of the categories; a first occurrence value; a second occurrence value; and prior claims under the critical illness benefit by the insured. The system is configured to provide instructions for payment of the first occurrence value for a first diagnosis of an insured in a category, and the second occurrence value, which is less than the first occurrence value, for a second diagnosis of the insured in the same category. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035963 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN INSURANCE SERVICE PROVIDER AND MEDICAL SERVICE PROVIDER - The disclosure describes a method for prediction of functional dependencies between various factors involved in a payment given by an insurance service provider to a medical service provider for medical treatment of a patient comprising various steps like receiving input information wherein the input information comprises the basic factors involved in computation of the payment given by the insurance service provider to the medical service provider for the medical treatment of the patient. The received input information is then sorted based on some user selected basic factor and the sorted information is processed using data mining techniques to obtain the various functional dependencies between the basic factors. The determined functional dependencies are then displayed accordingly. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035964 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DATA PROCESSING FOR TERM LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES ISSUED BEFORE COMPREHENSIVE UNDERWRITING - A computer system for administering applications for term life insurance has a processor and a memory storage device in communication with the processor. The processor is configured to receive data indicative of application data and data indicative of a health of a proposed insured; based on the received data, determine whether the proposed insured is eligible, and generate an output signal to cause a policy to be generated and comprehensive underwriting to commence, the life insurance policy providing for a first premium rate for a first period after issue, and a second premium rate for a second period commencing on expiration of the first period, at least one of the second premium rate being determined based on data indicative of a result of comprehensive underwriting. Upon completion of comprehensive underwriting, data is generated for notification of results of comprehensive underwriting and the second premium rate to the insured. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035965 | Computer-Implemented Personal Information Manager Method And System - A computer-implemented method for mortality tracking The method includes electronically receiving contact information of a beneficiary of a life insurance policy. The method also includes electronically receiving a unique identifier of the policyholder of the life insurance policy. The method further includes periodically electronically searching mortality database records to obtain a periodic mortality search result. Upon occurrence of an aperiodic triggering event, the method may further aperiodically electronically search the mortality database records for the unique identifier of the policyholder to obtain an aperiodic mortality search result. The method may include verifying the deceased status of the policyholder upon occurrence of an indication that the policyholder being deceased according to the periodic mortality search result. The method further includes transmitting a deceased status notification to the beneficiary of the life insurance policy based on the policyholder being deceased according to the periodic or the aperiodic mortality search result. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035966 | MANAGEMENT OF ROOM CLEANING - Systems for management of room cleaning at an accommodation facility such as a hotel. The system records variables related to the occupancy of rooms at the facility and/or operational characteristics of the facility. Daily cleaning times are determined for rooms in accord with the variables. Daily cleaning plans are then determined for the facility in accord with the cleaning times. Cleaning staff carry out the plan and report their progress using conventional means such as the local telephone system or wireless PDAs. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035967 | DATA TRANSFER FROM A NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION TERMINAL TO A REMOTE SERVER WITH PRIOR AUTHENTICATION - A method for transmitting data between a mobile communication device and a server. The method includes running a mobile application on the mobile communication device. The mobile application is hosted on the mobile communication device through the server as a Software as a Service (SaaS). The method further includes transmitting data associated with the mobile application between the mobile communication device and the server, in which transmission of the data between the mobile communication device and the server is monitored through the server. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035968 | MOBILE TRANSACTIONS USING A GENERIC NFC SMART STICKER WITH AUTHENTICATION - A method for transmitting data between a mobile communication device and a server. The method includes running a mobile application on the mobile communication device. The mobile application is hosted on the mobile communication device through the server as a Software as a Service (SaaS). The method further includes transmitting data associated with the mobile application between the mobile communication device and the server, in which transmission of the data between the mobile communication device and the server is monitored through the server. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035969 | CLOUD BASED TICKETING - A method for transmitting data between a mobile communication device and a server. The method includes running a mobile application on the mobile communication device. The mobile application is hosted on the mobile communication device through the server as a Software as a Service (SaaS). The method further includes transmitting data associated with the mobile application between the mobile communication device and the server, in which transmission of the data between the mobile communication device and the server is monitored through the server. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035970 | MOBILE WALLET PROVIDER BASED NFC TRANSACTIONS - A method for transmitting data between a mobile communication device and a server. The method includes running a mobile application on the mobile communication device. The mobile application is hosted on the mobile communication device through the server as a Software as a Service (SaaS). The method further includes transmitting data associated with the mobile application between the mobile communication device and the server, in which transmission of the data between the mobile communication device and the server is monitored through the server. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035971 | Computing Systems And Methods For Statistically Characterizing An Organization - The present invention is directed to computing systems and methods for gathering, analyzing, and presenting information to statistically characterize an organization. In one aspect of the invention, a computing system includes computer readable medium(s) having characteristics regarding organizations, data showing how the characteristics relate to a first organization and showing how the characteristics relate to other organizations, and software for analyzing the data to determine distinctive characteristics of the first organization. The computing system includes processor(s) executing the software, which when executed causes the system to identify a first characteristic that, statistically more than any of the other characteristics, relates to the first organization more than it relates to other organizations. Various other aspects and embodiments of the invention are disclosed. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035972 | Monitoring Object System and Method of Operation - A system for monitoring objects comprises a first database, a second database, and a processor coupled to both the first and second databases. The first database comprises information representing monitoring requirements for a plurality of monitoring targets in an enterprise. The second database comprises information representing the actual state of monitoring for the monitoring targets in the enterprise. The processor is operable to compare the monitoring requirements for the plurality of monitoring targets in the enterprise with the actual state of monitoring for the monitoring targets in the enterprise, and determine any gaps in monitoring for the monitoring targets in the enterprise based at least in part on the comparison. The processor generates at least one monitoring deployment request identifying one or more monitoring tools to be deployed for the monitoring targets in the enterprise based at least in part on any determined gaps in monitoring. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035973 | ASSESSING GREEN IT MATURITY AND PROVIDING GREEN IT RECOMMENDATIONS - A Green IT maturity model (GITM) provides a framework in which the maturity of an organization's green computing effort can be assessed. Based on green computing practice data, an assessment tool implementing a GITM model can be used to calculate the competency levels of multiple green computing pillars such as data center, end user computing, IT asset lifecycle, IT service management and people practices pillars. The determined competency levels can be used to determine a consolidated Green IT maturity level for the organization. A Green IT baseline of an organization can be determined and carbon emission reductions relative to the baseline can be used in determining the competency levels. The assessment tool can use the competency and maturity levels to recommend green computing initiatives and to estimate cost savings, implementation costs and carbon emission reductions for the recommended initiatives. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035974 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIA FOR INNOVATION CO-CREATION - Systems, methods, and computer-readable code stored on a non-transitory media for creating an innovation co-creation ecosystem by one or more computing devices, including designing an innovation co-creation ecosystem for an innovation drive by a primary innovator; providing a co-creation constituent selection framework configured to assist the primary innovator with selection of a set of co-creation constituents; and hosting the innovation co-creation ecosystem. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035975 | CROSS-MEDIA ATTRIBUTION MODEL FOR ALLOCATION OF MARKETING RESOURCES - A software facility that analyzes consumer interactions with one or more marketing campaigns and the results of those interactions to generate a cross-media or cross-channel attribution model representing the true impact of marketing resource allocation decisions is provided. The facility collects, from a plurality of sources, information representing consumer interactions with marketing campaigns and any results of those interactions. The facility aggregates the information to assess or determine the behavior of consumers with respect to different marketing campaigns and marketing channels. The facility analyzes the information according to varying depths or levels of channel granularity to generate models representative of the true impact of resources allocated to each channel or sub-channel on the performance or effectiveness of the marketing campaign. The facility or other processes may use the generated models to inform future marketing resource allocation decisions. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035976 | PROCESS MINING FOR ANOMALOUS CASES - A method for process mining comprises accessing a base model for a process, generating a set of rules characterizing relations between tasks in an event log, specifying tasks that together fail to complete an instance of the process, and applying an abductive reasoning process using the set of rules and the specified tasks to identify one or more ways of completing the process instance. The method can output ways of completing the process instance that are not consistent with any single trace within the event log corresponding to a completed process instance. The method can be used for operation support, monitoring and guiding operation support, or assisting in sorting of events by case. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035977 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING A CUSTOM REVENUE CYCLE MODEL WITH AUTOMATED LEAD MOVEMENT - A system and method for generating a custom revenue cycle model with automated lead movement are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving user input, wherein the user input comprises at least one of data related to a stage, data related to a success path definition, and data related to transition rules for lead movement, wherein the stage is a revenue stage or a detour stage; generating a custom revenue cycle model based on the user input; storing the custom revenue cycle model; providing for automated lead movements based on the transition rules; and providing for automated tracking of lead movements in the custom revenue cycle model. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035978 | MANAGEMENT OF MATERIALS ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE - A computer implemented route determination system comprises a route generator, a cost scenario generator, and a report generator. The route generator is configured to define a plurality of routes on which move a material between a construction site and a destination site of a plurality of possible destination sites. The cost scenario generator is configured to determine cost scenarios associated with the plurality of routes. The report generator is configured to generate a report which identifies the routes and the cost scenarios for the destination site. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035979 | CROSS-PLATFORM AUDIENCE MEASUREMENT WITH PRIVACY PROTECTION - Systems and methods for performing market research studies using techniques for maximizing privacy for persons. Exposure data relating to television, radio, outdoor advertising, digital signage, newspapers and magazines, retail store visits, interne usage and panelists' beliefs and opinions relating to consumer products and services are received along with facial image data that is secured to allow only partial reproduction of the image data and/or otherwise minimize further identification of the person beyond a market study identity. Further privacy features are employed to allow for blind participation in a given market study. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035980 | METHOD FOR MEASURING MARKET SHARE FOR A COMMUNICATION SERVICE PROVIDER - The invention relates to a method of estimating market share for a communication service provider comprising collecting periodic packet data usage from a plurality of websites including details of the communication service provider used to access the websites; determining the market share of a communication service provider at the plurality of websites; and extrapolating the market share of the communication service provider at the plurality of websites to estimate the market share. Another method of estimating change in market share for communication service providers is also disclosed. The method comprises of collecting periodic packet data usage for a user from at least one user device which includes data on the communication service provider or providers used to access the internet from that device. The method further comprises of collecting periodic packet data usage from at least one website which includes details of the communication service providers used to access the website and co-relating the packet data usage for the user and from the website to measure the change in market share for the communication service providers. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035981 | SOCIAL NETWORKS GAMES CONFIGURED TO ELICIT RESEARCH DATA AS PART OF GAME PLAY - Techniques are described for conducting market research via interactive game play mechanics. A game platform may allow a market research sponsor to create and publish online games which can identify latent consumer sentiment (and other market research data), while simultaneously providing an entertaining and engaging experience for the game participants. The games may be tailored such that elements of game play elicit responses from participants that reveal the desired market research data, e.g., consumer product awareness, consumer sentiment, brand preferences, loyalty, trends in awareness and sentiment, etc. Providing an engaging online experience provides an element of situational distraction, leading to more authentic responses from the participants as well as greater participation rates. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035982 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING TARGETED ADVERTISING UTILIZING SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITY - Methods and systems for identifying, retrieving and analyzing social media data pertinent to a business' customers to derive personal information that can be used for targeted advertising, thereby helping the business improve and grow. A scanning engine searches social media spaces to identify the presence of a business' customers. A data engine will collect the social activity data from the various social networking sites based upon social presence identified by the scanning engine. An analytic engine will analyze the information collected by the data engine. This will give a business a 360 degree view of its business and customers and help the business to find the cause behind the effect and develop the right strategy to improve and grow its business. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035983 | VALIDATING CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS BASED ON SOCIAL MEDIA POSTINGS - A system may validate customer complaints about products. The system may include a computer data processing system configured to: query a computer system for social media postings made in a social media network system about the products; determine how widespread each complaint is based on the results of the query; and store information indicative of the determination. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035984 | DISTRIBUED SENSOR METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS - A retail store is equipped with plural shelf-mounted sensors, which are employed in discerning a shopper's interests. The discerned information is used, e.g., in later online interactions with the shopper. A variety of other novel features and arrangements are also detailed. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035985 | E-Commerce Consumer-Based Behavioral Target Marketing Reports - A system and methods which enable modeling of end consumer interests based on online activity and producing e-commerce reports is described. The method includes scoring and classifying interests and preferences of consumers in relation to various items being offered as function of time and utilizing such scores to predict purchasing activity and revenue yield for n-dimensional combinations of interest for generation of consumer lists for target marketing and merchandising. The method also includes converse modeling of the performance and behavioral profile of items offered as a function of consumer activity. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035986 | DETERMINING PRODUCT CONFIGURATION AND ALLOCATIONS BASED ON SOCIAL MEDIA POSTINGS - A system may determine configurations and/or allocations of products. The system may include a computer data processing system that may be configured to: query a computer system for social media postings made in a social media network system that are about one or more of the products; determine which of the products are likely to be most in demand based on the results of the query; and store information indicative of the determination. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035987 | Employee and Customer Loyalty and Rewards Programs, Satisfaction Metrics and Their Methods of Use - Computer-implemented methods for providing real-time customer, patient or consumer and employee metrics include: providing at least one strategic goal; providing at least one metric associated with the at least one strategic goal; providing at least one communication channel between a customer and a company; providing at least one communication code; utilizing the at least one communication code to access the at least one communication channel; providing a survey tool to the customer using the at least one communication channel; capturing data from the survey tool in a database; converting the captured data to the at least one metric; and providing the at least one metric on a dashboard application. An executable software application that implements the computer-implemented method disclosed is also contemplated. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035988 | Integrated Gourmet Item Data Collection, Recommender and Vending System and Method - Items—including gourmet products—are evaluated and rated by participants in a controlled event, which can be coordinated by software locally or at a dedicated website. Event data, including item scores and participant scores can be shared with vendors, merchants and other commercial entities associated with the products. Promotional incentives from such entities for the products (and related products) can then be directly targeted and provided to participants and other members of the public. The participant's activities can also be collected and disseminated to affiliates/friends of the participants through social networking sites, personalized web pages, etc. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035989 | CONDUCTING MARKET RESEARCH USING SOCIAL GAMES - Techniques are described for conducting market research via interactive game play mechanics. A game platform may allow a market research sponsor to create and publish online games which can identify latent consumer sentiment (and other market research data), while simultaneously providing an entertaining and engaging experience for the game participants. The games may be tailored such that elements of game play elicit responses from participants that reveal the desired market research data, e.g., consumer product awareness, consumer sentiment, brand preferences, loyalty, trends in awareness and sentiment, etc. Providing an engaging online experience provides an element of situational distraction, leading to more authentic responses from the participants as well as greater participation rates. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035990 | Software solution for Visual Sales process simulation and management - A method that allows sales management to build a predictable sales model is disclosed. The invention is a software solution that integrates corporate sales strategy with sales and pre-sales process allowing sales management to build a Predictable Sales Model for managing sales. With built-in features, analytics, intelligence and configurable templates the invention reduces implementation cost and time and provides a visual sales process simulation and management solution. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035991 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING VIRTUAL INCENTIVES FOR REAL WORLD ACTIVITIES BETWEEN MULTIPLE USERS - Real-world physical activity—of a user of a virtual space—may be rewarded with a virtual incentive including one or more virtual benefits in a virtual space. The virtual incentive may be associated with a particular user in the virtual space. The particular user may enter and/or select other users to obtain a virtual benefit, e.g. for their participation in the real-world physical activity that formed the basis for the reward. After the one or more virtual incentives are determined for one or more users, the virtual incentives are distributed to the one or more users. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035992 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE MORE EFFICIENT UTILIZATION AND CONSERVATION OF ENERGY AND WATER RESOURCES - A method of and system for providing a consumable resource such as electricity, natural gas, oil, air or water together with an incentive program of variable resource points to reward the buyer for not using the resource being provided. The invention monitors utilization of the resource at a location, and then determines a type and quantity of variable resource points to be provided to an account associated with the location or with a participant by analyzing the monitored resource utilization with respect to a plurality of varying conditions (time-variant, location-variant, cost-variant etc.). The resource points are then stored in an account associated with the location or with a participant for future use. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035993 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ONLINE QUOTING - Methods and systems for online quoting are disclosed. The method may include receiving a user request for price quotes for services. Based on the use request, service providers associated with the services may be selected, and the price quotes may be calculated based on predetermined parameters of the service providers. When calculated, the price quotes may be provided to the user. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035994 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHARING CONTENT ON THIRD-PARTY MOBILE APPLICATIONS - Methods and systems are provided for allowing users to recommend advertisements displayed in a third-party application running on a user device while not granting the third-party application privileges to send such recommendations on behalf of the user. A social network application installed on the user device, and separate from the third-party application, acts as a proxy for advertisement recommendation requests (e.g., indications that a user wishes to recommend an advertisement displayed), and a user is required to confirm all such recommendation actions. In this manner, a third-party application (e.g., a “malicious third-party application) cannot send advertisement recommendation requests, and/or requests to undo such recommendations, on its own as if it were the user. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035995 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACCESSING A HUB - A system and method of accessing at least one hub is provided, wherein the system displays a selectable item within an interface, and receives selection of the selectable item from a user of the interface. A first type of selection by the user causes a function to be performed, and a second type of selection by the user causes user specific information to be accessed and used in bidirectional communication with the hub. | 2013-02-07 |
20130035996 | SOCIAL ADVERTISING TECHNOLOGY (SO-AD-TEC) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADVERTISING FOR AND IN DOCUMENTS, AND OTHER SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACCESSING, STRUCTURING, AND EVALUATING DOCUMENTS - The invention relates to system to access advertisement and/or associated information that can be stored in a So-ad-tec system. The So-ad-tec system includes an access unit which is designed to process at least one access having resources to access details of at least one schema or the information derived thereof or the schema ( | 2013-02-07 |
20130035997 | MANAGING INCENTIVES - For managing incentives, a management module creates an incentive record that includes a milestone, a target completion time, and an incentive amount. A communication module communicates the incentive record to a recipient device and receives a confirmation from the recipient device. The communication module further receives a status from the recipient device. The management module confirms a completion of the milestone and the communication module transfers a payment in response to confirming the completion of the milestone. | 2013-02-07 |