16th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 53 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090099928 | Method for Video Game Advertising - An advertising method enabling advertisers and marketers to insert computer graphics animation into targeted interludes of video and computer games where gamers will have the opportunity to briefly use their game characters' attributes in an interactive mini game while also being exposed to the advertising company's product. The setting of the video or computer game can also be replicated in the advertising method. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099929 | Intelligent clearing network - In an embodiment, a system for redeeming coupons, promotions, or incentives comprises a network through which a Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal communicates, through a POS controller, with an Intelligent Clearing Network (ICN) server. One or both of the POS terminal and POS controller are installed with POS bridge software. The ICN server is configured to run a real time software application while in communication with the POS terminal, wherein the POS terminal transmits coupon transaction information including universal product codes to the ICN server via the network. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099930 | Participation profiles of virtual world players - 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 activities including transactions to acquire virtual products, virtual services, and/or virtual items of value. Feedback may be provided and records kept regarding the virtual world activities and transactions. The participant or player may also have an opportunity of engaging in related real-world activities and transactions. In some implementations, multiple players at different locations can be involved in the virtual world and real-world activities and transactions. Some embodiments include arrangements for real-world informational data to be made available in the virtual world environment to a participant or player, based on virtual world activities related to a topic of interest to a real-world entity. Other embodiments provide for making a profile record for use by a real-world entity, wherein the profile record may include particular types of participation activity by a participant or player in the virtual world environment. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099931 | System, method and computer program for assocating advertisements with web or wap pages - System, method and computer program for associating displayable data, such as advertisements, with Web and WAP pages being delivered from Internet or mobile services to mobile or fixed terminals via a communications network. An intermediate box, which may take the form of, or be resident in, a router, a proxy, a gateway, a server or other network element involved in routing Internet communications, analyzes communications related to Web or WAP browsing being directed to the mobile or fixed terminals and modifies part of the communications to include associated advertisements on Web or WAP pages or to add additional Web or WAP pages for information requests, e.g., interstitial pages. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099932 | System and method for searching network users - System, method and computer program for targeting advertising in which advertiser can access a search engine and input search parameters to cause the search engine to search one or more databases based on the input search parameters and identify individuals meeting the search parameters. Each database may contain data about individuals to which advertisements can be directed and is generated based, in part, on known information or the individuals as well as on events performed by each individual when using their terminal, e.g., when talking, messaging, browsing, blogging and responding to displayed advertisements. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099933 | Total value bidding - Evaluating values of different terms in online auctions is disclosed. An interest rate and a period from a buyer for a lot are obtained. The lot has a predetermined value. A first bid is received from a first bidder and a second bid is received from a second bidder on the lot. The first and second bids each have a payment time and a rebate. The first bid is transformed into a first value and the second bid is transformed into a second value using the interest rate, period, and predetermined value from the buyer and the payment times and rebates from the first and second bidders. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099934 | METHOD AND SOFTWARE FOR DISPLAYING ADVERTISEMENTS ON A WEB PAGE - Some embodiments disclosed herein are a method and a system for displaying an advertisement on a web page in which advertisement data displayed on the same web page from among different advertisement data can check mutual existence of the displayed advertisement data, thereby displaying another advertisement data different from the displayed advertisement data. The method for displaying another advertisement data includes recording and maintaining advertisement data including respective identification numbers in an advertisement database, loading the advertisement data from the advertisement database to a local computer memory of a user connected with a web page, identifying advertisement data having an identification number among the advertisement data loaded to the local computer memory, identifying predetermined option which may comprise predetermined display advertisement data from the advertisement database when the advertisement data having the identification number exists, and displaying the display advertisement data on the web page. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099935 | Weight Based Upselling - Weight based upselling, including receiving a purchase request for an item from a customer; determining a weight of the item; identifying, in dependence upon the weight of the item, a shipping weight range and a shipping cost for the item, where the shipping weight range includes a maximum shipping weight; calculating a difference between the weight of the item and the maximum shipping weight in the shipping weight range; selecting an upsell item in dependence upon the difference between the weight of the item and the maximum shipping weight in the shipping weight range; and offering the upsell item to the customer, including offering to ship both the item and the upsell item for only the identified shipping cost. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099936 | USING VISUAL IMAGES TRANSFERRED FROM WIRELESS COMPUTING DEVICE DISPLAY SCREENS - Within a wireless computing device, a method of conducting commerce can include receiving a user input in the wireless computing device specifying an account to which a proposed transaction is to be billed and identifying contact information for a billing entity according to the user specified account. The billing entity can manage the account. An authorization can be requested from the billing entity via a wireless communications link established using the contact information. The method also can include receiving the authorization from the billing entity via the wireless communications link, generating a visual image which identifies the billing entity and represents the authorization received from the billing entity, and presenting the visual image upon the display screen of the wireless computing device. Accordingly, a visual image reader can read the displayed visual image. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099937 | Product ordering apparatus - In one embodiment of a product ordering apparatus, information of a service entrusted from a service-providing company is selected from an operating unit, and when product information in that service is selected from the operating unit, the service-providing company is designated, the format of an order form is determined by designating the service-providing company, personal information and store information are automatically input along with product information to data of the determined order form, and after a payment procedure in a settlement device, order form data in which the information has been automatically entered is automatically sent by facsimile to a device of the service-providing company due to a request from the settlement device, and after sending the facsimile, when outputting a communications results report, the contents of the order form are printed on paper as a copy together with the communications results report. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099938 | Web based communication of information with reconfigurable format - A system of using an interactive device such as an e-mail pager to obtain information from a publicly available source, such as the Internet. The e-mail pager may send information in its native format to a service that acts as an intermediary. That service takes the information and uses it to assemble a request to the actual information source, such as a Web page being accessed. If a web page is being accessed, the request is in HTML, and may include personal logon information. The response from the web page is also in HTML, and this information is received by the service, and salient information is taken from the HTML file. The information is reformatted, e.g. according to a template, into the e-mail pager's native format, and sent to the pager. Another embodiment describes opening multiple pages, and assembling their content into a single web page. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099939 | CONFIGURABLE INTELLIGENT COUNTDOWN CLOCK FOR ONLINE AUCTIONS - This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for dynamically counting down to an on-line auction end time. The method includes initiating a countdown clock with an end time that corresponds to the on-line auction end time, and accessing an auction server to obtain data used to refresh a current time of the countdown clock. The auction server is accessed at an incrementally faster refresh rate as the on-line auction end time is approached. The method further includes presenting, based on the refresh data obtained from accessing the auction server, an updated countdown clock. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099940 | PROVIDING A MARKETPLACE FOR WEB SERVICES - A method, system, and computer-readable medium is described for facilitating interactions between computing systems, such as by providing an electronic Web service (“WS”) marketplace via which third-party WS providers make their WSes available to third-party WS consumers who locate and purchase access to those WSes via the electronic marketplace. Some or all available WSes may have associated use prices and or non-price use conditions, and if so access to those WSes may be provided only if a consumer requesting access provides appropriate payment and otherwise satisfies the specified use conditions. In some situations, WS consumers may also purchase subscriptions to provide later access to registered WSes. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring it, and is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099941 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING CASH GIFTS IN AN ONLINE REGISTRY - A system and method for facilitating cash gifts by enabling a gift recipient to create an online gift registry which includes an option to allow gift givers to make cash gifts in addition to traditional consumer goods from multiple merchants. Other applications of the system and method include, but are not limited to, allowing gift givers to contribute cash toward the purchase of an expensive item and an automated system for sending thank you cards to gift givers from gift recipients. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099942 | Identification of Discrepancies in Actual and Expected Inventories in Computing Environment having Multiple Provisioning Orchestration Server Pool Boundaries - A system for establishing and maintaining inventories of computing environment assets comprising one or more custom collector interfaces that detect movement of assets from one environment to another, and an inventory scanner which modifies inventories for each environment based on monitored asset movements. The present invention is of especial benefit to autonomic and on-demand computing architectures. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099943 | Item Position Indicator and Optimized Item Retrieval for a Sensor Equipped Storage Unit - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for communicating the shelf position of an item within a storage unit. An item to be located in the storage unit is identified. The storage unit system determines the shelf position of the identified item. The system then communicates the shelf position of the identified item to the user. If the user requests multiple items, the optimal sequence of retrieval for the items is determined based on a user configurable algorithm. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099944 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREPAID BIOMETRIC REDEMPTION ACCOUNTS - A system and method of offering a redemption account that allows users to purchase in advance and subsequently redeem products and services from one or more vendors that are affiliated with the system. The present invention imparts a process by which users enrolled in a biometric authorization system can access a redemption account for advance purchased products and services by submitting their biometric data. Information stored in the user record can then be utilized to enable the fulfillment of the advance purchase. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099945 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DIRECTORY-BASED PROGRAMMING - A method for integrating assets of an automated system includes defining base services of the automated system. A directory of assets within the automated system is provided. A common name space associated with each asset in the directory is also provided. Each asset in the directory is linked using the common name space. The assets are integrated by extending at least one asset to another asset to perform a base service of the automated system. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099946 | Methods and systems for valuing embedded options - Methods and systems are disclosed for valuing a financial obligation having an embedded option. The method includes determining a value of the embedded option, converting the embedded option value to a target basis representing the yield difference between the financial obligation having the embedded option and a corresponding financial instrument without an embedded option, determining an actual basis between the financial obligation and the corresponding financial instrument; and determining a current value of the financial obligation based on the difference between the target basis and the actual basis. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099947 | System and method for electronic funds payment - A system and method for electronic payment in a computer payment network. The system comprises a choice engine communicatively connected to a computer payment network for electronically providing a purchaser with an option to select a funding source for a purchase. The funding source is selected pre-purchase, during purchase, post-purchase, or a combination thereof. The founding source is a liquid funding account or a credit vehicle. The purchaser may use a universal payment device to make the purchase. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099948 | Two-Stage Estimation of Real Estate Price Movements for High Frequency Tradable Indexes in a Scarce Data Environment - Indexes of commercial property prices face much scarcer transactions data than housing indexes, yet the advent of tradable derivatives on commercial property places a premium on both high frequency and accuracy of such indexes. The dilemma is that with scarce data a low-frequency return index (such as annual) is necessary to accumulate enough sales data in each period. This invention presents an approach to address this problem using a two-stage procedure with frequency conversion, by first estimating lower-frequency indexes staggered in time, and then applying a generalized inverse estimator to convert from lower to higher frequency return series. The two-stage procedure can improve the accuracy of high-frequency indexes in scarce data environments, and also can mitigate an errors-in-variables problem that arises at very high frequency even with plentiful data (e.g., monthly indexes). In this paper the method is demonstrated and analyzed via simulation analysis and by application to empirical commercial property repeat-sales data. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099949 | Reallocation - This invention relates to hedge fund indexing in general and methods and systems for constructing and maintaining investable hedge fund indices in particular. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099950 | Index Rebalancing - This invention relates to hedge fund indexing in general and methods and systems for constructing and maintaining investable hedge fund indices in particular. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099951 | ACQUISITION OF ONLINE AUCTION ITEMS THROUGH A GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM - In an example embodiment, a method is provided. The method may comprise receiving an auction item identifier from a global positioning system (GPS) apparatus. Auction data associated with the auction item identifier is accessed and transmitted to a voice portal server. The voice portal server may call a telephone number and receive a request to acquire the auction item. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099952 | Trading System for Handling an Order Matrix - An exchange system and a method for trading orders on an exchange market and a related broker workstation. One or more user defined order matrixes allows a user to design a trading strategy by manually, or by means of algorithms using current and/or historical market data, determine trading parameters such as part order size, price level, time delay between consecutive part orders. An order having a total volume and at least one such order matrix associated therewith is received from a market participant. The order matrix specifies predetermined portions of the order's total volume. A first portion of the order's total volume is determined in accordance with the order matrix and information is sent to display the that portion to the market. A next portion of the order's total volume is generated in accordance with the order matrix and information is then sent to display that portion to the market. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099953 | METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT, AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING REVERSE AUCTION TRANSPORT SERVICES - A method, computer program product, and apparatus for providing reverse auction services are provided. A reverse auction request for transportation or a reverse auction request for delivery is received from a communications device. Geographical location information of an origination location and a destination location for the reverse auction request for transportation or delivery is received from the communications device. The reverse auction request for transportation or delivery is transmitted. Bids to the reverse auction request for transportation or delivery are received. The bids to the request for transportation or delivery are transmitted to the communications device. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099954 | Systems and Methods for Managing Zoning Information - A computer system and method that enables a user to meet the appropriate zoning, special use permit, and variance requirements for one or more zoning jurisdictions. The user may query a database for the zoning requirements and zoning requirement changes, facilitate the zoning processes, and generate deliverables for the various jurisdictions. An applicant of a zoning project may request and receive bids from contractors on the applicant's zoning project. The bid request is automatically populated with the relevant jurisdictional requirements. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099955 | Convex parimutuel contingent claim market mechanism - A convex paramutuel call auction implemented at a central market organizer computer includes receiving orders from market participants, calculating a quantity of accepted bids for each of the orders, and communicating to the participants the calculated quantity of accepted bids for each of the orders. Each order includes a specification by a participant of contingent claims on outcomes of a future event, a limit bid price, and a limit bid quantity. The calculation involves maximizing an objective function given by an approximate profit to the market organizer plus a weighted logarithmic penalty function. Because the formulation is convex, the solution may be computed in polynomial time using standard techniques, such as a path-following algorithm. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099956 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND REPO DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT AND MARKET FOR CONDUCTING REPO SWAP/CFD TRANSACTIONS - A system and method for facilitating a “swap” between the floating and fixed rate markets, and a financial instrument and a market for trading such instruments, based on such transactions. The basis of this new swap/contract is to establish a fixed rate versus floating rate “swap” in the repo market. The floating rate is generally the daily broker averages, but the floating rate could be a quarterly or monthly rate. Quarterly or monthly “floaters” will be more popular in general collateral SWAP/CFD trades. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099957 | METHOD OF TRANSFERRING MORTGAGES AND LOANS - Embodiments of the present invention relate loan agreements, in which a second security may be substituted for an initial security. The substitution may be contingent upon specific characteristics, related to, for example, the second security, the outstanding loan, the initial loan, or the lender. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099958 | Method for use in determining the value of an automobile - Method for use in Determining the Value of an Automobile The present invention discloses a method for providing increased underlying value of an automobile based on the number of year(s) within a period of a conventional hire-purchase contract or term loan. Accordingly, the underlying value is increased each year within the said period and therefore the owner may re-sell the automobile at a higher price, prior or after completion of the hire-purchase contract or term loan. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099959 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF PREDICTING MORTGAGE PAYMENT RISK - A method for detecting a risk of payment default comprises receiving mortgage data associated with a mortgage application, the mortgage application associated with an applicant, determining a first score for the mortgage data based at least partly on one or more models that are based on data from a plurality of historical mortgage transactions and based on historical credit information related to the applicant, and generating data indicative of a risk of payment default based at least partly on the first score. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099960 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ANALYZING DATA - Information regarding individuals that fit a bad performance definition, such as individuals that have previously defaulted on a financial instrument or have declared bankruptcy, is used to develop a model that is usable to determine whether an individual that does not fit the bad performance definition is more likely to subsequently default on a financial instrument or to declare bankruptcy. The model may be used to generate a score for each individual, and the score may be used to segment the individual into a segment of a segmentation structure that includes individuals with related scores, where segments may include different models for generating a final risk score for the individuals assigned to the particular segments. Thus, the segment to which an individual is assigned, which may be determined based at least partly on the score assigned to the individual, may affect the final risk score that is assigned to the individual. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099961 | Transaction Processing Method, Apparatus and System - The present invention relates to transaction processing, for processing of payments between payer's (usually individual payers) and payee's (usually merchants. Conventionally, a payment transaction involves a user's account details being provided to a merchant device, e.g. by swiping a card in the card swipe of the merchant device. The merchant device then prepares a transaction message including information such as the user's account ID, merchant ID and payment information and forwards that message to a transaction processing system, which may comprise a transaction acquirer and an issuing bank. The transaction processing system approves the payment and returns confirmation to the merchant. In the present invention a device associated with the payer, which in a preferred embodiment is a suitably adapted mobile telephone, becomes involved in the payment transaction process. At one level, the transaction processing system requests from the payer electronic device confirmation that the transaction should proceed and the payer keys in an appropriate PIN to authorise the transaction. At another level, all the transaction processing information is provided from the payer electronic device to the transaction processing system and the transaction processing system or the payer electronic device then confirm that the transaction is authorised to the merchant device. This takes the burden of transaction processing off the merchant and also increases the security of the transaction as the payer is in control. In a further embodiment, the payer electronic device may also upload listings of products and select products at the same time as paying for them, the payee (merchant) being advised of the selected product. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099962 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING CARBON CREDITS - A processor-performed method of facilitating the creation and sale of carbon credits. The method includes enrolling a plurality of carbon credits in a database. Each credit is associated with an account of a creator of the credit and with a project for generating the credit. The method includes determining whether one of the one or more projects is registered in a climate action registry; and, based on the determining, registering in the registry a validated credit associated with the registered project and including the registered credit in an account of an aggregator. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099963 | Tagged Products And Uses Thereof For After Point-Of-Sale Revenue Sharing - Methods are presented for providing after point-of-sale revenue sharing via tagged software. The methods provided allow for revenue sharing when products or services are provided in the future, or when products are upgraded in the future. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099964 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING FUNDS TO A BENEFICIARY - In a method for transferring funds from a client in one country to a beneficiary in a second country, the client purchases an activation card from a retailer and the retailer sends funds corresponding to the purchase amount to a service provider account at a sending bank. The service provider obtains validation information from the client identifying the card as well as beneficiary identifying information, and confirms the fund transfer to the sending bank. Funds are then sent from the sending bank to a receiving bank in the second country, and placed in an account for the benefit of the beneficiary. The beneficiary is provided with a debit card which can be used to access the funds. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099965 | PREPAID EXPENSE CARD MANAGEMENT PLATFORM - In embodiments of the present invention capabilities are described for a prepaid expense card management platform, where the management platform may be presented as a graphical user interface. The prepaid expense card management platform allows businesses to increase spending control and decrease overhead time associated with the administering of reimbursement expenditures. Controls enabled include funds allocation, funds transfer, user account administration, user access, spend rules, reports generation, usage profiles, conditional access, time usage restrictions, location usage restrictions, settlements processing, and alerts. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099966 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VERIFYING USE OF A FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT - A system of verifying a purported registrant's ownership or control of a payment instrument includes a communication device, a memory and a processor coupled to the communication device and to the memory. A payment instrument verification module stored in the memory and executable by the processor is adapted to receive information relating to the payment instrument from a registrant, initiate a financial transaction involving the payment instrument via the communication device, generate a dispute amount for the financial transaction, receive via the communication device a notification from a financial institution of the registrant that the financial transaction has been disputed by a comparison amount and compare the comparison amount with the dispute amount for purposes of verifying the payment instrument. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099967 | HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, KEY MANAGEMENT SERVER AND METHOD FOR MANAGING KEY, AND ENCRYPTING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ENCRYPTING VITAL SIGN DATA - Provided is a health care system including a key management server that receives from a server a request for a decryption key, with first identification information identifying a measuring apparatus, second identification information identifying vital sign data, and third identification information identifying the server. The key management server generates the decryption key using the first identification information, and stores fourth identification information identifying a server predetermined as a destination of the decryption key, and fifth identification information indicating the category of the vital sign data in correspondence with the fourth identification information. The key management server transmits the decryption key to the server, when the received third identification information matches the fourth identification information, and the received second identification information matches the fifth identification information. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099968 | MUSIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS - Music is blanket transmitted to each customer's computer-based user station. Customers preselect from a list of available music in advance using an interactive screen selector, and pay only for music that they choose to have recorded for unlimited playback. An antipiracy “ID tag” is woven into the recorded music so that any illegal copies therefrom may be traced to the purchase transaction. Music is transmitted on a fixed schedule or through an active scheduling process that monitors music requests from all or a subset of satellite receivers and adjust scheduling according to demand for various CD's. In those instances where transmission interruptions result in data loss, the system downloads the next transmission of the requested CD and uses both transmissions to produce a “good copy”. In conjunction to the blanket transmission, an automated CD manufacturing facility may be provided to manufacture CD's and distribute them by ground transportation. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099969 | Cashless Online Marketplace For Groups And Charities - A cashless online marketplace for the transaction of goods and services. A computer implemented method of acquiring membership, donating and acquiring goods/services via the Internet are described. A computer-implemented method for conducting a cashless online transaction is described, generally comprising the steps of a donor posting an item for donation at a sum of points, an acquirer offering to acquire the item, the donor accepting the acquirer's offer to acquire the item, deducting the sum of points from an account of the acquirer, transferring the item from the donor to the acquirer, notifying the acquirer that the item has been transferred, the acquirer responding to the notification that the item has been transferred by either accepting or disputing the cashless online transaction, and closing the cashless online transaction. Steps wherein the acquirer identifies the item to acquire, the acquirer specifying a transfer option for transfer of the item from the donor to the acquirer from one or more transfer options provided by the donor. An acquirer can respond within a specified period and dispute the transaction. A dispute may result in loss of points in the acquirer's account or the donor's account, or a demerit accruing in the donor's membership record. Upon a specified number of demerits a donor can be prevented from further donating items at the cashless online marketplace. Embodiments addressing the needs and benefits for groups and charitable organizations are disclosed. Apparatus, system and medium embodiments are also disclosed. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099970 | Multivariate Blind Bidding Negotiation Support System Rewarding Smallest Last Session Move - A multi-issue, multiparty computer-based blind-bidding system and method give an incentive for moving quickly to the zone of agreement. Confidential information is managed by a neutral site. After receiving optimistic proposals from the parties, the system generates visible suggestions, which are potential agreements whose values are derived from party preference information. Parties can see the suggestions generated by the system, but are “blind” to a confidential acceptance that any other party may indicate with respect to any package. Parties negotiate in a series of sessions where parties reach an agreement at the end of a particular session if they have accepted at least one same potential agreement. If parties have mutually accepted more than one same potential agreement by the end of the session, the agreement is determined by an algorithm that favors the party who moved the shortest relative distance during the session that just completed. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099971 | Methods and systems for marketing distressed inventory - Methods and systems are disclosed for marketing distressed inventory. In one aspect, a method is disclosed for marketing distressed inventory that may be performed by a distressed inventory system. The method may include receiving distressed inventory data from at least one supplier reflecting available distressed inventory and receiving a request from a client. Moreover, the method may include determining a relationship between the request and the available distressed inventory and notifying the client of the available distressed inventory. Further, the method may include receiving an indication that the client has accepted one or more terms for receiving the available distressed inventory, and reserving the available distressed inventory for the client. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099972 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUCTION OR SALES OF DELIVERABLE PREPARED FOOD VIA THE INTERNET - A method and system for auctioning or sales of deliverable prepared food via the Internet permit customers to purchase or bid on prepared food items. A food preparation and delivery portion of the system includes a delivery vehicle, which may have a mobile kitchen for the preparation of food items en-route. The location of the delivery vehicle is determined from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver in the vehicle or via another location-finding mechanism. Food items with an estimated time of arrival (ETA) is displayed on a web page that provides an interface for purchase or bidding. Bidding may be made for the actual food item purchase or for a scheduled delivery time. Items may be re-auctioned, causing the delivery of a food item to be transferred to another bidder. Audio and/or visual communication with an ordering point and/or delivery vehicle may be provided in the user interface. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099973 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING TRADERS FROM MANIPULATING ELECTRONIC TRADING MARKETS - Systems and methods are provided to control gaming in electronic trading markets. These systems and methods alleviate the problem of a seller or buyer trying to act on a trader's original bid or offer only to trade at an unfavorable level after the trader changes the bid or offer. A pricing method suspends trading for a period of time if a price difference between two bids or offers by the same trader is too great. A timing method prevents a trader from canceling or replacing a bid or offer for a period of time. These methods provide a more fair and efficient way of executing electronic trades. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099974 | System and method for attributing performance, risk and risk-adjusted performance of an investment portfolio to custom factors - Systems and methods for attributing return, risk, and risk-adjusted performance for an investment portfolio. Residual factors for the investment portfolio may be determined based on a matrix of custom factors. The residual factors may correspond to a matrix of factor exposures for the portfolio that may be obtained by orthogonalizing true factors for the portfolio to the matrix of custom factors. The return of the portfolio may be attributed to the custom factors, the residual factors, and idiosyncratic effects. The risk of the portfolio may be attributed to the custom factors, the residual factors, and the idiosyncratic effects. The risk-adjusted performance may be attributed to the custom factors, the residual factors, and idiosyncratic effects based on the return attributions and the risk attributions. The return attribution, risk attribution and risk-adjusted performance attribution for each of the custom factors, the residual factors, and the idiosyncratic effects may be stored. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099975 | STOCHASTIC CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTI-PERIOD CONSUMPTION - The present invention relates to dynamic optimization of system control over time. The need for dynamic optimization arises in many settings, as diverse as solar car power consumption during a multi-day race and retirement portfolio management. We disclose a reformulation of the control problem that overcomes the so-called “curse of dimensionality” and allows formulation of optimal control policies multiple period planning horizons. One optimal control policy is for power consumption by a solar car during a race, which involves many course segments, as course conditions vary through a day. Another is for risk in and consumption from a portfolio intended to support retirement. Both multi-period control policies take into account future uncertainty. Particular aspects of the present invention are described in the claims, specification and drawings. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099976 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING OPTIMAL PORTFOLIO - An optimal portfolio determining method enables high speed determination of objective financial product which optimize availability for institutional buyer or retail investor and purchasing amount on the basis of information relating to earning rate or the like of individual name and information relating to information factors influencing for earning rate, and a system for realizing the method. The method includes input step of inputting constraint parameters forming constraint condition for optimizing objective function consisted of an expected value of the earning rate of each individual financial product, individual floating factor as unique factor of each individual financial product influencing for earning, common floating factor as factor influencing for earning of overall financial products, and risk influencing for earning rate and earning of overall financial product, and solving step of determining financial product to perchance and purchasing amount for maximizing the objective function on the basis of input data. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099977 | Annuity Contract Management System and Method Thereof - Method performed by an annuity contract system includes managing a bid module according to participation of a user; before the user starts to pay premiums according to an annuity contract, generating a premium amount through the bid module and a investment management module; and at an end of premium terms as specified in the annuity contract, determining an annuity amount according to a remaining asset of the user settled according to the annuity contract, a result of managing the bid module, and a management result of the investment management module. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099978 | Process, system and financial engine for determining a level of risk in the market, and for adjusting user's market exposure based on the level of risk - A process, system and financial engine which determine a portfolio's sensitivity to market risk based on market conditions are described. In particular, with these process, system and financial engine, first data representative of time horizon information and second data representative of risk tolerance information are first received, and guidelines data based on the first and second data are established. Economic and market data underlying the quantitative indicators and factors determining the qualitative indicators are received. Market risk signals based on the indicator(s) is then established. The portfolio's sensitivity is determined based on the established guidelines data and the market risk signal. Using these process, system and financial engine, it is possible to determine the current market risk level, and then recommend changes to (or adjust) the user's portfolio market risk sensitivities based on the user's time horizon (i.e., the need to access their assets within a particular time) and the determined market risk level. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099979 | Systems and methods for enhancing group benefit plans and other entities via life insurance funding and administration structures - The present inventions provide improved funding and administrative arrangements for increasing the amount of income available for group benefit plans, unions, VEBAs, and other entities designed to aggregate funds for the benefit of a selected population. In general, the arrangement includes an insurance component and a financing component and may be bankruptcy-remote from the group benefit plan and its sponsor. The financing component may be combined with the insurance component in order to create and capture value by obtaining comparatively inexpensive capital market funding to generate a favorable economic outcome for the plan, its participants and/or certain specified beneficiaries. The financing component may be selected such that it is capable of paying premiums associated with the insurance component and funding other aspects of the arrangement. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099980 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF BILLING FOR PRINTING SERVICE COSTS BY EXAMINING THE CONTENT OF A PAGE - A system and method of billing for printing service costs can examine content of a page and apply a cost function to approximate the cost of printing the page. Examining the content of the page may include detecting at least one object in the page and determining an approximate area of coverage of the detected object within the at least one object in the page. The cost function can approximate the cost of printing the page using the detected object and the determined approximate area of coverage of the detected object. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099981 | MAINFRAME-BASED BUSINESS RULES ENGINE CONSTRUCTION TOOL - In various embodiments, a programmable apparatus for use in a computing environment is provided. The apparatus may include a business rules engine having at least one rule executable by a mainframe system and stored based on an extensible language; and, a business rules engine builder interface configured to access the business rules engine and which permits user selection from among different rules collections in the business rules engine. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099982 | SELF-MODIFICATION OF A MAINFRAME-BASED BUSINESS RULES ENGINE CONSTRUCTION TOOL - In various embodiments, a programmable apparatus for use in a computing environment is provided. The apparatus may include a business rules engine having at least one rule executable by a mainframe system and stored based on an extensible language; and, a business rules engine builder interface configured to access the business rules engine and which permits user selection from among different rules collections in the business rules engine. At least one of the rules in the business engine is associated with modifying an aspect of the business rules engine builder interface itself. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099983 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTHORING AND LEARNING - Provided is a training method comprising delivering a situation to a learner, the situation comprising an event; automatically inserting a still menu in order to simulate a pause in the delivering; while pausing, recording an action by the learner in response to the event; reviewing the action recorded by the learner; and presenting to the learner a preferred action by a master in response to the event. Also provided is an authoring method comprising recording a situation comprising an event; further recording a master preferred action in response to the event; creating a program comprising motion menus and still menus where the situation, event, and master preferred action are placed on motion menus and still menus; and arranging the program and recordings so that the program carries out the following: delivering the recorded situation to the learner; automatically inserting a still menu after completing the play of a motion menu in order to simulate a pause in the delivering; recording the learner's action in response to the event; reviewing the learner's action; and presenting the learner with the master preferred action. An authoring and learning system is also provided, the system comprising a master video recording tool; a program comprising at least two motion menus and at least two still menus; a learner video delivery tool; a delivery medium; a learner video recording tool; and a learner control. The system may further comprise a program wherein the program gives an author flexibility to set up videos on alternating motion menus, and still menus and integrated recording and reviewing functions among the alternating menus, and wherein the program gives a learner some interactive control over the alternating menus and recording and reviewing functions. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099984 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING PREDICTIVE MATRIX-VARIATE T MODELS - Systems and methods predict missing elements from a partially-observed matrix by receiving one or more user item ratings; generating a model parameterized by matrices U, S, V; and outputting the model. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099985 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED REWARD-BASED LEARNING USING ADAPTIVE DISTANCE METRICS - The present invention is a method and an apparatus for reward-based learning of policies for managing or controlling a system or plant. In one embodiment, a method for reward-based learning includes receiving a set of one or more exemplars, where at least two of the exemplars comprise a (state, action) pair for a system, and at least one of the exemplars includes an immediate reward responsive to a (state, action) pair. A distance metric and a distance-based function approximator estimating long-range expected value are then initialized, where the distance metric computes a distance between two (state, action) pairs, and the distance metric and function approximator are adjusted such that a Bellman error measure of the function approximator on the set of exemplars is minimized. A management policy is then derived based on the trained distance metric and function approximator. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099986 | LEARNING TRADEOFFS BETWEEN DISCRIMINATIVE POWER AND INVARIANCE OF CLASSIFIERS - Systems and methods are described for learning the discriminative power-invariance tradeoffs for classification of input data (“tradeoff learning system”). In various embodiments, the tradeoff learning system receives multiple classifiers (“base classifiers”) and employs a learning technique to produce a combined classifier. Each received base classifier achieves a different level of tradeoff. The learning technique then decreases a function of kernel weights associated with each of the received classifiers to produce the combined classifier. By decreasing the function of kernel weights, the tradeoff learning system computes a combined classifier that classifies input data more accurately than the received multiple classifiers. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099987 | DECOMPOSED OPTIMAL BAYESIAN STACKELBERG SOLVER - Techniques are described for Stackelberg games, in which one agent (the leader) must commit to a strategy that can be observed by other agents (the followers or adversaries) before they choose their own strategies, in which the leader is uncertain about the types of adversaries it may face. Such games are important in security domains, where, for example, a security agent (leader) must commit to a strategy of patrolling certain areas, and robbers (followers) have a chance to observe this strategy over time before choosing their own strategies of where to attack. An efficient exact algorithm is described for finding the optimal strategy for the leader to commit to in these games. This algorithm, Decomposed Optimal Bayesian Stackelberg Solver or “DOBSS,” is based on a novel and compact mixed-integer linear programming formulation. The algorithm can be implemented in a method, software, and/or system including computer or processor functionality. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099988 | ACTIVE LEARNING USING A DISCRIMINATIVE CLASSIFIER AND A GENERATIVE MODEL TO DETECT AND/OR PREVENT MALICIOUS BEHAVIOR - A malicious behavior detection/prevention system, such as an intrusion detection system, is provided that uses active learning to classify entries into multiple classes. A single entry can correspond to either the occurrence of one or more events or the non-occurrence of one or more events. During a training phase, entries are automatically classified into one of multiple classes. After classifying the entry, a generated model for the determined class is utilized to determine how well an entry corresponds to the model. Ambiguous classifications along with entries that do not fit the model well for the determined class are selected for labeling by a human analyst The selected entries are presented to a human analyst for labeling. These labels are used to further train the classifier and the models. During an evaluation phase, entries are automatically classified using the trained classifier and a policy associated with determined class is applied. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099989 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CORTICAL SIMULATION - A cortical simulator optimizing the simulation scale and time through computationally efficient simulation of neurons in a clock-driven and synapses in an event-driven fashion, memory efficient representation of simulation state, and communication efficient message exchanges. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099990 | OBJECT DETECTION AND RECOGNITION WITH BAYESIAN BOOSTING - An efficient, effective and at times superior object detection and/or recognition (ODR) function may be built from a set of Bayesian stumps. Bayesian stumps may be constructed for each feature and object class, and the ODR function may be constructed from the subset of Bayesian stumps that minimize Bayesian error for a particular object class. That is, Bayesian error may be utilized as a feature selection measure for the ODR function. Furthermore, Bayesian stumps may be efficiently implemented as lookup tables with entries corresponding to unequal intervals of feature histograms. Interval widths and entry values may be determined so as to minimize Bayesian error, yielding Bayesian stumps that are optimal in this respect. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099991 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PREDICTING PROCESS PERFORMANCE USING MATERIAL PROCESSING TOOL AND SENSOR DATA - A method for constructing a process performance prediction model for a material processing system, the method including the steps of: recording tool data for a plurality of observations during a process in a process tool, the tool data comprises a plurality of tool data parameters; recording process performance data for the plurality of observations during the process in the process tool, the process performance data comprises one or more process performance parameters; performing a partial least squares analysis using the tool data and the process performance data; and computing correlation data from the partial least squares analysis. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099992 | BOUNDED-DEFERRAL POLICIES FOR GUIDING THE TIMING OF ALERTING, INTERACTION AND COMMUNICATIONS USING LOCAL SENSORY INFORMATION - The present invention relates to a system and method to facilitate communications of important messages, communications, or interactions. Policies are introduced that consider a user's current situation, including the cost of interrupting the user, or directly sensed surrogates for such a cost, and decide on a suitable time, within a deadline for delivering the information or establishing a communication. Deadlines for delivery are determined based on the urgency of the information that is inferred or detected from the message sender, type, and content. If a suitable context is not detected within a deadline, the information is delivered at the deadline. If it is determined that a suitable context will not achieved within a deadline, the information is transmitted immediately. Suitable contexts for delivery can be determined via the use of one or more sensors on or near endpoint devices, including accelerometers, microphones, touch sensing, and gaze and head pose detection. Other information, including appointment status as indicated on a user's calendar, the time of day, and previously assessed patterns of availability can be employed in decisions about the deferral of alerts. Endpoint sensors, calendar information, and patterns of availability also may used to identify the likelihood that information will be received at a device. Such information can be passed back directly or in a summary form as the likelihood of transmission success to a central notification manager or used locally in decisions about the salience and repetition of alerting. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099993 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING AND EXTRACTING MEANING IN DOCUMENTS - Systems and methods are provided for an expert search engine. In one embodiment, a method may employ a computer based system to define a meaning taxonomy including one or more meaning loaded entities, associate documents to the meaning taxonomy based on a set of expert rules and the syntactic structures included in the documents and provide the results to a user. In another embodiment, a system includes interfaces for meaning taxonomy, expert rule and search criteria information. The information provided by these interfaces is then used to determine how a set of documents maps to meaning taxonomy to assist the user in locating documents that are most interesting from a meaning perspective and to provide a user with an interface to navigate the meaning taxonomy as it applies to the set of documents. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099994 | Enhanced Rule Engine - An enhanced rule engine, in which a rule-evaluated result that is received from an external rule engine based on a context transmitted to the external rule engine for evaluation by the rule and on a schema document serializing an automatically generated vocabulary transmitted to the external rule engine is output. The schema document defines the business rule based on a context description and a result description included in the vocabulary, and the context and the result are respectively specified according to the context description and the result description. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099995 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC GENERATION OF USER-ORIENTED HOMEPAGE - The present invention discloses a system and a method for automatic generation of a user-oriented homepage, said system comprises an active real-time artificial intelligence network server working with a traditional network server and a fast relational data processing method to track and determine from a webpage browsing log server a user behavior for webpage browsing, and then to compile user browsing characteristics to design the webpage automatically into a user-oriented homepage. Therefore, every time when a user connects to a same URL, said user-oriented homepage presents information that said user requires or prefers. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099996 | System And Method For Performing Discovery Of Digital Information In A Subject Area - A system and method for performing discovery of digital information in a subject area is provided. Each of topics in a subject area, training material for the topics, and a corpus comprising digital information are designated. Topic models for each of the topics are built. The topic models are evaluated against the training material. The digital information from the corpus is organized by the topics using the topic models into an evergreen index. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099997 | Force-Sensing Orthotic Electric Device Controller - Control devices and kits of components of control devices are provided. The subject invention also provides systems for designing control devices and/or kits of components of control devices. A system user can provide data about an end user to an expert system via a user interface, and the expert system can use the data and a method for selecting appropriate components to design a control device and/or kit. The control device can be a self-referenced control device and can include a controller and a wearable interface. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099998 | KNOWLEDGE-BASED MATCHING - A knowledge-based system and methods to matchmaking and social network extension are disclosed. The system is configured to allow users to specify knowledge profiles, which are collections of concepts that indicate a certain topic or area of interest selected from an. The system utilizes the knowledge model as the semantic space within which to compare similarities in user interests. The knowledge model is hierarchical so that indications of interest in specific concepts automatically imply interest in more general concept. Similarity measures between profiles may then be calculated based on suitable distance formulas within this space. | 2009-04-16 |
20090099999 | EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF CROSS-LINKED REPORTS WITH OR WITHOUT LIVE ACCESS TO A SOURCE DATA REPOSITORY - Reports of data elements from a data repository, such as may be used in a browser based business information system, can be displayed whether or not the data repository is currently accessible. Report documents, comprising a master report as well as linked reports, may be exported to a local storage. Upon invoking a master report that has been previously exported to the local storage, requests for the data elements in parameter form that are ordinarily directed to the data repository are intercepted and the local storage is checked for copies of the previously exported reports. Any existing copies of the desired reports are presented as a first option. A browser applet may be used to intercept the data requests and convert them to the corresponding subdirectory paths on the local storage. The linked reports may also be exported to the local storage as a group in a batch operation. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100001 | Database management apparatus and method of managing database - Information on a referenced class or a referenced property is extracted from at least one referenced dictionary having a referencing relation with a referencing dictionary having the hierarchical structure, in which lower classes inherit the properties of upper classes; the extracted information is added to the referencing dictionary and organized; the extracted detailed information is outputted organized referencing dictionary. Thus, the detailed information on an imported property may be acquired simply at the side of the referencing dictionary. In addition, since only the information on the referenced class or property in the referenced dictionary is separately extracted, traffic of the dictionary data may be reduced, and the efficient inter-dictionary data exchange can be realized. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100002 | UPDATABLE RESULT SET FOR MULTIPLE JOINED TABLES - A technique for providing an updatable result set from multiple joined tables derived from a plurality of databases includes testing for at least one unique index from each of the multiple joined tables. A technique for providing an updatable result set from multiple joined tables that may include null values for outer-joined tables includes testing for a connection to the unique indexes and the null values. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100003 | Method, Apparatus and Computer Program Product for Enabling Access to a Dynamic Attribute Associated with a Service Point - An apparatus for enabling a user to access a dynamic attribute associated with a service point may include a processing element. The processing element may be configured to receive an indication of a dynamic attribute associated with a service point having a particular geographic location, indicate an availability of the dynamic attribute to a user, and enable the user to access the dynamic attribute in response to a user selection. The dynamic attribute may be provided from a mobile content source proximate to the particular geographic location. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100004 | System And Methodology For Automatic Tuning Of Database Query Optimizer - System and methodology for automatic tuning of database query optimizer is described. In one embodiment, in a database system having an optimizer for selecting a query plan for executing a database query, a method of the present invention is described for automatically tuning query performance to prevent query performance regression that may occur during upgrade of the database system from a prior version to a new version, the method comprises steps of: in response to receiving a given database query for execution, specifying a query plan generated by the prior version's optimizer as a baseline best plan for executing the given database query; generating at least one new query plan using the new version's optimizer; learning performance for each new query plan generated by recording corresponding query execution metrics; if a given new query plan is observed to have better performance than the best plan previously specified, specifying that given new query plan to be the best plan for executing the given database query; if a given new query plan is observed to have worse performance than the best plan previously specified, specifying that given new query plan to be a bad plan to be avoided in the future; and automatically tuning future execution of the given database query by using the query plan that the system learned was the best plan. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100005 | MAPPING NETWORK ADDRESSES TO GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS - A network address mapping system is described. The network address mapping system can identify a set of Web pages, collects information from the Web pages indicating geographical locations (“geolocations”), and correlate the geolocations with the network addresses from which the identified Web pages are served. The collected information can be weighted based on various factors, such as its relative position in a Web page. The collected information can then be used to identify a geolocation. The network mapping system can deduce geolocations for portions of ranges of network addresses based on the score, and can infer geolocations for other portions based on the deduced geolocations. This mapping can then be stored in a database and provided as a geomapping service. The network address mapping system is able to map network addresses to geographical locations. Thereafter, when a user's client computing device accesses a Web server, the Web server can easily and accurately determine a geographical location by querying the database storing the mapping or a geomapping service. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100006 | INDEX CREATING METHOD BY CREATING/INTEGRATING NODE - There is provided a method of creating an index, which is executed in a document retrieval apparatus. The index includes index information and a trie, the index information includes an index item formed of a character string, the trie is formed of a plurality of nodes each including a part of the character string of the index item, and the index information and each of the plurality of nodes of the trie are associated with each other. The method comprises the steps of: dividing the index information by a unit of an index information block when a first node of the trie is associated with a plurality of the index information blocks, and a search time required for searching all the index information associated with the first node of the trie exceeds a predetermined first threshold; and associating the divided index information with the second node. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100007 | CUSTOMIZED GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION INDEXING - A system is disclosed for customizing a geographic location index based on user preferences. The system obtains geographic data provided by a user and generates a customized geographic region based on the obtained geographic data. The system generates relationship data corresponding to the new customized geographic region. The system updates the geographic location index based on the new customized geographic region and corresponding relationship data. Thereafter, on-line content may be delivered to an audience associated with the new customized geographic region, thereby allowing the user, such as an advertiser or publisher, to define targeting regions that are optimal to their specific business environment. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100008 | Methodology for File Identification and Retrieval in Directories for Categorized Files - A computer implemented method, system, and computer usable program code are provided for marking objects. Responsive to an object being received, the object is stored in a directory in a file system. An indicia is associated with the object and the directory. The object is displayed using the indicia as a marked object and the directory is displayed using the indicia as a marked directory. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100009 | System and method for displaying and acting upon email conversations across folders - System and method for displaying and/or acting upon email conversations across folders. In one embodiment, the method comprises: (1) grouping email messages into conversations, where such grouping is performed independent of folders in which the messages reside, thereby enabling conversations to span multiple folders; and (2) displaying one or more conversation, where, for each message in the displayed conversation, the folder associated with such message is identified. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100010 | System and method for seamlessly integrating separate information systems within an application - The present invention is, in one embodiment, a system and method based on a client-server architecture for seamlessly integrating various information systems. In one embodiment, a bundle of files is deployed to a collaboration client, in order to enable the integration of the collaboration client with disparate information systems and content. In one embodiment, content within a mailbox item is allowed to become a “live” object, and is associated with trigger events, and actions, including sending all or part of the content to a separate information system. In one embodiment, mailbox items are subjected to predefined searches to assess whether they include certain content objects. In another embodiment, panel item elements are visible in the overview panel of the collaboration client. The user may interact with the panel items by dragging content onto them, double clicking them, and invoking actions from a context menu if one is available. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100011 | METHOD FOR INSERTING CONTENTS PROVIDED BY EXTERNAL WEB SERVER IN COMMUMITY HOMEPAGE - Disclosed is a method for inserting contents provided by external web server in community homepage. Community manager sets up key word or search category regarding interest contents, the key word and search category information is transmitted to predetermined web server. The web server derives contents corresponding to key word and search category, the derived contents information is transmitted to community server from the web server. The community server transforms search result information into HTML format and insert in community homepage. Users of community can obtain information which is not uploaded by community members. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100012 | SEARCH ENGINE BASED SELF-TEACHING SYSTEM - The invention relates to the structured addition to search engines on the internet, intranet and/or individual networks, whereby at least one entry or so-called link or address is selected from a list of information relating to at least one particular search term. Said entry is placed in a separate file or type of basket and subsequently the selected entries and links are optionally structured or ordered and returned to the original list for the particular search term as a new entry or selection and marked as a special selection. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100013 | METHOD OR APPARATUS OF DATA PROCESSING TO COMPILE A DIGITAL DATA MEDIA PRESENTATION FOR TRANSFERRING BETWEEN ONE OR MORE COMPUTERS - As media on the Internet grows, existing systems do not leverage the value of using online digital data media, such as a movie clip or song, for creating media presentations. In contrast, a system of the present invention compiles a media presentation for transferring data between one or more computers by requesting one or more digital data media, such as a video clip. After requesting the one or more digital data media, the system, if applicable, obtains authorization, such as a license, to use the one or more digital data media. Further, the system allows a user to edit the requested digital data media and any existing digital data media. After editing the digital data media, the system compiles the media to make a media presentation. In this way, the present invention leverages the use of digital data media to create a media presentation by employing the data or instructions before or after transferring. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100014 | Methods and Apparatus for Adaptive Source Filtering and Load Shedding for Data Stream Processing - Techniques are disclosed for adaptive source filtering and load shedding in such data stream processing systems. For example, in one aspect of the invention, a method for use in filtering data in a distributed data stream processing system, wherein a server receives and processes one or more data streams from one or more data sources, comprises the steps of the server periodically re-configuring one or more filters and sending the one or more periodically re-configured filters to the one or more data sources, and the one or more data sources performing data filtering based on the one or more periodically re-configured filters received from the server. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100015 | WEB-BASED WORKSPACE FOR ENHANCING INTERNET SEARCH EXPERIENCE - A comprehensive web based workspace, or search and navigation environment that supports the user throughout an Internet search session and beyond. Specifically, any search session is performed through the workspace which is a web based application that enables the user to log in and identify. The workspace tracks and analyzes the search pattern of the user, learns and characterizes it and provides him or her with ever improving search results, targeted advertisements and other relevant information on-the-fly. Specifically, the workspace is capable of monitoring each and every hypertext document (including URLs) visited by the user. Additionally, the workspace further enables a user to create a cluster search materials comprising URLs and downloaded files. The cluster is used by the workspace to further optimize the search. Moreover—the cluster may be shared between users. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100016 | Performing Searches for a Selected Text - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for performing a plurality of searches. A request is received to perform the plurality of searches, wherein the request includes text. A search engine preference is retrieved, wherein the search engine preference specifies a plurality of search engines. An Internet browser is opened for each search engine in the plurality of search engines. A search is initiated in each Internet browser using the text. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100017 | Method and System for Collecting, Normalizing, and Analyzing Spend Data - A system for processing spend data. In response to capturing data feeds from one or more clients and a service provider, spend data contained within the data feeds is normalized by mapping the spend data to a common universal taxonomy using a business rule set. The normalized spend data is stored within an aggregated spend database. Report queries are run against total aggregated spend data within the aggregated spend database. Then, results of the report queries are posted on a secure web portal for viewing by authorized users. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100018 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CAPTURING, INTEGRATING, DISCOVERING, AND USING GEO-TEMPORAL DATA - Various embodiments relate to the systems and methods for creating events, creating points of interest, associating points of interest with geographic locations, associating events with points of interest or with geographic locations, discovering events in a geographic area given a time frame, tagging and rating events and points of interest and sharing events among users. A particular embodiment includes a computer-implemented method including associating geographical locations or points of interest with events having geographical and temporal attributes in a geo-temporal data store, receiving a geo-temporal search query specified by a user, and producing search results including items from the geo-temporal data store having a pre-determined degree of relevance to the geo-temporal search query in both a geographical and temporal domain. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100019 | Multi-Dimensional Search Results Adjustment System - A search query comprising a plurality of search terms is used to generate a plurality of search results. The search query, in its entirety, is represented by an object in multi-dimensional space. The multi-dimensional space comprises a plurality of dimensions to represent a plurality of search criteria, respectively. The object has a position in the multi-dimensional space based on values of the search criteria. The object is manipulated simultaneously in at least two dimensions of the multi-dimensional space to simultaneously modify respective values of at least two of the search criteria. The search results are filtered based on the modified values of the search criteria to produce a subset of the search results, and the subset is displayed. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100020 | Providing content to users - A method of providing content to users, with a tool incorporated in a website, includes searching a content database; selecting content from the database; and printing the selected content in book form. A system for providing content includes a content tool; and a service module. The content tool is incorporated in a website and is in communication with the service module. The content tool and service module allow visitors to the website to search, select and customize content located in a database accessible to the service module. The content tool and service module allow the visitors to order a copy of the content. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100021 | Search-centric hierarchichal browser history - A search-centric hierarchical browser history technique that provides for the creation of a Web search history hierarchy organized according to the search queries that a user has conducted. In one embodiment, search queries occupy the highest level of the search history hierarchy and all Web sites/search results relating to a particular search query that the user accessed are hierarchically organized below that query. In another embodiment, queries may also be optionally grouped into a higher-level hierarchy that reflects search topics. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100022 | INTEGRATED FULL TEXT SEARCH SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present invention relates to an integrated full-text search architecture that integrates full text search with database server applications in a tight manner so that it becomes part of the server in all aspects including storage, metadata, query processing, back/up restore and resource management. This provides improved performance with respect to queries as well as improved manageability. Furthermore, the subject architecture is open and schema directed unlike other conventional full-text search architectures. Accordingly, the full-text search architecture enables expert users (e.g., search providers) to define their own index structures as well as ranking algorithms. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100023 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND COMPUTER READABLE INFORMATION RECORDING MEDIUM - An information processing apparatus has a document element storing part configured to store a document in a document element storage part for each document element of the document, a comment input part configured to input a comment corresponding to the document element to a comment storing part, and the comment storing part configured to store the comment input by the comment input part corresponding to the document element in a comment storage part in such a manner that the comment is identified as the comment associated with the document element. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100024 | MULTI-MODAL MOBILE PLATFORM - There is provided a multi-modal mobile platform system for permitting a user to interact and exchange data through a mobile device. It will be appreciated that the present invention may be employed on any mobile device such as a cellular phone or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) and the like. It is contemplated that the multi-modal platform (MMP) provides the basic constructs for a unified multi-modal data access and query platform that will overcome the deficiencies of the services based on a uni-modal platform such as web-only services or text messaging only services. The present system may use a Voice Portal, a Text Messages Portal, an eMail Portal, a Web Portal, a Downloadable Application Portal, or a WAP or Mobile Web Portal to facilitate communication between a user and third parties. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100025 | Apparatus and Method for Selectively Viewing Data - A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to associate different entities with different entity classes. Each entity class has an associated set of lenses. Each lens includes metadata characterizing data presentation directives. User criteria is analyzed to deliver a subset of lenses to a user. Each lens includes executable instructions to display to a user a subset of information from a data source in accordance with the data presentation directives. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100026 | CONDITION DEPENDENT DATA PROCESSING DEVICE - The present invention is directed to a server system for supplying differing amounts of data into a database, wherein the system comprises the database and a data tracker device, wherein the data tracker receives data sent by a plurality of functional entities, preferably office machines and in particular devices with a printer, wherein the data tracker device is prepared to transmit data asynchronously to an intermediate buffer storage device with a queue structure, the intermediate buffer storage device storing the data sequentially and transmitting the data sequentially to the database to be stored. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100027 | Methods, Systems, and Products for Managing Communications - Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for managing the communications and information resources of a user. When a request for data is received, a message log is queried for the data. A result of the query is then communicated. | 2009-04-16 |
20090100028 | Accessing a Data Structure - There is disclosed a method, apparatus, computer program and computer program product for facilitating access by an application to a data structure comprising a plurality of objects. A request is received from the application which initiates the return of the data structure. A handle is assigned to each of at least some of the plurality of objects. Objects in the data structure are retrieved and the application is informed of assigned handles thereby enabling the application to access retrieved objects. | 2009-04-16 |