Accenture Global Services GmbH Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140188903 | MATCHING TOOLS FOR USE IN ATTRIBUTE-BASED PERFORMANCE SYSTMS - Systems and methods consistent with the invention relate to matching user attributes. In one exemplary implementation, the system and methods may store predetermined general attribute descriptors reflecting attributes of users generally, receive personal attribute descriptors selected from the predetermined general attribute descriptors as corresponding to attributes of a first user and a second user, receive a rating associated with each received personal attribute descriptor, compare at least one personal attribute descriptor associated with the first user with at least one personal attribute descriptor associated with the second user to determine a descriptor match, and calculate a match score based on the determined descriptor match and the received ratings. In addition, first and second display points may be displayed and may be separated by a one-dimensional display distance that is a function of the calculated match score. | 07-03-2014 |
20140114867 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ACTIONS TO REDUCE A CARBON FOOTPRINT - A system is described for aiding a user in reducing a carbon footprint. The system includes a processor to process inputted energy use information, where the energy use information is specific to the user. The processor determines an outputted emission data in accordance with the inputted energy use information. A screenshot displays the outputted emission data, wherein the emission data includes a custom action for reducing the carbon footprint. | 04-24-2014 |
20120254088 | MODEL-DRIVEN EVENT DETECTION, IMPLICATION, AND REPORTING SYSTEM - An event analysis system monitors information available from both publicly and privately distributed networks of information for events that are relevant to the user's particular business concerns. Those concerns are defined in a customized model of the user's organization and external business environment. The system receives the information, detects events in the information, interprets the events, and determines implications of these events. The detection and implication proceeds with regard to specific entities, relationships between entities, and definitions of the types of events which may occur in the environment in which the entities exist. Accordingly, the analysis system intelligently adapts its processing to recognize and report events which may be of interest for any particular entity. | 10-04-2012 |
20120041818 | AD YIELD ARBITRATION ENGINE FOR ONLINE RETAILERS - A system for determining whether to present an online bid content from a prequalified value chain entity at a virtual point-of-decision on a web site includes an online customer database storing online customer data, a product manufacturer database storing prequalified value chain entity profiles and a dynamic arbitration engine. The dynamic arbitration engine determines whether a customer is at the virtual point-of-decision on the web site, a customer segment of the customer based on the online customer data, a next most profitable action based on the customer segment of the customer, prequalified value chain entities based on product manufactured and the bid content that may be presented to the customer at the virtual point-of-decision based on the customer segment of the customer and a product type. The dynamic arbitration engine also inserts the bid content at the virtual point-of-decision. | 02-16-2012 |
20120041803 | CUSTOMER VALUE OPPORTUNITY SYSTEM - A system determines one or more winning candidate bids and includes an offer receipt module that creates an offer which includes a request for a demand shaping tactic, a type of product, a demand opportunity group, and a desired demand response. A customer potential scoring module determines a customer potential score for the offer based on the demand opportunity group and the demand shaping tactic. A bid receipt module receives a plurality bids for a plurality of different offers including the offer. A bid matching module determines one or more matching bids of the plurality of bids based on the demand shaping tactic, the type of product, the demand opportunity group, and the desired demand response of the offer. A bid determination module determines one or more winning candidate bids based on the customer potential score, ad yield of the winning candidate bid, and customer lifetime value. | 02-16-2012 |
20120036135 | DATABASE ANONYMIZATION FOR USE IN TESTING DATABASE-CENTRIC APPLICATIONS - At least one quasi-identifier attribute of a plurality of ranked attributes is selected for use in anonymizing a database. Each of the ranked attributes is ranked according to that attribute's effect on a database-centric application (DCA) being tested. In an embodiment, the selected quasi-identifier attribute(s) has the least effect on the DCA. The database is anonymized based on the selected quasi-identifier attribute(s) to provide a partially-anonymized database, which may then be provided to a testing entity for use in testing the DCA. In an embodiment, during execution of the DCA, instances of database queries are captured and analyzed to identify a plurality of attributes from the database and, for each such attribute identified, the effect of the attribute on the DCA is quantified. In this manner, databases can be selectively anonymized in order to balance the requirements of data privacy against the utility of the data for testing purposes. | 02-09-2012 |
20120036085 | SOCIAL MEDIA VARIABLE ANALYTICAL SYSTEM - A system is configured to determine aggregated social media variables that may be used for modeling. The system includes an information identifier module determining keywords and phrases. The system also includes an aggregator receiving information collected from social media applications using the keywords and phrases and determining values for social media variables from the collected information. The aggregator aggregates the social media variables based on the values and weightings of the social media variables. | 02-09-2012 |
20120029966 | MONITORING AND EVALUATING THE PRODUCTION OF A CONVERSION FACILITY - The disclosure provides a system and method for monitoring and evaluating a conversion facility. The method includes storing values for quantitative variables and/or cost variables associated with processes performed at the conversion facility. The method includes receives a syncing frame, wherein the syncing frame embraces values for the quantitative variables and/or the cost variables stored less than thirty days prior to receiving the syncing time frame. The method includes determining, from the stored values for at least one set of values for at least one of the variables that are within the syncing frame. The method also includes calculating a cost of processing a commodity processed at the conversion facility for the syncing frame using the first and second set of values. | 02-02-2012 |
20120023016 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRIORITIZING PROCESSING OF PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS - A prioritizing system and method are disclosed for prioritizing processing of payment instructions through a payment instruction processing system of a business entity. The method includes identifying a first set of rules determining a prioritization among a set of payment instructions. These include payment instructions related to payments from nostro accounts associated with the business entity and processed by other business entities. Also, the payment instructions have data fields for qualitative and quantitative attributes describing the payment instructions. The method also includes holding and ordering the payment instructions in a queue, determining a first sequence ordering the payment instructions in the queue based upon the first set of rules, and initiating processing of the payment instructions in the queue according to the first sequence. | 01-26-2012 |
20120022911 | CAPTURING AND PROCESSING DATA GENERATED IN AN ERP INTERIM PHASE - The disclosure provides a system and method for identifying a set of ERP tasks performed by the ERP system when it is functional and for identifying a set of Interim Business Processes (IBPs) associated with ERP tasks. The method includes creating a set of IBP data capture tools Another step is assigning an IBP data capture tool to each IBP optionally using an IBP data main coordinating tool. Another step is identifying a set of responsibility centers in the business entity. Another step is providing an access link to each responsibility center to the IBP data capture tool and sending a notice to each responsibility center to begin capturing data at a predetermined time. Another step is receiving the IBP data from the IBP data capture tools optionally using the IBP data main coordinating tool, and storing the IBP data received optionally using the IBP data main coordinating tool. | 01-26-2012 |
20120016836 | BROWSER BASED USER IDENTIFICATION - An online behavior tracking system includes a unique ID module configured to determine attributes of a user device, and calculate a unique ID for a user from the attributes. The unique ID is used to track online behavior for the user across different domains. Also, the online behavior tracking system is used in a content evaluation system which delivers content treatments to users and tracks online behavior of the users in response to the delivered treatments. | 01-19-2012 |
20120011455 | REQUIREMENT STATEMENT MANIPULATION SYSTEM - A requirement statement manipulation system is configured to create and edit requirement statements of various types. The requirement statement manipulation system may generate an interactive visual environment to receive input used in manipulating a requirement statement through creation or editing. The interactive visual environment may include specific requirement-type interfaces allowing requirement statements of a specific type to be manipulated. The interactive visual environment may manipulate requirement statements based on textual input, as well as through text generation. | 01-12-2012 |
20120004939 | SPECIFIED BUSINESS FUNCTION SCORING TOOL - A system for determining a level of optimality for countries in which to perform a specified business function includes a data storage unit, a mapping engine and a mapping generator. The data storage stores a composite business environment index, a composite input resources index, and an innovation index. The mapping engine receives the specified business function and input factors related to the specified business function and selects at least two of the composite business environment index, the composite input resources index, and the innovation index based on the input factors. The matrix generator determines the level of optimality indicating a measure of success in achieving the specified business function for each of the countries based on scores in the at least two selected indices. | 01-05-2012 |
20120003613 | Goal Based System Utilizing a Table Based Architecture - A system is disclosed that provides a goal based learning system utilizing a rule based expert training system to provide a cognitive educational experience. The system provides the user with a simulated environment that presents a business opportunity to understand and solve optimally. Mistakes are noted and remedial educational material presented dynamically to build the necessary skills that a user requires for success in the business endeavor. The system utilizes an artificial intelligence engine driving individualized and dynamic feedback with synchronized video and graphics used to simulate real-world environment and interactions. A robust business model provides support for realistic activities and allows a user to experience real world consequences for their actions and decisions and entails realtime decision-making and synthesis of the educational material. The system is architectured around a table of components to manage and control the system. | 01-05-2012 |
20110321025 | Enhanced Upgrade Path - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for establishing upgrade paths. In one aspect, a method includes establishing an interim environment and platform, migrating the data from the legacy environment and platform to the interim environment and platform, and migrating the data from the interim environment and platform to the upgraded environment and platform. | 12-29-2011 |
20110288692 | MALICIOUS ATTACK DETECTION AND ANALYSIS - A system for characterizing malicious activity in an intelligent utility grid system includes a system storage in which to store a database including a plurality of rules. A collector is operable to collect and store in the system storage information-technology (IT) data including IT-related activity from the intelligent grid system. A complex event processing (CEP) bus is operable to receive non-IT data including location-specific event data from a plurality of electronic sources, the CEP bus further operable to disregard the non-IT data failing to meet a predetermined level of relevance to one of a plurality of risk-related events. A processor is operable to apply the plurality of rules to the relevant non-IT data to: associate an undesired event with reference to the IT-related activity; and determine a probability that the undesired event is indicative of malicious activity. The processor further applies a risk characterization to the undesired event based on the probability and the IT-related activity. | 11-24-2011 |
20110276893 | ACCESS CHANNEL DEFINITION TECHNOLOGY - Access channel definition technology, in which a user experience for a secondary access channel is defined using one or more pre-configured user experience components that enable mapping of a user experience defined for a primary access channel to the user experience for the secondary access channel and that adapt the user experience for the secondary access channel to characteristics of devices that access the secondary access channel. In addition, a portal for the secondary access channel is defined using one or more pre-configured portal components and content management for the secondary access channel is defined using one or more pre-configured content management components that leverage content developed for the primary access channel and that customize presentation of the content for the secondary access channel. The secondary access channel is configured based on the defined user experience, the defined portal, and the defined content management. | 11-10-2011 |
20110258136 | INTEGRATION FRAMEWORK FOR ENTERPRISE CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS - Integration framework for enterprise content management systems, in which a request related to performing an operation associated with enterprise content management is received from a customer relationship management application. In response to the request, a standard user interface is provided and user input that is entered into the standard user interface and that requests performance of an enterprise content management operation is received. In response to the user input, a particular enterprise content management system to perform the enterprise content management operation is identified from among multiple, different enterprise content management systems and a particular connector component configured to interface with the particular enterprise content management system is selected from among multiple, different connector components. The particular connector component is used to interface with the particular enterprise content management system and control the particular enterprise content management system to perform the enterprise content management operation. | 10-20-2011 |
20110258020 | EVALUATING INITIATIVES - Technology development initiatives are objectively evaluated using a framework that includes a set of evaluation parameters and scoring rules. Predefined evaluation parameter values are associated with the evaluation parameters. The evaluation parameters are also associated with scoring rules that can be used to generate score component associated with the evaluation parameters. The evaluation parameters are also grouped and the score components associated with the evaluation parameters are modified based on a scoring rule for the evaluation parameter group. The modified score components are used to generate final scores for the technology development initiatives, and the final scores are used to evaluate the technology development initiatives relative to other initiatives or relative to thresholds. | 10-20-2011 |
20110258015 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING WORKFORCE PLANNING SERVICES - A system is described for providing workforce planning services. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store a baseline dataset describing current employees of an organization. The processor may be operative to determine a projected workforce dataset based on the baseline dataset, the projected workforce dataset describing projected employees required by the organization. The processor may assess the baseline dataset and employee movement strategies to determine a forecasted available workforce dataset describing forecasted employees available to the organization. The processor may determine a gap between the projected workforce dataset and the forecasted available workforce dataset. The processor may generate a workforce service plan which describes strategies for eliminating the gap and may provide the plan to a user. The processor may receive updates to the baseline dataset and may assess the updates to determine whether the plan is being effectively implemented. | 10-20-2011 |
20110252056 | SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING DIGITAL CONTENT - The invention concerns a method of electronically transmitting from a media distribution system to at least one distribution platform product data of a digital media product, the method involving: identifying, based on scheduling data ( | 10-13-2011 |
20110252055 | DIGITAL CONTENT SUPPLY SYSTEM - The invention concerns a method of generating and electronically transmitting to at least one distribution platform a digital media product, the method involving: generating product parts of a first product based on a plurality of digital media files retrieved from a database ( | 10-13-2011 |
20110246813 | REPURPOSABLE RECOVERY ENVIRONMENT - A reconfiguration manager is operable to reconfigure a repurposable recovery environment between a recovery environment for a production environment and a second environment different from the recovery environment. A storage system in the repurposable recovery environment periodically saves production information from the production environment while the repurposable recovery environment is operating as the second environment. The production information in the storage system is used to reconfigure the repurposable recovery environment from the second environment to the recovery environment. | 10-06-2011 |
20110238459 | PRODUCT ASSORTMENT PLANNING SYSTEM - The system includes a comparison unit that identifies products in an initial assortment of products, a desired assortment of products and the performance metric for each product. The comparison unit compares the initial assortment of products and the desired assortment of products to determine kept products, added product and deleted products. The system includes an interaction unit simulating the interaction of the kept products, the added products and the deleted products based on the performance metric. The system generates simulation results identifying the interactions between the kept products, the added products and the deleted products. | 09-29-2011 |
20110231214 | AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE PROGRAM ANALYSIS TOOL - The invention provides automatically examines an Aerospace and Defense (A&D) company's financial data and evaluating factors affecting the company's value, and using this evaluation to assess the desirability of proposed changes in various stages of an A&D project. Specifically, the present invention evaluates changes in an A&D company's value through that company's profits and capital efficiency. The Program Profitability asset is a methodology and tool that helps teams quickly and systematically analyze high impact areas in the structure of a program to determine the key drivers of savings that are actionable for the client. | 09-22-2011 |
20110213715 | Lean Analytics - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for improving business processes. In one aspect, a method includes defining, for a workstation, a metric that is a function of multiple process variables, providing, to a Lean practitioner candidate, information that suffices to allow the Lean practitioner candidate to determine outcomes of independently applying a same, pre-defined amount of Lean Six Sigma-related change to each of two or more of the process variables, and obtaining information that specifies the outcomes from the Lean practitioner candidate. | 09-01-2011 |
20110208366 | UTILITY GRID COMMAND FILTER SYSTEM - A command filter module filters receives a plurality commands intended for receipt by devices interconnected within a utility grid. The command filter module may authorize the plurality of commands for execution by the respective devices based on predetermined set of command rules. Historical and real-time data may be implemented by the command filter module to perform an authorization decision for the plurality of commands. Authorized commands may be transmitted by the command filter module for receipt by the respective devices. The command filter module may generate rejection messages corresponding to unauthorized commands. The rejection messages may be transmitted to a source of an unauthorized command. | 08-25-2011 |
20110202798 | REMOTE TECHNICAL SUPPORT EMPLOYING A CONFIGURABLE EXECUTABLE APPLICATION - In a remote technical support system, in response to a request for service, a user device receives an executable application from the technical support controller, which executable application is subsequently invoked at the user device. Additionally, the user device receives configuration information from the technical support controller. The executable application then performs technical support processing of the user device in accordance with the configuration information. The executable application can be configured, based on the configuration information, to engage in dynamic workflow, i.e., to make decisions about what activities to perform based on previous results. Because the configuration information can be selected according to the specific nature of the user device and/or the specific nature of the service request, the executable application can be tailored to best address the requesting end user's needs with minimal attention from a remote technician. | 08-18-2011 |
20110191254 | Web User Interface - Methods, computer-readable media, and apparatuses process data for delegating the approval and initiation of different types of transactions to delegates by a manager. The manager provides delegate configuration information so that a delegate is able to approve or initiate a transaction request during a specified time period. The transaction request may be escalated to a next level of approval when an escalation limit has not been reached. More than one delegate may be configured, where delegate configuration information is indicative that a first delegate is associated with a first transaction type and a second delegate is associated with a second transaction type. When a transaction request does not require approval by the manager during a designated time period, the transaction request may be automatically approved to initiate the transaction request. The manager may be notified when the initiator of the transaction request is a delegate of the manager. | 08-04-2011 |
20110178850 | FUTURE COST ESTIMATE FORECASTING FOR TECHNOLOGIES - A system for forecasting a future cost estimate for a technology includes a cost receipt unit configured to receive a first cost point and a second cost point identifying a starting cost at a first time period and a midpoint cost at a second time period, and calculate a third cost point to express the first cost point and the second cost point in a range of zero to one. The system also includes a base curve unit configured to determine a base S-curve from the first cost point, the second cost point and the third cost point. The system includes a weighting unit configured to receive weightings of cost-reduction drivers. The system includes a base curve adjustment unit configured to adjust the base S-curve based on the weightings of the cost-reduction drivers to create an adjusted S-curve. | 07-21-2011 |
20110167142 | HIERARCHICAL SERVICE MANAGEMENT - A service management system includes data storage storing a hierarchy of a network in a user premises. The hierarchy includes virtual network layers and devices in each layer. The storage device also stores service profiles for services associated with levels in the hierarchy, and the levels include one or more of the virtual network layers. The system receives information for creating a service for a device in a layer. The information includes service functions and attributes. The system also stores a service profile for the service in the storage device, and the service profile includes the received information. The system determines whether to trigger the service based on the received data and information in the service profile. | 07-07-2011 |
20110167057 | MODULARIZED SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT REPORTING - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for playing local device information over a telephone connection. In one aspect, a method includes selecting one or more data modules from among a collection of reusable data modules, the selected data modules collectively mapping to one or more requirements of a service level agreement report, and the selected data modules including tags that reference data stored in two or more data sources and further including instructions for processing the data; invoking the data modules; processing the data referenced by the tags using the instructions, responsive to invoking the data modules; and generating the SLA report in accordance with the requirements, using the processed data. | 07-07-2011 |
20110166980 | MARKETING INVESTMENT OPTIMIZER WITH DYNAMIC HIERARCHIES - A hierarchal view preserving relationships between data is generated by storing information related to sales and investment. The information includes dimensions and each of the dimensions includes a level and each of the levels is described by variables. Relationships between the variables are also stored. A request for a hierarchy is received. The requested hierarchy includes a set of dimensions from the stored dimensions, a level for each dimension in the set, and a sequence of the dimensions or levels in the hierarchy. A computer system calculates values for the variables in the levels for the requested hierarchy using the stored relationships that are applicable to the variables in the levels. A view of the hierarchy is generated and includes the calculated values. The view also includes the dimensions or levels of the requested hierarchy in the sequence specified for the requested hierarchy. | 07-07-2011 |
20110161139 | Capability Accelerator - An automated approach to defining the structure of an organization in terms of the desired skill sets associated with each organizational role, assessing each member of the organization according to demonstrated proficiency levels within each competency area associated with a given organizational role, and generating a gap report detailing discrepancies between desired proficiency levels and demonstrated proficiency levels of individual members of the organization. The approach can further include generating a plan based upon a comparison of the desired proficiency levels and the demonstrated proficiency levels and executing the plan. | 06-30-2011 |
20110119101 | Case Management Services - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for automatically routing and managing human resource requests. A method includes receiving a work ticket including a ticket identification code, a request type, a submission date, and an employee identification code from a workforce management engine, the work ticket being associated with a human resource request submitted by an employee at a human resource portal; assigning a case identification code to the work ticket; associating a work flow with the case identification code, the work flow including a status condition, and at least one work flow task associated with a workflow task event; and transmitting an update to the workforce management engine, the transmitting triggered by the work flow task event. | 05-19-2011 |
20110099141 | Database Rating Index - Methods, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for determining the status of a clinical database in order to characterize the quality of the database. The status may be based on the proportion of outstanding items in relation to relative milestones. A database rating index for a database is determined from risk factors, where the database rating index is indicative of a status of the clinical database and may be determined from risk factors, where each risk factor includes an issue parameter and a subject parameter, the issue parameter equals the number of occurrences for the corresponding issue, and the subject parameter corresponds to the number of patients associated with the issue parameter. The database rating index may be determined from one of a set of functions that depend on an issue health score and a subject health score. | 04-28-2011 |
20110093307 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A WORKFORCE PLANNING TOOL - A system is described for providing a workforce planning tool. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store organizational information including the number of employees, a growth percentage over a period of time, net employee turnover over the period of time, and a hiring percentage over the period of time for each hire type used by the organization. The processor may receive the information and determine a talent gap consisting of a total number of hires required based on the number of employees, the growth percentage and the net employee turnover. The processor may determine a number of hires of each hire type based on the hiring percentage for each hire type and the total number of hires, and may transform the number of hires for each hire type into a hiring strategy. The processor may provide the hiring strategy to the user. | 04-21-2011 |
20110078154 | RECRUITMENT SCREENING TOOL - A recruitment screening tool is configured to generate a respective resume score for each of a plurality of candidate resumes based on a comparison of each resume to predetermined resume criteria by a candidate screener. The recruitment screening tool compares each respective resume score to a predetermined scoring scale having at least one scoring threshold. A candidate recruiter is notified of each resume having a respective resume score greater than the at least one scoring threshold. The recruitment screening tool is also configured to perform quality control functions with respect to the candidate screener. The tool is also configured to generate at least one statistic based on at least one analysis factor with respect to content of the candidate resumes. | 03-31-2011 |
20110064331 | Transforming A Submitted Image Of A Person Based On A Condition Of The Person - Apparatuses, computer media, and methods for altering a submitted image of a person. The submitted image is transformed in accordance with associated data regarding the person's condition. Global data may be processed by a statistical process to obtain cluster information, and the transformation parameter is then determined from cluster information. The transformation parameter is then applied to a portion of the submitted image to render a transformed image. A transformation parameter may include a texture alteration parameter, a hair descriptive parameter, or a reshaping parameter. An error measure may be determined that gauges a discrepancy between a transformed image and an actual image. A transformation model is subsequently reconfigured with a modified model in order to reduce the error measure. Also, the transformation model may be trained to reduce an error measure for the transformed image. | 03-17-2011 |
20110055712 | GENERIC, ONE-CLICK INTERFACE ASPECTS OF CLOUD CONSOLE - A method, computer-readable medium, and system for providing access to computing resources provisioned across multiple cloud providers and/or data centers is disclosed. A graphical user interface may be used to display a plurality of computing resources which are provisioned across at least one cloud provider and/or at least one data center, where the plurality of computing resources may implement a virtual machine, a plurality of virtual machines of a cloud computing environment, etc. In response to a selection of the computing resources using the graphical user interface, the plurality of computing resources may be launched and/or configured on the at least one cloud provider and/or at least one data center which provide the computing resources. Access to the plurality of computing resources may then be provided using the graphical user interface. | 03-03-2011 |
20110055710 | TRAFFIC VISUALIZATION ACROSS WEB MAPS - A web traffic visualization system includes a generation module configured to generate a web map. The web map includes web objects and links connecting the web objects, where the web objects are for a web site. The web traffic visualization system also includes an acceptance module configured to assign a unique ID to a visitor of the web site and receive a visitor action performed by the visitor on a web object in the web site tagged with the unique ID. The web traffic visualization system is further configured to include a visualization module configured to generate and display the visitor action on the web map in response to receiving the visitor action tagged with the unique ID. | 03-03-2011 |
20110055399 | PROVISIONER WITHIN CLOUD CONSOLE--DEFINING IMAGES OF AN ENTERPRISE TO BE OPERABLE ON DIFFERENT CLOUD COMPUTING PROVIDERS - A method, computer-readable medium, and system for provisioning computing resources across multiple cloud providers and/or data centers are disclosed. A graphical user interface is used to select a plurality of computing resources and at least one cloud provider and/or at least one data center for providing the plurality of computing resources. Scripts associated with the at least one cloud provider and/or at least one data center are accessed, where each script is capable of automatically setting up a computing resource on an associated cloud provider or associated data center. The scripts are then used to automatically allocate and/or configure the computing resources on the at least one cloud provider and/or at least one data center. As such, computing resources can be automatically provisioned using a generic graphical user interface and without a user having skills or credentials specific to each cloud provider and/or data center. | 03-03-2011 |
20110055385 | ENTERPRISE-LEVEL MANAGEMENT, CONTROL AND INFORMATION ASPECTS OF CLOUD CONSOLE - A method, computer-readable medium, and system for monitoring usage of computing resources provisioned across multiple cloud providers and/or data centers are disclosed. Events associated with usage of a plurality of computing resources may be accessed, where the plurality of computing resources may implement a virtual machine, a plurality of virtual machines of a cloud computing environment, etc. The events may be associated with a start, a stop, a status change, etc., of the plurality of computing resources. The events may be used to generate usage data for the plurality of computing resources. The usage data may include historical data associated with previous usage of the plurality of computing resources. Additionally, the usage data may be displayed using a graphical user interface, thereby enabling monitoring and/or tracking of usage of computing resources provisioned across at least one cloud provider and/or at least one data center. | 03-03-2011 |
20110055254 | OBJECT CUSTOMIZATION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An Object Customization and Management (OCM) system is configured to identify an object for creating a website based on a business objective. The OCM system includes a customizing module configured to determine qualitative attribute categories for a plurality of objects operable to be used in websites. The module assigns the plurality of objects to the qualitative attribute categories. The OCM system also includes a data management module configured to receive a request for one of the plurality of objects to be used to achieve the business objective. This module also matches the business objective with one of the qualitative attribute categories, and selects an object in the matched qualitative attribute category for the request. | 03-03-2011 |
20110055217 | SYSTEM TO MODIFY WEBSITES FOR ORGANIC SEARCH OPTIMIZATION - A system is configured to modify a website to optimize the website for an organic search of a topic. The system includes a data management module configured to receive search terms for the topic, receive related terms to the search terms for the topic, and receive website input data. The system also includes a scanning module configured to scan and index web pages and web objects in the website and identify a subset of web pages and web objects associated with the search terms and the related terms. The system also includes an optimizing module configured to process the subset of web pages and web objects from the website by prioritizing the subset of web pages and web objects or measuring a metric with respect to the subset of web pages and web objects. The search terms and related terms are deployed into the subset of web pages and web objects on the website based on the processing. | 03-03-2011 |
20110055127 | MODEL OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM USING VARIABLE SCORING - A model optimization system is configured to determine quality of variables for model generation. A data storage stores input variables, quality metrics for the input variables, and weights for the quality metrics. The quality metrics describe sufficiency of data for the input variables and the data is provided for a plurality of regions. A scoring module determines a score for each region based on the input variables and the weighted quality metrics. An optimizer determines whether at least one of the input variables for a region is to be modified based on the scores, and determines whether the total score for the region is operable to be improved using a modified input variable. | 03-03-2011 |
20110055101 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AN INTERACTIVE CAREER MANAGEMENT TOOL - A system is described for providing an interactive career management tool. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store job levels and career option descriptions associated with business function and job identifiers. Each job level may be associated with experience and expectation descriptions. The processor may receive a business function and job identifier and may retrieve the associated career option descriptions and job levels along with the experience and expectation descriptions associated with each job level. The processor may transform the job levels, experience descriptions, and expectation descriptions into a table. The processor may transform the career option descriptions into an interactive display which includes several shapes. Each career option may be displayed when the user selects a shape associated with the career option description. The processor may provide the table and the interactive display to a device of the user. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054973 | LABOR RESOURCE DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM - A labor resource decision support system, in which labor resource data is maintained across multiple units within an organization using a standardized data record format. A demand measurement for a first type of labor resource having a unique combination of values for fields of the standardized data record format is determined based on input describing forecasted demand for the first type of labor resource within the organization and a supply measurement for the first type of labor resource is determined based on input describing forecasted supply for the first type of labor resource within the organization and the labor resource data. A gap measurement is calculated based on the determined demand measurement and the determined supply measurement and an output is provided based on the calculated gap measurement. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054920 | WEB SITE TRIGGER OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM DRIVING CROSS-CHANNEL OPERATIONS - A marketing optimization system triggers offline marketing actions based on online behavior. The system stores trigger events including conditions for each trigger event. The system also stores captured online behavior. The system includes a cross-channel campaign engine configured to determine from the captured online behavior whether the conditions are satisfied for a stored trigger event. If the conditions are satisfied, the cross-channel campaign engine triggers an offline marketing action associated with the trigger event. The system also optimizes trigger events based on an analysis of the captured online behavior. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054860 | ADAPTIVE ANALYTICS MULTIDIMENSIONAL PROCESSING SYSTEM - A system includes a multidimensional data processing system storing meta data identifying a plurality of variables, a plurality of dimensions for each variable describing attributes of the variable, and a plurality of levels in each dimension. The meta data also identifies a hierarchy of the dimensions and levels for each variable. The multidimensional data processing system is configured to use the meta data to perform multidimensional queries to retrieve data for one or more of the variables from data storage. The system also includes a variable determination module determining at least one variable of the plurality variables operable to be used to generate a model, and a model generator receiving the data from the multidimensional data processing system and generating a model using the data. | 03-03-2011 |
20110053126 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ROADMAPS FOR BUILDING PROFICIENCIES IN SKILL AREAS - A system is described for providing roadmaps for building proficiencies in skill areas. The system may include a memory, interface, and processor. The memory may store skill area and skill level identifiers, and associated job experience data items describing tasks of a user within the skill area and skill level, formal learning data items describing learning activities of a user within the skill area and skill level, and collaborative data items describing collaborative roles of a user within the skill area and skill level. The processor may receive the skill area and skill level identifiers. The processor may retrieve the job experience, formal learning and collaborative data items associated with the skill area and the skill level identifiers. The processor may transform the data items into a roadmap describing the job experience, formal learning and collaborative data items recommended to reach the skill level, and provide the roadmap to the user. | 03-03-2011 |
20110047164 | Universal Data Relationship Inference Engine - While a user is viewing content on a computer display, the universal data relationship inference engine presents related information from disparate data sources. A normalized index is maintained that indexes content to a set of standard taxonomy terms. The inference engine parses content being viewed by the user. If the content includes tags for some of the standard taxonomy terms, then the system may provide the user with the ability to view the related content that is indexed by the normalized index. If there are not taxonomy tags then the system may attempt to recognize non-standard taxonomy terms in the content in order to provide the user with related content. The inference engine may also identify related content by identifying synonyms to the taxonomy terms. | 02-24-2011 |
20110047003 | DETERMINATION OF DECISION SUPPORT DATA CONCERNING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION IMPROVEMENT TECHNIQUES - In relation to an entity such as a business having customers, a determination is made of at least one incremental satisfaction improvement value associated with increasing customer satisfaction of at least one customer by a fixed increment relative to a satisfaction scale. Based on the at least one incremental satisfaction improvement value, decision support data corresponding to a plurality of customer satisfaction improvement techniques is then determined, which decision support data may be presented in any desirable manner such as on a display device. | 02-24-2011 |
20110041117 | COMPOSITIONAL MODELING OF INTEGRATED SYSTEMS USING EVENT-BASED LEGACY APPLICATIONS - The compositional event based modeling of integrated applications (CINEMA) tool provides a way to extend a modeling environment using legacy event based applications, such as Graphical User Interface (GUI) APplications (GAPs). CINEMA allows modelers to extend the toolbox of the modeling environment by creating modeling elements that represent GUI objects of GAPs. CINEMA generates source code that allows an integrated system to control and manipulate the GUI objects of GAPs represented by the modeling elements used to create a model of the integrated system. | 02-17-2011 |
20110037599 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING REAL TIME LOCATING AND GAS EXPOSURE MONITORING - A system is described for providing real time locating and gas exposure monitoring. The system may include a memory, interface, and processor. The memory may store an alarm data item including an amount of gas exposure and a location identifier. The processor may receive the alarm data item from a sensor device of a first user. The processor may identify a relative location of the first user based on the location identifier. The processor may determine a second user located within a proximity of the first user. The processor may communicate to the second user the relative location of the first user and the gas exposure of the first user. The processor may receive, from the second user, an indication of whether an emergency responder should be contacted. The processor may initiate communication with an emergency responder if the indication indicates an emergency responder should be contacted. | 02-17-2011 |
20110037571 | SYSTEM FOR RELATIVE POSITIONING OF ACCESS POINTS IN A REAL TIME LOCATING SYSTEM - A system is described for relative positioning of access points in a real time locating system. The system may include a memory, interface, and processor. The memory may store layout information for a work area which includes architectural and infrastructure attributes. The processor may determine a number of access points to position in the work area based on the architectural attributes. The processor may determine a placement of a test tag in the work area based on the infrastructure attributes. The processor may determine a positioning of the access points in the work area which substantially maximizes coverage and accuracy of locating the test tag in the work area. The processor may determine a repositioning of one of the access points when the coverage and accuracy do not satisfy a threshold. The processor may provide a graphical representation of the positioning of the access points, when the threshold is satisfied. | 02-17-2011 |
20110035371 | DATA COMPARISON SYSTEM - A data comparison system is described. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store a compare data structure containing multiple data item pairs, each pair including a legacy data item of a legacy dataset and a corresponding new data item of a new dataset, and a tolerance associated with each data item pair. The processor may receive the compare data structure and the associated tolerances. The processor may call a compare data subroutine to compare each data item pair in accordance with the associated tolerance if the data items are fields. Otherwise, the processor may recursively call the compare data subroutine for each record the data items until the data item are fields. The processor may then compare data items in accordance with the associated tolerance. | 02-10-2011 |
20110029651 | DYNAMIC SERVER CONSOLIDATION AND RATIONALIZATION MODELING TOOL - A method and system for providing efficient and flexible techniques for modeling technical and economic benefits of consolidating information technology (IT) systems, hardware, software, network, and other infrastructure are described. The system includes a data processing system configured to receive data from a user. The system also includes an input collection system communicatively coupled to the data processing system, with the input collection system designed to organize, convert, and sort the data to generate baseline server information. In addition, the system includes an optimization system communicatively coupled to the data processing system, with the optimization system designed to generate one or more server consolidation models based on the baseline server information. Further, based on the generated one or more server consolidation models, a recommendation can be generated. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029450 | COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR CONNECTING CONTRACT MANAGEMENT AND CLAIM MANAGEMENT - The description is directed to a computer-implemented method, system, and computer program product for connecting contract management and claim management. In one aspect, the computer-implemented method for connecting contract management and claim management may comprise: annotating target constraints, to be fulfilled by at least one contract, with machine-readable and/or machine-processible metadata; providing an electronic target form based on the annotated target constraints of the contract; receiving through an interface at least one actual data value corresponding to at least one of the target constraints in the electronic target constraint form; determining using a processor whether the at least one actual data value matches the at least one target constraint; and if a mismatch between the at least one actual data value and the at least one target constraint is determined, then providing an electronic decision form based on the mismatch. | 02-03-2011 |
20110026517 | Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) - An adaptation proxy, a computer system, a computer-implemented method, and a computer program product for enabling presence and remote call control services between client devices served by different SIP servers. In one aspect, the adaptation proxy integrable into a computer system for enabling presence and remote call control services between client devices served by different SIP servers may comprise an SIP adaptor operable to transform and to transport SIP messages between the client devices served by the different SIP servers; a CSTA gateway operable to convert a CSTA event supported by a second SIP server of the SIP servers into a format supported by a first SIP server of the SIP servers, wherein the CSTA event independently operates over the SIP messages to communicate remote control commands; and a presence integrator operable to notify a change to a call state of a first client device from the client devices served by the first SIP server to the second SIP server after having performed a mapping between the changed call state and a corresponding presence state of a second client device from the client devices served by the second SIP server so as to integrate presence information of the first client device and the second client device. | 02-03-2011 |
20110022404 | DEVELOPMENT OF TRAVEL PLANS INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT INDICATION - To assist in the development of travel plans, at least one first and at least one second user input mechanism is provided via a graphical user interface to a user. In response, first travel inputs and second travel inputs are received and respectively used to derive baseline and revised travel parameters, which travel parameters respectively include a baseline and revised environmental impact indication. The baseline and revised travel parameters, including the environmental impact indications, are presented via the graphical user interface. Difference values between the respective baseline and revised travel parameters may be determined and likewise presented. Furthermore, cost and commute time indications may be determined in a similar fashion, i.e., based on the first and second travel inputs, and subsequently presented. The environmental impact indications may be provided in the form of estimated carbon emissions. | 01-27-2011 |
20110016453 | MODULARIZING AND ASPECTIZING GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE DIRECTED TEST SCRIPTS - A test structure for testing graphical user interface applications (GAPs) modularizes test scripts by separating statements that define GAP test logic from statements that navigate to GAP objects. Composition rules weave the statements together to generate the test scripts that are executed to test the GAP. Because the test structure is modular, test logic can be reused across different GAPs and different versions of the same GAP. Reusing test logic is not only an efficient practice from a test engineer's point of view, but also leads to a reduction in test programming errors. The modular test structure also facilitates the efficient modification of test scripts to account for modifications in the underlying GAPs, greatly reducing the time, cost, and resource expenditures needed to arrive at updated test scripts. | 01-20-2011 |
20110016414 | SYSTEM IMAGE CUSTOMIZATION TOOL - A system image customization tool provides an efficient and cost effective way to implement a highly customizable system image for a digital device. The system image customization tool controls application installation, device settings, and selection, delivery methods and licensing options for products, applications and services with minimal or no customer interaction from the customer's first out of box experience with the device and through the lifecycle use of the device. The system image customization tool provides retailers, original equipment manufacturers and products, applications and services providers a way to create new distribution channels and partnerships. | 01-20-2011 |
20110016179 | Social Community Generated Answer System With Collaboration Constraints - A method for social network collaboration addresses the need for efficient and effective way of obtaining information. The method obtains aggregated information from members of a social network collaborating in response to a source collaboration message. The method provides for a demand-driven collaborated information production such that the information is significantly more relevant and accurate. | 01-20-2011 |
20110016086 | DATA PROCESSING METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - The present description refers in particular to a data processing method, a computer program product, and a data processing system for obtaining and storing data in an outsourcing environment, the method including providing a user interface on a user computer; determining an indicator which indicates whether there is synchronization data in a user database, wherein the synchronization data is for synchronization with a remote database which is located on a remote computer; obtaining user data with the user interface; and storing the user data in the user database if the indicator indicates that there is synchronization data in the user database. | 01-20-2011 |
20110011936 | DIGITAL POINT-OF-SALE ANALYZER - A digital point-of-sale system for determining key performance indicators (KPIs) at a point-of-sale includes a product identification unit and a realogram creation unit. The product identification unit is configured to receive a captured image of a product display and to identify products in the captured image by comparing features determined from the captured image to features determined from products templates. The realogram creation unit is configured to create a realogram from the identified products and product templates. A product price KPI unit is configured to identify a product label proximally located to each identified product, and to recognize the product price on each product label. Each product price is compared to a predetermined range of prices to determine whether the product label proximally located to the identified product is a correct product label for the identified product. | 01-20-2011 |
20110010226 | MARKETING MODEL DETERMINATION SYSTEM - A system includes a variable determination module determining a variable operable to be used for the final model and also determining a modification to the at least one variable. An assumption determination module determines an assumption operable to be used for the final model. The assumption includes a transformation for the variable describing how the variable impacts the marketing objective or how the variable impacts another variable operable to be used in the final model. The assumption module also determines a modification to the assumption. A model generator generates a candidate model using the variable and the assumption, and generates a new candidate model using the modified assumption, the new variable or the modification to the variable. The candidate model or the new candidate model is operable to be selected as the final model based on at least one of a statistical measure and an indication of relevance for the variable in the candidate model and the new candidate model. | 01-13-2011 |
20110004446 | INTELLIGENT NETWORK - A network intelligence system may include a plurality of sensors located throughout and industry system. The sensors may obtain data related to various aspects of the industry network. The network intelligence system may include system endpoint intelligence and system infrastructure intelligence. The system endpoint and system infrastructure intelligence may provide distributed intelligence allowing localized decision-making to be made within the industry system based in response to system operation and occurrences. The network intelligence may include a centralized intelligence portion to communicate with endpoint and infrastructure intelligence. The centralized intelligence portion may provide responses on a localized level of the system or on a system-wide level. | 01-06-2011 |
20100332413 | FUTURE VALUE DRIVERS - A computer-implemented method for analyzing corporate investments to measure the performance of a company is provided. The method may include: receiving financial data, the financial data including a plurality of operating investments of the company and a Future Value (FV) of the company; determining with a data processor a plurality of data points from the financial data, each of the plurality of data points indicative of a ratio between one of the plurality of operating investments and the Future Value (FV) of the company; determining a first benchmark and a second benchmark, the first benchmark indicative of a threshold ratio between the FV and the operating investment, the second benchmark indicative of a threshold operating investment; and displaying the data points, the first benchmark, and the second benchmark to advise a user of an effectiveness of the operating investments. | 12-30-2010 |
20100332362 | TAX RETURN EVALUATION SYSTEM - Tax returns are received from one or more tax agencies. Each tax return is compared to a stored profile, and a determination is made as to whether each tax return falls within a trend. An evaluation of the tax return is generated based on the comparison and the determination of whether the tax return falls within the trend. The evaluation includes an indication of the tax returns potential to be a fraudulent tax return. | 12-30-2010 |
20100324960 | Predicative Recruitment Reporting and Management - Methods, computer-readable media, and apparatuses process data for an employee requisition, in which a contracted company may assume responsibility for supporting portions of the requisition process by filtering candidates. Consequently, only qualified candidates for a specified job assignment are interviewed by the contracting company (client). By looking at requisitions that are in process and focusing on whether or not they have achieved an expected threshold of activity, a requisition system can predict bottlenecks in the process before the requisition is filled. An interprocess report organizes and acts on data to provide a management team a prediction of how a recruitment team will perform by individual recruiter and requisition level. In addition, actions are identified that the manager can initiate to correct issues early in the requisition process in order to reduce an impact on the client as per a service level agreement. | 12-23-2010 |
20100318409 | Component Based Productivity Measurement - Methods, computer-readable media, and apparatuses evaluate the productivity of a work effort and determine the potential productivity improvement for completing the work effort. The work effort is baselined, and the potential productivity improvement may be assessed by presenting evaluation questions organized by categories. The potential productivity improvement is then applied to an estimating model to obtain an estimated effort for completing the work effort. The actual effort measure is then obtained from a time capture system and compared to the estimated effort in order to generate an indicator that is indicative of the comparison. The baselining of the work effort may be repeated at a subsequent time by obtaining an updated estimated effort from the estimating model and an updated actual effort measure form the time capture system and then comparing them to determine whether the productivity objective has been achieved at the subsequent time. | 12-16-2010 |
20100318405 | PRODUCT PLACEMENT FOR THE MASSES - Product-related information provided by brand owners is made available for inclusion in user-generated content. Users may include the product-related information in user-generated content, and receive payment for including the product-related information in their user-generated content based on metrics and rules for publishing the product-related information. | 12-16-2010 |
20100318403 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TOP-DOWN PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION USING ELASTICITY MODELING - A system uses elasticity modeling to enable cross category optimization of store display space for merchandise for any group of stores and items using point-of-sale data. A space elasticity curve is periodically created for each combination of performance metric, store cluster, planogram, and item segment, and is then scaled by individual store. A user can select any combination of stores and planograms, and the system then reconstructs the elasticity curves as individual “synthetic items,” which are averaged across the selected stores by creating average synthetic SKU records that reflect the estimated average store performance in each performance metric. The synthetic items are then used to either evaluate macro space performance across or within store areas, or to determine the best use of overall store display space available to permit management to optimally allocate display space for merchandise. | 12-16-2010 |
20100316212 | REMOTE MEDIA CALL CENTER - The call center processing system disclosed enhances the capabilities of traditional call centers. In particular, the processing system allows a call center to receive, aggregate, and index many different types of media obtained from a wide variety of sources and that relate to many different types of incidents. Thus, for example, the processing system provides a third party with the option of submitting call phone camera pictures, audio input, video camera footage, and other types of media when reporting an incident to the call center. The call center may be an emergency number (e.g., 911) call center, a service center (e.g., for a home appliance), a news reporting call center, or any other type of interactive information exchange. | 12-16-2010 |
20100312605 | TECHNICIAN CONTROL SYSTEM - Technician control, in which a control system is configured to control scheduling and dispatch operations for work orders being handled by technicians. Multiple technician devices are each associated with one or more technicians, are configured to communicate, over a network, with the control system, and also are configured to provide output in response to communications that are received from the control system and that are related to the scheduling and dispatch operations performed by the control system. A set of scheduling configuration options may be pre-defined and user input weighting at least one of the scheduling configuration options relative to other of the scheduling configuration options may be received. A scheduling application used by the control system to perform scheduling operations may be configured based on configuration data that reflects the weighting and scheduling operations may be performed using the configured scheduling application. | 12-09-2010 |
20100306085 | RAPID ITEM AUTHENTICATION VIA CONVENTIONAL COMMUNICATION CHANNELS - An authentication manager is provided that is accessible by a mobile wireless device through conventional networks. The mobile wireless device is configured to obtain information regarding at least one identification code displayed on an item and send such information to a the authentication manager. In response, authentication manager provides authentication information to the mobile wireless device. The authentication information indicates whether the at least one identification (and, by implication, the item to which it corresponds) is authentic or not. Additional information regarding the item may also be provided by the authentication manager. The authentication manager can decode and/or translate any received information regarding the at least one identification code as needed. The authentication manager provides the information regarding the at least one identification code to an authenticating entity that returns the authentication information to the authentication manager. Likewise, the additional information may also be provided by the authenticating entity. | 12-02-2010 |
20100299279 | SCORECARD REPORTING SYSTEM - A data processing system generates a scorecard analysis that displays multiple scorecard windows, each directed to a specific different perspective on a particular business function. Each perspective may have at least one corresponding objective, and each objective may have at least one corresponding key performance indicator. Each scorecard may include drill down capability from a top level analysis to more detailed information on a perspective, objective, or key performance indicator. | 11-25-2010 |
20100299175 | ENHANCED POSTAL DATA MODELING FRAMEWORK - An enhanced postal data modeling framework, in which postal data which describes characteristics of a mail sortation process is accessed, and the postal data is mapped to production management data which describes characteristics of a model production management process in an initial state and which is capable of being processed by a production management application. The production management data is input for processing by the production management application to produce forecasted production management data which predicts characteristics of the model production management process in a subsequent state, the forecasted production management data is modeled to forecasted postal data which predicts characteristics of the mail sortation process, and at least a portion of the forecasted postal data is provided to a user. | 11-25-2010 |
20100296402 | NETWORK REAL TIME MONITORING AND CONTROL SYSTEM - A network real-time monitoring and control system includes several layers of components for generating a network traffic shaping control that is used to shaping network traffic flows for one or more network nodes. The layers of the network real-time monitoring and control system include a monitoring layer, an event control layer, a traffic shaping control layer, a reporting layer, and an administrative layer. The monitoring obtains network traffic indicator measurements and network node operational indicator measurements. The event control layer uses the indicator measurements to generate a network event identifier, and generates a request for a network traffic shaping control based on a correlation of the network event identifier with a network node status identifier. The request for the network traffic shaping control is communicated to the traffic shaping control layer to generate a network traffic shaping control. | 11-25-2010 |
20100296397 | CONTROL MANAGEMENT OF VOICE-OVER-IP PARAMETERS - A control management system for managing voice-over-IP parameters includes a network traffic shaping control state model for a network traffic shaping control. The network traffic shaping control state model defines state sets that contain states. The state sets may include a pending state set, a running state set, a terminated state set, a finished state set, and a stopped state set. The network traffic shaping control state model also defines intra-state transitions, which are transitions within a state set, and inter-state transitions, which are transitions between state sets. The intra-state and inter-state transitions may be associated with a condition, and the network traffic shaping control changes state according to the intra-state or inter-state transition when the associated condition is satisfied. The associated condition may be satisfied when one or more network event identifiers are generated by the control management system. | 11-25-2010 |
20100293020 | EMBEDDED WARRANTY MANAGEMENT - Methods and systems for obtaining and analyzing data from embedded sensors in electronic products for warranty management. A data collection unit in an electronic product collects and reports data about environmental factors that is relevant about a warranty agreement and transmits the data over a communications link to a data interpretation unit. The data interpretation unit may obtain warranty information from an electronic product and query a database to determine if the electronic product has been exposed to environmental factors outside the ranges that are specified in the warranty agreement. The data interpretation unit may query a database to determine an estimated warranty cost of an extended warranty based on the condition of the electronic product and historical warranty value. | 11-18-2010 |
20100287264 | ENHANCED NETWORK ADAPTER FRAMEWORK - An enhanced network adapter framework, in which parameters are stored in a configuration table, the parameters being customized for a network and an application. A network adapter customized for the network and the application is instantiated based on invoking a generic network adapter which externally references the configuration table, and communication between the application and the network is effected using the instantiated network adapter. | 11-11-2010 |
20100280958 | SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING USER ACCESS TO A SERVICE - The invention concerns a system for controlling user access to a service having a read device ( | 11-04-2010 |
20100269121 | EXCHANGEABLE APPLICATION COMPONENTS - An application testing system limits downtime during testing of complex applications. The application testing system facilitates switching in and out any desired version of any of the multiple application components that implement the application functionality. As a result, application test personnel may work quickly to find, debug, and test the complete application functionality, without causing significant periods of application unavailability. | 10-21-2010 |
20100269050 | WEB SITE ACCELERATOR - A web site accelerator system includes a web asset migrator storing web assets in a data repository according to categories specified in a predetermined schema. The system also includes a web asset configurer matching rules stored in the data repository with attributes associated with an online user. The rules each specify a condition and a web asset stored in the data repository to provide to the online visitor if the condition is satisfied. The system also includes a rules optimizer modifying the rules based on captured online behavior. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268731 | TOUCHPOINT CUSTOMIZATION SYSTEM - A system for touchpoint content action customization at a current touchpoint to achieve a business objective includes a user touchpoint data capture unit and a content action optimization engine. The content action optimization engine is configured to select a plurality of candidate content actions for the current touchpoint based on content action metadata, to determine an observed percentage of success for an observed user behavior for each of the plurality of candidate content actions based on the user group to which the user belongs, and to determine a customized content action of the plurality of candidate content actions to implement at the current touchpoint to achieve the business objective that has the highest observed percentage of success. | 10-21-2010 |
20100262658 | SYSTEM FOR TRANSMITTING AN ELECTRONIC RECOMMENDATION - The invention concerns a system for transmitting an electronic recommendation to members of a social network, the system having a user activity monitor ( | 10-14-2010 |
20100254604 | METHOD FOR THE LOGICAL SEGMENTATION OF CONTENTS - A document to be segmented is converted into a common representation format, if necessary. Parsing of the document results in a document model that is analyzed based on at least one structure-dependent function to identify segments within the document. In one embodiment, the structure-dependent function may comprise a template, or a best-fit template of a plurality of templates, used for comparison with the document model. In other embodiments, the structure-dependent function may comprise table of contents information, font properties within the document model and/or an average segment size determined according to previously identified segments in one or more additional documents that are related to the document under consideration. Semantic-content dependent functions may be applied to further refine the analysis by identifying sub-segments within the extracted segments, or by identifying segments that may be properly merged according to the similarity of their respective semantic content. | 10-07-2010 |
20100233663 | SKILLS COMPETENCY TOOL - A skills competency tool provides a quick and efficient way to assess an organization's workforce capability maturity, and generate a workforce transformation roadmap. The skills competency tool provides a way to assess and recommend modifications to job and competency profiles defined by an organization. The skills competency tool assesses the competency level of each employee, and for each job and competency profile, locates and maps relevant educational content, internal and external to the organization, from which personalized employee training curriculum are generated. | 09-16-2010 |
20100228680 | DETERMINING RELATIVE PERFORMANCE - A method and system for evaluating a public sector organization includes identifying at least one outcome measure and at least one cost-effectiveness measure for a public sector organization; obtaining measurements associated with the measure; and determining a relative public performance measure of the public sector organization based on the measurements. | 09-09-2010 |
20100228608 | ELECTRIC TOLL MANAGEMENT - Identifying a vehicle in a toll system includes accessing a set of toll transaction entries. Each entry in the set designates a toll transaction between a vehicle and the toll system and includes a transaction descriptor and a transaction time stamp. A series of toll transaction pictures is accessed. The series includes a plurality of pictures, each of which is associated with a picture time stamp. A toll transaction entry is identified from the set as a violation transaction entry based on the transaction descriptor. A toll transaction picture is selected from the series. The transaction time stamp of the violation transaction is compared, using a processing device, with the picture time stamp of the selected toll transaction picture. The selected toll transaction picture is identified as a violation picture corresponding to the violation transaction entry based on a result of the comparison. | 09-09-2010 |
20100228607 | ELECTRIC TOLL MANAGEMENT - Identifying a vehicle in a toll system includes accessing a set of toll transaction entries. Each entry in the set designates a toll transaction between a vehicle and the toll system and includes a transaction descriptor and a transaction time stamp. A series of toll transaction pictures is accessed. The series includes a plurality of pictures, each of which is associated with a picture time stamp. A toll transaction entry is identified from the set as a violation transaction entry based on the transaction descriptor. A toll transaction picture is selected from the series. The transaction time stamp of the violation transaction is compared, using a processing device, with the picture time stamp of the selected toll transaction picture. The selected toll transaction picture is identified as a violation picture corresponding to the violation transaction entry based on a result of the comparison. | 09-09-2010 |
20100218041 | END USER CONTROL CONFIGURATION SYSTEM WITH DYNAMIC USER INTERFACE - An end user control configuration (EUC) system with dynamic user interface provides a user friendly tool for consumers to self-provision and manage network services such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. The EUC system dynamically generates graphical user interface (GUI) renderings that assist users in the completion of tasks related to provisioning, and managing network services. The EUC system allows telecommunication service providers to effectively hide the complexity of operational support systems (OSS) and the network elements that deliver the network services. The EUC system solves the technical problems of reducing the cycle-time to self-provision network services, assisting users to complete the tasks required to activate, and manage network services, and actually activating and managing the network services. | 08-26-2010 |
20100205153 | Data System Architecture to Analyze Distributed Data Sets - Methods, computer-readable media, and apparatuses support data transfer through electronic and secured channels, in which manual intervention for collecting, collating, or posting reporting results is reduced. Consistent data sets over different data sources may be collected for different accounts. Data entries in a data set may be further audited in order to verify data integrity. A data source may be backed up through a local (distributed) network of administrator machines so that the data may be analyzed at another data site without possibly corrupting the original data. Reports may also be generated using standard business rules across accounts. Moreover, custom reports are supported allowing multiple (as determined by entry criteria) degrees of freedom. | 08-12-2010 |
20100205015 | ACCOUNT LEVEL PARTICIPATION FOR UNDERWRITING COMPONENTS - An account management system has been developed that enables customer or client-related information to be stored, viewed and manipulated in a manner that reflects the relationship among different customers. The account management system includes an account data structure that defines accounts and relates customers to accounts so that the accounts include a group of related customers. In addition, a method of managing an underwriting account for an insurance policy has been developed. In particular, a method comprises the steps of establishing a plurality of participants; assigning each participant of the plurality of participants to an account; establishing business rules at an account level; and providing an underwriting decision for an account based upon the business rules. | 08-12-2010 |
20100198709 | Future Value Analytics - A method for assessing the performance of a company is provided. The method may include receiving financial data about the company and determining a future value of the company. Next, the future value is decomposed into a plurality of future value components, where the plurality of future value components includes an economy component that defines an implied amount of growth of the company attributable to the growth of the economy in general. Finally, the method may include displaying at least one of the future value components to advise a user of the performance of the company relative to the economy in general. | 08-05-2010 |
20100191583 | Accreditation Tracker - Methods, computer-readable media, and apparatuses support the accreditation of an employee based on training provided to the employee. Different employment areas are supported, including services and manufacturing. The employee's experience level and performance rating are compared with a predetermined experience duration and an acceptable performance rating, respectively, in order to determine a number of training modules and an allowed time frame to complete the number of training modules. The number of training modules is selected from a collection of training modules based on a performance indicator that is associated with the employee. When the employee has completed the number of training modules in the allowed time frame, the employee is accredited. If an employee's performance is less than a satisfactory performance rating, the employee may forfeit accreditation. Consequently, the employee must repeat the accreditation process in order to regain accreditation. | 07-29-2010 |
20100185947 | SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTED INFORMATION PRESENTATION AND INTERACTION - A system for distributed information processing and interaction includes a plurality of output devices arranged to produce a respective output portion of a system output, a plurality of application processors and a state server in data communication with the plurality of application processors. Each respective output portion is defined by context information. Each application processor is configured to process one or more respective application programs and is responsive to the context information. Each application processor is coupled with an associated respective output device for controlling the output device in producing the respective output portion. The state server provides the context information to the plurality of application processors. The architecture is extended to a more general system in which output devices produce a variety of outputs including device actuations, as well as video displays, and receive a variety of inputs. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185712 | Behavior Mapped Influence Analysis Tool - An analysis tool guides the selection of an external agent who will interact with a selected organizational actor. The analysis tool helps to minimize mismatches in personality and behavior between the external agents and actors in the business. As a result, there are fewer misunderstandings about project scope and requirements, there is better communication between individuals, and valuable deals are more frequently closed. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185498 | SYSTEM FOR RELATIVE PERFORMANCE BASED VALUATION OF RESPONSES - A system for relative performance based valuation of responses is described. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store responses related to an item and scores of the responses. The interface receives the responses and communicates with devices of users. The processor may receive the responses related to the item. The processor may provide, to devices of the users, pairs of the responses. For each pair of responses, the processor may receive, from the devices of the users, a selection of a response. The processor may calculate scores for each response based on the number of times each response was presented to the users for selection, the number of times each response was selected by the users, and an indication of the other responses of the plurality of responses each response was presented with. The processor may store the scores in the memory. | 07-22-2010 |
20100179780 | DETERMINATION OF DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMER VOLTAGES BASED ON METERED LOADS - A method for determining a primary side voltage of a distribution transformer includes determining a first current and a second current flowing through a secondary winding of the transformer at a plurality of time instants based on current meter data generated by a plurality of metered loads. The method may include determining a total current flowing to the plurality of metered loads for each of the plurality of time instants based on the first current and the second current. The method includes receiving a respective meter voltage from each of the plurality of metered loads at each of the plurality of time instants. The method includes determining a secondary side voltage of the transformer at each of the plurality of time instants based on the first, second, and total current and the respective meter voltages. The method includes determining the primary side voltage based on the secondary side voltage. | 07-15-2010 |
20100179779 | DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM ANALYSIS USING METER DATA - A monitoring system includes a first sensor positioned at a first location along a phase conductor line and a second sensor position at a second location along the phase conductor line. The first sensor is configured to generate a first set of synchrophasor data. The second sensor is configured to generate a second set of synchrophasor data. The monitoring system includes a processor configured to receive the first and second sets of synchrophasor data. The processor is further configured to determine a primary side voltage of at least one distribution transformer electrically connected to the phase conductor line based on a secondary side voltage of the at least one distribution transformer. The processor is further configured to determine at least one phase conductor line condition based on the first and second sets of synchrophasor data and the primary side voltage. | 07-15-2010 |
20100169375 | Entity Assessment and Ranking - General entity retrieval and ranking is described. A first set of documents is retrieved from one or more document repositories based on a query formed according to the topic. The first set of documents is characterized based on its first set of metadata values. One or more candidate entities are identified based on the first set of documents and the original query is thereafter augmented according to a candidate entity. The second set of documents resulting from the augmented query is then characterized in a similar manner. For each candidate entity, the first and second document set characterizations are compared to determine their degree of similarity. Increasingly similar document set characterizations indicates that the candidate entity is increasingly relevant to the original query. Repeating this process for each of the one or more candidate entities can give rise to rankings according to the respective degrees of similarity. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169332 | ANONYMITY MEASURING DEVICE - The invention concerns a data anonymity measuring device for selectively transmitting an anonymised database to a third party comprising: calculation means ( | 07-01-2010 |
20100162402 | DATA ANONYMIZATION BASED ON GUESSING ANONYMITY - Privacy is defined in the context of a guessing game based on the so-called guessing inequality. The privacy of a sanitized record, i.e., guessing anonymity, is defined by the number of guesses an attacker needs to correctly guess an original record used to generate a sanitized record. Using this definition, optimization problems are formulated that optimize a second anonymization parameter (privacy or data distortion) given constraints on a first anonymization parameter (data distortion or privacy, respectively). Optimization is performed across a spectrum of possible values for at least one noise parameter within a noise model. Noise is then generated based on the noise parameter value(s) and applied to the data, which may comprise real and/or categorical data. Prior to anonymization, the data may have identifiers suppressed, whereas outlier data values in the noise perturbed data may be likewise modified to further ensure privacy. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161818 | ENHANCED CONTENT SHARING FRAMEWORK - An enhanced content sharing framework, in which a presence table indexing content globally stored on a respective home network, and policy information identifying users who are authorized to access the respective home network are received from first and second home network manager devices that respectively manage first and second home networks that each comprises one or more content rendering devices and content storing devices. A message is received from a user requesting that particular content be provided from the first home network to a particular content rendering device or content storing device of the second home network. Based on the presence table of the first home network, it is determined that the particular content is stored on the first home network, and, based on the policy information of the first home network, it is determined that the user is authorized to access the particular content on the first home network. | 06-24-2010 |
20100153908 | IMPACT ANALYSIS OF SOFTWARE CHANGE REQUESTS - In one example, a system is provided to determine the impact of implementing a change request on a software program. The system may include an architecture model of the software program that includes components. Each of the components may have attributes that may be used by the system to determine a degree of effort to modify each respective one of the components. Components may be associated with keywords. The system may search the change request for the keywords to identify components that may be impacted by the change request. The system may determine the degree of effort to modify any impacted component based on the architecture model. The system may determine the overall impact on the software program based on the degree of effort determined for the impacted components. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153866 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MODIFYING THE EXECUTION OF A NATIVE APPLICATION RUNNING ON A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A method and system for modifying the execution of a native application running on a portable electronic device are disclosed. A module may be downloaded and executed by a portable electronic device to modify the execution of a native enterprise application running on the portable electronic device, where the native enterprise application enables user interaction with remotely-executed enterprise applications which are used to generate data for display on the portable electronic device. The module may enable modification of the appearance and/or behavior of a graphical user interface generated by the native enterprise application. The module may enable alteration of the data sharing between the enterprise applications running on the remote system. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153441 | Single access point for filing of converted electronic forms to multiple processing entities - Methods for efficiently publishing electronic versions of traditionally paper-based government forms and utilizing the electronic forms for web-based transactional services are disclosed. Standard paper-based government forms are automatically converted to XML format, including data fields for entry of information by customers. Multiple electronic forms are accessible to the customer at a single access point, such as a web site. At the web site, the customer selects a form for filing with any of a plurality of government agencies. When presented to the customer, the selected form is presented with some of its data fields being pre-populated according to information retrieved from a database and specific to that customer. The customer completes the form, and a back-end system integrated with the web site handles the completed form, determines the appropriate government agency for filing the form, and transmits it as a transaction to the determined government agency. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153187 | DETERMINATION OF A PROFILE OF AN ENTITY BASED ON PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS - Relative to a given product or products, one or more attributes and, for each attribute, a plurality of possible attribute values, are defined. For a given product and attribute, one or more descriptions of the product are obtained and analyzed to determine the correspondence of the description(s), and hence the product itself, to each of the plurality of possible attribute values. In one embodiment, this analysis is based on previously-labeled training data. A knowledge base can be populated with information identifying the products and their correspondence to the plurality of possible attribute values for each attribute. This technique may be used to develop a profile of an entity, which in turn may be used to develop appropriate marketing messages or recommendations for other products. | 06-17-2010 |
20100152910 | POWER GRID OUTAGE AND FAULT CONDITION MANAGEMENT - An outage intelligence application receives event messages indicative of occurrences associated with various devices within a power grid. The outage intelligence application determines a state of the various devices based on the event messages. Based on the event messages, the outage intelligence application can determine can determine and confirm an outage condition associate with a particular device. A fault intelligence application receives synchrophasor data for each phase in a multi-phase power grid. The synchrophasor includes phasor magnitude and phasor angle information for each phased. Based on the synchrophasor data, the fault intelligence application determines the presence of a fault involving one or more of the phases and identifies a particular fault type. | 06-17-2010 |
20100131312 | Management and Administration of Employee Eligibility Verification Forms - Methods and computer-readable media provide for the management and administration of employee eligibility forms, e.g., United States Form I-9. An I-9 Management and Administrative Program (IMAP) maintains an inventory accounting process for United States employee I-9 forms, provides a semi-automated means of contacting employees in specific circumstances using specific dates as a basis, and reports on the status of I-9 forms. An employee eligibility form may assume different medium types, including a paper format, CD-ROM, and electronic format. An employment eligibility document is received from an employee, where the employment eligibility document includes an employee eligibility verification form. The employment eligibility document is verified, and, when a discrepancy is detected, the employee is automatically notified about the discrepancy. The employment eligibility document may include at least one supporting document in order to establish the identity and employment eligibility of the employee. | 05-27-2010 |
20100125854 | EVENT BASED ROUTING BETWEEN PRESENTATION AND BUSINESS LOGIC COMPONENTS - A business application framework comprising a variety of components that operate on an event-driven basis is described. In an embodiment, a delegate component is provided that receives requests from one or more presentation layer components to process various event. For any given request, the delegate component instantiates a controller component to process the event. In turn, the controller instantiates a routing logic component in order to determine a specific handler component for processing of the event by the underlying business layer. The handler component acts as a parent to one or more business layer components necessary to process the event. The handler component creates a response that is subsequently returned to the presentation layer component. During the design phase, only a plurality of events relevant to the presentation layer need to be defined to allow completion of the presentation layer, thereby allowing for the rapid development business applications. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125828 | DATA TRANSFORMATION BASED ON A TECHNICAL DESIGN DOCUMENT - Data transformation is initiated by first obtaining a technical design document comprising non-machine-executable expressions of rules for transforming input data into output data. In one embodiment, a graphical user interface is employed to specify how to obtain the technical design document, as well as to designate locations of the input and output data. Thereafter, the technical design document is parsed such that the non-machine-executable expressions of the rules may serve as the basis for generating machine-executable transformation expressions. The resulting machine-executable transformation expressions may be optionally stored and subsequently applied to input data residing in one or more suitable repositories. In this manner, the instant techniques eliminate the need to capture the data transform rules using a data transformation tool, and instead rely on capturing the rules directly from the technical design documents, thereby improving efficiency and accuracy. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125740 | SYSTEM FOR SECURING MULTITHREADED SERVER APPLICATIONS - A system for securing multithreaded server applications addresses the need for improved application performance. The system implements offloading, batching, and scheduling mechanisms for executing multithreaded applications more efficiently. The system significantly reduces overhead associated with the cooperation of the central processing unit with a graphics processing unit, which may handle, for example, cryptographic processing for threads executing on the central processing unit. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125473 | CLOUD COMPUTING ASSESSMENT TOOL - A system is described for providing a cloud computing assessment tool. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The processor may receive a data center configuration from the user. The data center configuration may include a compute and storage capacity. The processor may determine a cloud computing configuration equivalent to the data center configuration. The processor may identify a time period for transitioning from the data center to cloud computing. The processor may identify a plurality of trend values representing changes in the compute capacity and storage capacity over the period of time. The processor may generate a strategy to transition from the data center to cloud computing over the period of time. The strategy may account for the changes in the compute capacity and the storage capacity. The processor may provide a graphical output and a numerical output of the strategy to the user. | 05-20-2010 |
20100121602 | SENSOR NETWORK CALIBRATION - The invention concerns a method for determining a calibration value indicating the extent of loss of calibration of a group of three or more sensors in a sensor network, the method involving receiving a plurality of data values captured over a period of time by each of the sensors, determining by a processing unit ( | 05-13-2010 |
20100115115 | Contact Details Service - A method for a user to advise related entities with respect to a consumer service of their contact details wherein the user submits data to a Contact Details Registration Service to register their use of the consumer service; the Contact Details Registration Service allocating the user with a unique identification indicia and transmitting same to the user for subsequent use in communications with the Contact Details Registration Service and/or any related entities of the consumer service registered with the Contact Details Registration Service; the data submitted by the user including their contact details and having at least an address to which correspondence is to be sent, the contact details being associated with the unique identification indicia of the user by the Contact Detail Registration Service and stored in a database; and the user's contact details being accessible to the consumer service, or related entities thereof, upon provision of the user's associated unique identification identifier to the Contact Details Registration Service database, wherein the Contact Details Registration Service database maintains a record of related entity requests for the contact details of the user. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114554 | PREDICTIVE MODELING - Predictive modeling, in which a first simulation model that simulates a first policy for managing a set of data is determined based on a pattern representative of the set of data and first operating variables for the first policy. The first simulation model is optimized and first prediction data that estimates performance of the first policy is computed using the optimized first simulation model. A second simulation model that simulates a second policy for managing the set of data is determined based on the pattern and second operating variables for the second policy. The second simulation model is optimized and second prediction data that estimates performance of the second policy is computed using the optimized second simulation model. The first prediction data is compared with the second prediction data, and a determination of whether the first policy is better than the second policy is made. | 05-06-2010 |
20100106453 | ACTION RECOGNITION AND INTERPRETATION USING A PRECISION POSITIONING SYSTEM - To facilitate the recognition and interpretation of actions undertaken within an environment, the environment is associated with a precision positioning system (PPS) and a controller in communication with the PPS. Within the environment, an entity moves about in furtherance of one or more tasks to be completed within the environment. The PPS determines position data corresponding to at least a portion of the entity, which position data is subsequently compared with at least one known action corresponding to a predetermined task within the environment. Using a state-based task model, recognized actions may be interpreted and used to initiate at least one system action based on the current state of the task model and correspondence of the position data to the at least one known action. In an embodiment, an entity recognition system provides an identity of the entity to determine whether the entity is authorized to perform an action. | 04-29-2010 |
20100103242 | VIDEO CALL DEVICE CONTROL - The invention concerns a method of controlling an electronic device ( | 04-29-2010 |
20100103241 | REMOTE OBJECT RECOGNITION - The invention concerns a method of accessing information using a wireless mobile device ( | 04-29-2010 |
20100100825 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR ENABLING A USER TO ACCESS ENTERPRISE DATA ON A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A method, system and graphical user interface for enabling a user to access enterprise data and interact with enterprise applications generating the enterprise data using a portable electronic device is disclosed. A native application for a portable electronic device enables a user of the portable electronic device to initiate or interact with one or more enterprise applications. Each of the enterprise applications is executed remotely on a system in communication with the portable electronic device, where the portable electronic device may communicate data to the remote system and display data received from the remote system. Processing resources and storage resources of the remote system may be utilized to execute the enterprise application, thereby enabling a user to initiate or interact with a computationally-intensive enterprise application using a portable electronic device. | 04-22-2010 |
20100088248 | TARIFF MANAGEMENT CONFIGURATION AUTOMATION - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for generating a new tariff and/or billing configuration for a tariff and/or billing plan on a computer based system using an entity framework for an hierarchical arrangement of entities, the hierarchical arrangement representing a tariff and/or billing configuration, with each entity representing one or more characteristics of the configuration. One method provides that the entity framework is populated by copying an existing entity and/or by generating a new entity. | 04-08-2010 |
20100083306 | ENHANCED CUSTOM CONTENT TELEVISION - The present invention includes a system and method for combining television broadcast programming content with customized or personalized information and educational or entertainment content. The system includes a set-top box capable of receiving data transmissions and locally rendering video animation for display with, instead of and/or synchronized with television broadcast programs in a way that the television viewer sees a coherent seamless merging of the television program content and supplemental content sources in an indistinguishable format. Preferably, the viewer may interact in real-time with the enhanced television programming to provide a higher level of engagement and customization potential. | 04-01-2010 |
20100082689 | ADAPTER SERVICES - In one example, a system to integrate a first application with a second application may associate a component type in the first application with an engine object type in the second application. The component type and the engine object type may be program object types. The system may determine a hierarchical structure that includes an engine object of the engine object type from configurable rules that are associated with the component type. The system may initiate a copy of the engine object in the second application in response to receipt of a request to copy a component of the component type in the first application. | 04-01-2010 |
20100082394 | Flight Schedule Constraints for Optional Flights - The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes receiving a number N | 04-01-2010 |
20100082383 | Single Step Flight Schedule Optimization - The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes generating a first graph including possible flight segments between airline stations for an airline and determining a set of permissible crew pairings based on a traversal of the first graph. The method also includes generating a second graph comprising the determined set of permissible crew pairings and determining a set of permissible aircraft routings based on a traversal of the second graph. The method includes generating a set of optimized aircraft routings using an integer-programming algorithm that accepts the determined set of permissible aircraft routings as input, and outputting the set of optimized aircraft routings for use in a flight schedule. | 04-01-2010 |
20100077351 | IDENTIFICATION OF CONCEPTS IN SOFTWARE - Techniques enabling an end-user to specify complex concepts consisting of code abstractions, design abstractions and architectural abstractions in rule form are disclosed. In one embodiment, a graphical user interface is provided to guide a user through the process of entering concept specification information in order to define concepts, including the provision of one or more code snippets that are subsequently analyzed to assist the user in specifying the concept. The resulting rules or concept signatures are evaluated by a rule engine to determine the degree to which the underlying concepts are reflected in a given set of code. Recommended measures that need to be taken for transforming code to satisfy a concept may be provided subsequent to the analysis of the code. In this manner, code quality may be improved through systematic analysis of targeted code to demonstrate adherence (or non-adherence, as the case may be) to user-defined concepts. | 03-25-2010 |
20100070909 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SIMULATING A PLURALITY OF DEVICES - A method, system and graphical user interface for configuring a simulator. A graphical user interface may be used to define a configurable device profile, where a large number of devices for simulation by a simulator may be created based upon the configurable device profile. Once created, the devices may be individually configured and/or configured in groups. Additionally, the configuration of the devices may determine how the simulator generates and/or outputs simulated device data for the devices. For example, an attribute may be associated with a device which defines a format of the simulated device data, a rate at which the simulated device data is output, a range of values for the simulated device data, or an operating parameter of the device. An attribute specifying the communicative coupling of the devices may also be defined. Further, the simulated device data may include a data value. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070753 | ENHANCED DISTRIBUTION OF DIGITAL CONTENT - The enhanced distribution of digital content, in which a digital content distribution process is dynamically modeled, the digital content distribution process is invoked, and a serviced digital copy is provided to a recipient. Invoking the digital content distribution process further includes ingesting digital content, further including storing a digital master of the digital content in a digital vault, and servicing the digital copy of the stored digital master based on a servicing request received from the recipient. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070255 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SIMULATING A PLURALITY OF DEVICES - A method and system for simulating a plurality of devices are disclosed. A simulator configured to simulate a plurality of devices may output simulated device data for the plurality of devices, where the output of the simulated device data may be performed based upon execution of commands by the simulator. The commands may be received from a device abstraction layer in response to a request from the simulator for any commands associated with the plurality of devices. Additionally, the simulated device data may be communicated to a component coupled to the simulator, where a result of the processing of the simulated device data by the component may be used to analyze the performance of the component. Further, other commands may be executed by simulator for changing the frequency at which simulated device data is output, for performing another operation defined during configuration of the simulator, etc. | 03-18-2010 |
20100064171 | TARIFF MANAGEMENT DEPLOYMENT AUTOMATION - A method for an operator to deploy tariff and/or billing configurations represented by computer program code, the deployment being effected by operation of a user interface, the method including the steps of the operator identifying at least one configuration to be deployed, selecting the at least one configuration by use of the user interface, and associating the at least one configuration with at least one environment in which the computer program code representing the configuration must be executed to effect the configuration. | 03-11-2010 |
20100058201 | SHARED USER INTERFACE SURFACE SYSTEM - The shared user interface surface system is a simple and lightweight collaboration tool that is accessible simultaneously by multiple users through multiple sources. The shared user interface surface system provides a way to share a user interface surface and corresponding shared surface object, and coordinates local manipulations of respective local representations of the shared user interface surface and corresponding shared surface object, and updates the respective local representations with a group representation. The system accommodates diverse collaboration requirements including mixed written and spoken languages, utilization of the accessibility layer for physically disabled and disparate computing resources. | 03-04-2010 |
20100054149 | Network Performance Management - The performance of a network can be managed by receiving a set of key quality parameters, wherein a key quality parameter represents a characteristic associated with at least one network component; identifying a service quality mapping module based on one or more network components associated with providing an end customer service, wherein the service quality mapping module corresponds to at least one service instance and defines a correlation between the set of key quality parameters and a set of customer quality parameters; applying the service quality mapping module to the set of key quality parameters to generate the set of customer quality parameters; and outputting a signal representing at least one customer quality parameter included in the set of customer quality parameters. Further, the service quality mapping module can define a linear dependency between a customer quality parameter and at least one key quality parameter. | 03-04-2010 |
20100042634 | Delivery Enablement Workforce Utilization Tool Integration - Methods, computer-readable media, and apparatuses support data entry and aggregate work entries for an account. Different work codes are mapped to different categories for an account. Work entries are aggregated for the different categories in a report or in an invoice for the account. A worker may be mapped to client, which may further include a client region, when aggregating work entries to different categories for an account. A data structure is formed to include account information. The data structure can assume different structure types, including a data cube having three or more dimensions. A spreadsheet file may be linked to the data structure, and the contents a database may be synchronized to the spreadsheet file. The contents of the database may be categorized, analyzed, and aggregated, in which the contents are exported to provide a report on a worker and/or account. | 02-18-2010 |
20100041367 | REVERSE RATING SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING DURATION OF A USAGE TRANSACTION - A reverse rating system determines the duration for which a phone call or other transaction may continue, given an account balance on a pre-paid customer account. The duration may take into consideration multiple time bands, applicable discounts, rating plans and other characteristics of the customer account and telecommunications service. The telecommunications service provider may employ the duration information to determine when to disconnect an ongoing transaction. As a result, the telecommunications service provider avoids substantial revenue loses from continuing to allow a pre-paid customer to continue their transaction longer than their account balance will support. | 02-18-2010 |
20100032483 | Digital Polling System and Method - A method and system for digitally capturing polling data for one or more candidate options is provided wherein a voter is provided with a physical ballot form ( | 02-11-2010 |
20100023359 | INTEGRATED PROUCTION LOSS MANAGEMENT - Current monitoring systems often provide the operating condition of a specific component and do not consider the impact of a specific failure upon an entire system or a business. Nor do the current systems provide an avenue for the business to predict the loss, as well as its impact, and make an educated decision of mitigating the loss based upon economic, environmental, and health and safety considerations. Methods and systems are provided for predicting loss events, impacts of loss events, and providing potential corrective measures to reduce or eliminate the occurrence or impact of the loss events. One aspect relates to the use of system-wide information to predict variables that are directly linked to business impact, such as production loss. Extraneous and transactional data are also utilized according to other aspects of the invention. | 01-28-2010 |
20100011008 | CUSTOMIZED MULTI-MEDIA SERVICES - Content files such as photographs, video, graphics and/or music are indexed to identify subjects captured in them. Indexed content files are scanned to identify content files that match certain criteria. Content files that satisfy the selection criteria are directed to appropriate output devices for display such that related files are presented in a fashion by which a theme or message is conveyed. | 01-14-2010 |
20100005386 | DOCUMENT ANALYSIS, COMMENTING, AND REPORTING SYSTEM - A document analysis, commenting, and reporting system provides tools that automate quality assurance analysis tailored to specific document types. As one example, the specific document type may be a requirements specification and the system may tag different parts of requirements, including actors, entities, modes, and a remainder. The system also includes tools for visualizing the relationships between entities in a requirements specification and for identifying whether the requirements specification provides for attributes specified by a non-functional attribute glossary. The system facilitates the visualization of interactions of individual entities, of a system of entities, or entities identified for a specific use. The different types of visualizations distinguish between interacting and non-interacting entities, and highlight where a set of requirements may be deficient with respect to the non-interacting entities. However, the flexibility of the system permits analysis of any other document type, such as instruction manuals and best practices guides. | 01-07-2010 |
20090325701 | GAMING SYSTEM - The invention concerns a gaming system comprising a gaming platform ( | 12-31-2009 |
20090315670 | RFID ENABLED MEDIA SYSTEM AND METHOD - A digital media playing system includes, in one embodiment, a digital video and/or audio media object, such as a portable digital media container adapted to hold one or more digital storage mediums, that includes a radio frequency identification tag containing RFID tag information. The digital media playing system also includes a trusted media content playing device that has a radio frequency identification tag reader operatively coupled therewith, to read the RFID tag information from the RFID tag that is located on the portable media container and that securely downloads remotely stored audio and/or video media based on the RFID tag information. The RFID tag information that is in the RFID tag includes, in one embodiment, encrypted tag identification information and unencrypted remote content identification information as well as, if desired, portable digital media container authentication data (e.g. player ID). Other RFID enabled digital video and/or audio media objects include movie tickets, concert tickets, 3-D objects, clothing and other forms. | 12-24-2009 |
20090307650 | SOFTWARE UPGRADE ANALYSIS SYSTEM - A system may include computer code for analyzing an upgrade from a first version to a second version of a software program that has been customized without performing the upgrade. The system may provide default state information of default program objects. The default program objects would be included in a default installation of the second version of the software program. The computer code may retrieve current state information of current program objects from an application database. The software program that has been customized may include the current program objects. The system may generate upgrade information based on a comparison between the current state information and the default state information. The upgrade information may identify a subset of the current program objects that would be impacted by the upgrade. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307054 | Consumer and Shopper Analysis System - Systems and methods are provided for analyzing data sets representing consumer and shopper behavior. A data processing system for analyzing sales of a company's consumer packaged goods includes an interface for receiving master and shipment data from sources internal to a company and sources external to the company. Master data and shipment data are stored on a database. A merge and aggregation component operates on shipment and consumption data to create a unique repository of shopper and consumer data. A transcoding and integration component operates on external and internal master data to create a unified master data repository. A set of analytics and reports use unified master data and shipment/consumption data to support Consumer and Shopper Analysis. A sub set of secondary analysis can be performed, capitalizing the Master Data unification and sell-in and sell-out data integration. Consumer and Shopper analysis are performed for clusters of buyers and key performance indicators (KPIs) are calculated for individual customer or groups of customers. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307052 | WORKFORCE PLANNING SYSTEM, METHOD AND TOOL - A method, system and tool are disclosed for planning workforce requirements for an organization, where the organization is organized into functional areas. An input is received of a workforce supply for the organization. An input is also received of a workforce demand. The workforce demand includes an organizational direction of the organization, including strategic planning and current performance of the organization, and includes productivity levers, which include productivity metrics for each of the functional areas of the organization. A workforce gap is forecasted by comparing the workforce demand to the workforce supply. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307025 | Attrition Warning and Control System - An attrition warning and control system informs an employer as to the risk of attrition for an employee. The employee is assigned a discrete attrition category. The discrete attrition category is determined from an employee satisfaction behavior. The employee satisfaction behavior may be categorized according to its behavior type. Portal logic executed by the attrition warning and control system generates employee team attrition risk reports for employee teams. The portal logic also builds project team attrition risk reports from the employee team attrition risk reports. Reporting logic executed by the attrition warning and control system delivers the discrete attrition category, employee satisfaction behavior, the employee team attrition risk reports, and the project team attrition risk reports through an authorized connection via a communication interface. | 12-10-2009 |
20090300006 | TECHNIQUES FOR COMPUTING SIMILARITY MEASUREMENTS BETWEEN SEGMENTS REPRESENTATIVE OF DOCUMENTS - Keyword frequency data for a plurality of document-derived segments is represented in a matrix form in which each segment is represented as a vector of dimensionality equal to the number of keywords. The matrix may be subdivided into a plurality of sub-matrices, each preferably corresponding to a non-overlapping portion of the plurality of keywords. When determining a similarity measurement between any pair of segments, at least a portion of the keyword frequency data for each sub-matrix's non-overlapping keywords are used to determine a sub-matrix dot product for the pair of segments. The resulting plurality of sub-matrix dot products are then summed together in order to provide the similarity measurement. Keywords that are synonyms of each other may be accommodated through the modification of keyword frequency data. Where the keyword frequency data in the matrix representation is relative sparse, compressed views of the matrix representation may be provided. | 12-03-2009 |
20090292533 | TREATMENT PROCESSING OF A PLURALITY OF STREAMING VOICE SIGNALS FOR DETERMINATION OF A RESPONSIVE ACTION THERETO - Streaming voice signals, such as might be received at a contact center or similar operation, are analyzed to detect the occurrence of one or more unprompted, predetermined utterances. The predetermined utterances preferably constitute a vocabulary of words and/or phrases having particular meaning within the context in which they are uttered. Detection of one or more of the predetermined utterances during a call causes a determination of response-determinative significance of the detected utterance(s). Based on the response-determinative significance of the detected utterance(s), a responsive action may be further determined. Additionally, long term storage of the call corresponding to the detected utterance may also be initiated. Conversely, calls in which no predetermined utterances are detected may be deleted from short term storage. In this manner, the present invention simplifies the storage requirements for contact centers and provides the opportunity to improve caller experiences by providing shorter reaction times to potentially problematic situations. | 11-26-2009 |
20090292532 | RECOGNITION PROCESSING OF A PLURALITY OF STREAMING VOICE SIGNALS FOR DETERMINATION OF A RESPONSIVE ACTION THERETO - Streaming voice signals, such as might be received at a contact center or similar operation, are analyzed to detect the occurrence of one or more unprompted, predetermined utterances. The predetermined utterances preferably constitute a vocabulary of words and/or phrases having particular meaning within the context in which they are uttered. Detection of one or more of the predetermined utterances during a call causes a determination of response-determinative significance of the detected utterance(s). Based on the response-determinative significance of the detected utterance(s), a responsive action may be further determined. Additionally, long term storage of the call corresponding to the detected utterance may also be initiated. Conversely, calls in which no predetermined utterances are detected may be deleted from short term storage. In this manner, the present invention simplifies the storage requirements for contact centers and provides the opportunity to improve caller experiences by providing shorter reaction times to potentially problematic situations. | 11-26-2009 |
20090292531 | SYSTEM FOR HANDLING A PLURALITY OF STREAMING VOICE SIGNALS FOR DETERMINATION OF RESPONSIVE ACTION THERETO - Streaming voice signals, such as might be received at a contact center or similar operation, are analyzed to detect the occurrence of one or more unprompted, predetermined utterances. The predetermined utterances preferably constitute a vocabulary of words and/or phrases having particular meaning within the context in which they are uttered. Detection of one or more of the predetermined utterances during a call causes a determination of response-determinative significance of the detected utterance(s). Based on the response-determinative significance of the detected utterance(s), a responsive action may be further determined. Additionally, long term storage of the call corresponding to the detected utterance may also be initiated. Conversely, calls in which no predetermined utterances are detected may be deleted from short term storage. In this manner, the present invention simplifies the storage requirements for contact centers and provides the opportunity to improve caller experiences by providing shorter reaction times to potentially problematic situations. | 11-26-2009 |
20090282346 | SYSTEM FOR MANAGING A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT - A system is described for managing a collaborative environment. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store items provided by users in a collaborative environment. Each item may be related to at least one other item. The processor may identify the collaborative environment and may receive a request from a user to flag an item in the collaborative environment. The request may include a reason for flagging the item and a description of the reason. The processor may determine a priority level of a plurality of priority levels for handling the item based at least on the reason. Each priority level may be associated with an action to be performed on the item. The processor may perform the action associated with the determined priority level. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281936 | Capital Allocation and Risk Management - In an approach to financial management, a data representation is formed that defines a number of data elements and relationships between the data elements according to one or more regulatory requirements. Data characterizing availability of particular ones of the data elements for a financial institution are accepted, and actual or potential compliance by the financial institution with at least some of the regulatory requirements is then analyzed. The analysis can include identifying gaps in collection of values associated with the data elements for the regulator requirements, which can relate to calculation requirements and/or to reporting requirements for the regulations. Data representing computations associated with the regulatory requirements can be stored and the computations can then be executed to validate other implementations of the calculation. | 11-12-2009 |
20090271455 | Content Migration Tool and Method Associated Therewith - The instant disclosure describes techniques and devices for facilitating migration of files between a source system and a target system. A system for facilitating migration of files between a source system and a target system includes an extraction component and an injection component. The extraction component includes at least one extraction handler and a profile engine operative to parse a profile specification, execute the at least one extraction handler, and provide a batch specification. The injection component includes a batch handler for obtaining pulled data from a source system, and a batch engine is operative to parse a batch specification and to create at least one file structure in the target system based on extracted structure information in the batch specification. Methods and GUIs for facilitating migration of files are also described. | 10-29-2009 |
20090265430 | SYSTEM FOR ANALYZING USER ACTIVITY IN A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT - A system is described for analyzing user activity in a collaborative environment. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store a plurality of data items. Each data item may be related to at least one other data item. The processor may receive a request to alert the user when an action is performed on a selected data item. The processor may also receive a relation threshold identifying at least one other data item related to the selected data item. The processor may detect the action being performed on the data item identified by the relation threshold. The processor may transform data describing the action into an alert. The alert may include the data describing the action, the data item, and a description of the relationship between the data items. The processor may provide the alert to the user via the device. | 10-22-2009 |
20090259947 | SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING A PLURALITY OF ASSOCIATED ITEMS IN A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT - A system is described for displaying a plurality of associated items in a collaborative environment. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store items, each item associated with another item. The processor may provide the graphical representation of the items to a user where each item is represented by a shape. The processor may receive a request to associate a first metric of the items with a size of each shape and a request to associate a second metric of the items with a color of each shape. The processor may transform the graphical representation such that the size of each shape is based on the value of the first metric of each item, and the color of each shape is based on the value of the second metric of each item. The processor may provide the transformed graphical representation to the user. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259526 | SYSTEM FOR VALUATING USERS AND USER GENERATED CONTENT IN A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT - A system for valuating users and user generated content in a collaborative environment is described. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store an item, responses to the item, and ratings for each response. The processor may receive responses from the users based on the item provided by the content provider. The processor may receive ratings from the users for each of the responses. The processor may determine a response quality score for each response if the number of users who viewed the response satisfies a view threshold. The response quality score may be based on the ratings received for each response and the number of users who viewed each response. The processor may transform each response and the response quality score of each response into a graphical representation and may provide the graphical representation to the content provider. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259503 | SYSTEM AND TOOL FOR BUSINESS DRIVEN LEARNING SOLUTION - A system, method and tool are described for providing a business-driven learning solution. A learning plan is created where the learning plan is implemented in a course for a determined time period. The learning plan is displayed to a plurality of users. The learning plan is approved by the plurality of users. Thereafter, the learning plan is updated during the determined time period in accordance with changes to budget, prioritization and training needs. The updated learning plan is displayed to the plurality of users. | 10-15-2009 |
20090252345 | Wearable Computer System and Modes of Operating the System - A wearable computer system has a user interface with at least an audio-only mode of operating, and that is natural in appearance and facilitates natural interactions with the system and the user's surroundings. The wearable computer system may retrieve information from the user's voice or surroundings using a passive user interface. The audio-only user interface for the wearable computer system may include two audio receivers and a single output device, such as a speaker, that provides audio data directly to the user. The two audio receivers may be miniature microphones that collaborate to input audio signals from the user's surroundings while also accurately inputting voice commands from the user. Additionally, the user may enter natural voice commands to the wearable computer system in a manner that blends in with the natural phrases and terminology spoken by the user. | 10-08-2009 |
20090249360 | INTEGRATING ENTERPRISE SUPPORT SYSTEMS - Facilitating the exchange of information among applications (e.g., business support systems or operational support systems or a combination thereof) may involve receiving a data object from a first application, using a first controller to route the received data object to a first transformer, using the first transformer to transform the data object from a first format used by the first application into a common format object, publishing the common format object to a communication channel, receiving a request from a subscribing application to subscribe to the communication channel, using a second controller to route the common format object to a second transformer, using the second transformer to transform the common format object into a data object in a second format used by the subscribing application, and sending the data object in the second format to the subscribing application. | 10-01-2009 |
20090240679 | Selecting Accommodations on a Travel Conveyance - The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a process that includes receiving digital accommodation criteria for an accommodation assignment requested for a passenger and accessing accommodation properties that specify characteristics of accommodations offered on a travel conveyance. A first portion of the accommodation properties are base properties and a second portion of the accommodation properties are derivation properties derived from the base properties during execution of a software program configured to access the accommodation properties. The process also includes assigning weights to the accommodation properties based on a comparison between the accommodation properties and the received accommodation criteria. The process includes determining total weighting scores for each of one or more of the accommodations based on an aggregation of the assigned weights for the accommodation properties associated with the accommodation and outputting the requested accommodation assignment. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240626 | Customer Initiated Payment Method Using Mobile Device - The invention concerns a method of making a payment transaction by a customer including steps of receiving, by a mobile device ( | 09-24-2009 |
20090231152 | SYSTEM FOR MONITORING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS - A system is described for monitoring the energy efficiency of a technology component. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store a baseline power consumption value for a plurality of operating states of a technology component. The interface may communicate with a device of a user. The processor may monitor the technology component to determine a current power consumption value and a current operating state of the technology component. The processor may determine the baseline power consumption value corresponding to the current operating state. The processor may determine whether the current power consumption value is within a threshold of the baseline power consumption value. The processor may provide an alert to a device of the user if the current power consumption value of the technology component is not within the threshold of the baseline power consumption value. | 09-17-2009 |
20090222361 | DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A data management system may include computer code to receive data that may include financial data and related data. The computer code may store the data in a database. The financial data may include data not tracked by a general ledger, such as contractual commitments, operating leases, head count, environmental incidents, lost time, disposal of operations, etc. The financial data may be applicable to different business units. The computer code may be configured to permit access to, entry of, and sign-off on the data only by users granted authority to do so. The financial data may include different data categories, and the data management system may be configured to use a different workflow to manage the data based on the data category of the financial data. The computer code may generate reports from the data retrieved from the database. | 09-03-2009 |
20090217309 | GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE APPLICATION COMPARATOR - A graphical user interface (GUI) application comparator helps application designers create error free graphical user interface applications (GAPs). The comparator finds differences in the GUI elements used to compose an interface between a current GAP version and a subsequent GAP version. One benefit is that a test script writer may better understand how the GAP has evolved in order to write a better test script. Another benefit is that the comparator output may be analyzed by subsequent processing systems for automated analysis of test scripts. | 08-27-2009 |
20090217303 | TEST SCRIPT TRANSFORMATION ANALYZER WITH CHANGE GUIDE ENGINE - A script analyzer with change guide generates accurate test scripts for evolving applications. Applications often have complex graphical user interfaces for which the permutations and combinations of GUI elements give rise to an enormous field of potential commands and command sequences to be tested. Furthermore, these applications change over time, rendering prior test scripts unworkable. The script analyzer automatically generates new test scripts to reliably test subsequent application versions, while greatly reducing the time, cost, and resource expenditures needed to arrive at subsequent application versions. | 08-27-2009 |
20090217302 | TEST SCRIPT TRANSFORMATION ARCHITECTURE - A test script transformation architecture helps generate accurate test scripts for evolving applications. Applications often have complex graphical user interfaces for which the permutations and combinations of GUI elements give rise to an enormous field of potential commands and command sequences to be tested. Furthermore, these applications change over time, rendering prior test scripts unworkable. The architecture facilitates the automatic generation of new test scripts to reliably test subsequent application versions, while greatly reducing the time, cost, and resource expenditures needed to arrive at new test scripts. | 08-27-2009 |
20090217250 | GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE METADATA EVOLUTION TOOL - A metadata migration tool helps GUI application developers keep track of institutional knowledge that may be lost between application versions. The maintenance and transference of this knowledge from one application version to another aids developers in conforming future applications to restrictions and requirements imposed on previous versions that may not be immediately apparent. The architecture and processes facilitate the migration of this institutional knowledge, thus greatly reducing the time, cost, and resource expenditures spent re-creating similar components in an updated application and updated scripts to test those application components. | 08-27-2009 |
20090217182 | GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE TYPING AND MAPPING SYSTEM - A graphical user interface (GUI) type model helps application designers create error free graphical user interface applications (GAPs). The GUI type model provides a reference set of GUI element types. The application designer assigns a selected GUI element type to each GUI element in a GAP design. The GUI element types help ensure consistent and proper treatment of the GUI element types at every stage in the development of the application, from initial planning and design, to compilation and execution. | 08-27-2009 |
20090217175 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AN INTERFACE FOR COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION - A system is described for providing an interface for collaborative innovation. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store an item, primary responses, secondary responses and ratings. The interface may communicate with users and a content provider and may allow the users to create primary responses associated with the item, create secondary responses associated with the primary responses and rate the primary and secondary responses. The processor may receive the item from the content provider and provide the interface to the users. The processor may receive the primary and secondary responses from the users, and may display a graphical hierarchical representation of the item and the responses. The processor may allow the users to rate the primary and secondary responses through the graphical hierarchical representation. The processor may provide the primary and secondary responses to the content provider, ordered based on the ratings. | 08-27-2009 |
20090217100 | TEST SCRIPT TRANSFORMATION ANALYZER WITH ECONOMIC COST ENGINE - An economic engine generates accurate cost estimates for adapting a test script for use against an evolving application. Applications often have complex graphical user interfaces for which the permutations and combinations of GUI elements give rise to an enormous field of potential commands and command sequences to be tested. Furthermore, these applications change over time, rendering prior test scripts unworkable. The economic engine generates cost reports that reliably estimate the resources and time needed to produce new test scripts and test subsequent application versions, while greatly reducing the time, cost, and resource expenditures needed to arrive at subsequent application versions. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216628 | CONFIGURABLE, QUESTIONNAIRE-BASED PROJECT ASSESSMENT - Project assessment is initiated with receipt of project specification data that is descriptive, among other things, of at least one skill set or domain applied to the project. Based on the project specification data, one or more questionnaires, each corresponding to one of the identified skill sets, are automatically selected. Each of the selected questionnaires comprises questions concerning best practices applicable to the corresponding one skill set. The identified questionnaires are provided to a user and, in turn, assessment data is received in response to the one or more questionnaires. Based on the assessment data, an overall project score and other scores can be determined and presented. The at least one skill set may identify specific technologies being applied to the project. Because the questions presented in the at least one questionnaire require standardized answers, results from among a plurality of reviewers may be compared more readily. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216608 | COLLABORATIVE REVIEW SYSTEM - A system for collaborative review is described. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store responses, an item, ratings, user response quality scores, weighted ratings, and total ratings. The interface may communicate with users and a content provider. The processor may receive the item from the content provider. The processor may receive the responses, based on the item, from the users. The processor may receive the ratings for each response from the users. The processor may calculate the user response quality score for each user and may determine the weighted rating of each response based on the user quality score of the user who provided the response. The processor may determine the total rating for each response based on the weighted ratings and may provide the responses, ordered based on the total ratings, to the content provider. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216578 | COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION SYSTEM - A collaborative innovation system is described. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store a topic, responses, revisions, and ratings. The interface may communicate with a content provider and users. The processor may receive the topic from the content provider and provide the topic to the users. The processor may receive responses from some of the users based on the topic. The processor may provide the received responses to all of the users. The processor may receive revisions to the responses from some of the users. The processor may provide the received revisions to all of the users. The processor may receive ratings of the responses and the revisions from the users. The processor may provide the responses and revisions to the content provider, ordered based on the ratings. | 08-27-2009 |
20090206013 | SORT PLAN OPTIMIZATION - Aspects of the invention relate to systems and methods for improving a sort plan. According to one embodiment, several groups are formed where each group contains articles having an identifier of a hierarchical structure. In certain embodiments, the identifier may include a geographical indication, such as a postal or ZIP code. Further aspects relate to systems and methods for conducting sort plan optimization where at least some prior data is known or otherwise obtainable. In one embodiment, data relating to the quantity of groups within the sort plan, the quantity of articles associated with each identifier, and/or the quantity of articles within each group may be estimated or known. In certain embodiments, such data may be utilized to assign articles to specific bins, including any available bin, and then optimize the sort plan by selecting at least one bin for improvement. | 08-20-2009 |
20090204916 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING STRATEGIES TO REDUCE THE CARBON OUTPUT AND OPERATING COSTS OF A WORKPLACE - A system is described for providing strategies to reduce the carbon output and operating cost of a workplace. The system may include a memory, interface, and processor. The memory may store an initial configuration of a workplace and workplace initiatives. The initial workplace configuration may include equipment and travel data items, and each workplace initiative may be associated with a data item and may provide a strategy for reducing the carbon output of the associated data item. The processor may receive the initial configuration from the user and provide workplace initiatives to the user. The processor may receive a selection of an initiative from the user. The processor may process the initial workplace configuration and selected initiative to determine a recommended configuration capable of reducing the carbon output of the data item associated with the selected initiative. The processor may provide the recommended configuration to the user. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204719 | STREAMING MEDIA INTERRUPTION AND RESUMPTION SYSTEM - A media delivery system enhances subscriber experience with streaming media. The media delivery system supports delivery of primary media content to the subscriber, but also provides secondary media content delivery, such as location based media delivery, that may interrupt the primary media content. The media delivery system coordinates delivery of the primary media stream and the location based media stream so that the primary media stream resumes delivery from the point of interruption when the secondary media stream finishes. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204382 | SYSTEM FOR ASSEMBLING BEHAVIOR MODELS OF TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS - A system is described for assembling a behavior model of a technology component. The system may include a memory, and a processor. The memory may store a behavior model of a technology component. The processor may to monitor the technology component over a period of time to determine a plurality of parameter values associated with each state of a plurality of states of the technology component. The processor may process the plurality of parameter values associated with each state to determine a baseline parameter value for each state. The processor may assemble the behavior model for the technology component. The behavior model may include each state, the baseline parameter value for each state, and an association between each state and the baseline parameter value for each state. The processor may store the behavior model of the technology component in the memory. | 08-13-2009 |
20090201293 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING STRATEGIES FOR INCREASING EFFICIENCY OF DATA CENTERS - A system is described for providing strategies for increasing the efficiency of data centers. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store a historical dataset, a profile and an initial configuration of a data center. The interface may communicate with a user. The processor may identify the historical dataset and receive the profile and the initial configuration from the user. The user may select a data center initiative and a reduction factor. The processor may determine a subset of the historical dataset that describes data centers with a similar profile as the initial data center. The processor may process the initial configuration, the subset of the historical dataset and the selected initiative to determine a recommended configuration. The recommended configuration may be able to achieve the selected reduction in energy use. The processor may provide the recommended configuration to the user. | 08-13-2009 |
20090192965 | MODEL-DRIVEN EVENT DETECTION, IMPLICATION, AND REPORTING SYSTEM - An event analysis system monitors information available from both publicly and privately distributed networks of information for events that are relevant to the user's particular business concerns. Those concerns are defined in a customized model of the user's organization and external business environment. The system receives the information, detects events in the information, interprets the events, and determines implications of these events. The detection and implication proceeds with regard to specific entities, relationships between entities, and definitions of the types of events which may occur in the environment in which the entities exist. Accordingly, the analysis system intelligently adapts its processing to recognize and report events which may be of interest for any particular entity. | 07-30-2009 |
20090187458 | KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER IN A PROJECT ENVIRONMENT - Various techniques for effecting knowledge transfer are provided. In one embodiment, knowledge transfer tasks are identified through parsing of one or more repositories comprising project-related artifacts to ascertain tasks that are relevant to a transitioning project participant, and that may be further analyzed to determine whether knowledge transfer is necessary. In a similar vein, knowledge transfer recipients may be identified through similar parsing of the one or more repositories to identify project participants that are relevant to knowledge transfer tasks, with the resulting list of associated project participants narrowed down to selected knowledge transfer recipients according to their respective ability/availability to receive the knowledge transfer. Because these processes can be automated, including the use of an interactive interface, and based on stored artifacts, the subjectivity and variability of prior art techniques may be substantially reduced. | 07-23-2009 |
20090177671 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATING ETL APPLICATION - Novel tools for development and operation of ETL (Extract Transform Load) systems for populating databases. An embodiment uses metadata tables to describe relationships between jobs to run for processing data. These relationships can include parent-child job relation, and priority. These tools create a DataStage Service Architecture (DSA) that helps automate and control the ETL process. Other tools allow developers to easily view and update the ETL process. | 07-09-2009 |
20090175436 | Call center application data and interoperation architecture for a telecommunication service center - A call center application data and interoperation architecture provides a centralized design for managing applications providing call center functionality. The architecture integrates information flow using a mater data repository for all applications for all aspects of a call center operation. The architecture provides employee information at defined levels through the complete employment life cycle, including the initial hiring and termination. The architecture provides the employee information by integrating human resources information with call center applications such as Employee attendance and Leave management, ID management, Transport management, Commitment logs, and Movement management, or any other application. | 07-09-2009 |
20090172099 | FREIGHT BACKBONE MESSAGING ARCHITECTURE - A messaging architecture extends the communication capability of complex systems in existing enterprises. The architecture implements sophisticated messaging capability between typically disparate order management and shipping systems. As a result, the messaging architecture greatly streamlines order processing and shipping, increases productivity, increases system uptime and provides a baseline solution for customers that desire integrated order processing and shipping. | 07-02-2009 |
20090164466 | HEALTH ADVISOR - Systems and methods are disclosed for providing health and diet advice. A user may establish a user profile that may include information relating to the user's health and nutritional needs. The user may visit a restaurant or other food service location and may be presented with a menu that includes a variety of menu options. The user may access the user profile at the restaurant or food service location and may be provided advice and suggestions regarding the available menu options. The diet advisor may perform a comparison of the health and nutritional needs of the user with the available menu options. The diet advisor may assist a user in selecting a menu option at a restaurant or food service location that is healthy and will provide the user with the proper balance of nutrients. | 06-25-2009 |
20090157440 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF ANALYZING ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND SALES OUTSTANDING - Systems and methods are provided to perform an analysis of the accounts receivable of a business. Each component of the accounts receivable is reviewed individually and all factors related to that particular component are accounted for. A data tool is then implemented to analyze the data and to recognize the areas of all of the components that are susceptible to improvement. A strategy is then developed to maximize the efficiency of the accounts receivable. | 06-18-2009 |
20090146845 | ELECTRONIC TOLL MANAGEMENT - Electronic toll management includes capturing an image of a vehicle triggered by a transaction event representing an interaction between the vehicle and a facility, determining a vehicle identifier based on the captured image, checking whether the vehicle identifier matches a vehicle identifier provided by a party, and notifying the party of an occurrence of a match. | 06-11-2009 |
20090138793 | Document Analysis, Commenting, and Reporting System - A document analysis, commenting, and reporting system provides tools that automate quality assurance analysis tailored to specific document types. As one example, the specific document type may be a requirements specification and the system may tag different parts of requirements, including actors, entities, modes, and a remainder. However, the flexibility of the system permits analysis of any other document type, such as instruction manuals and best practices guides. The system helps avoid confusion over the document when it is delivered because of non-standard terms, ambiguous language, conflicts between document sections, incomplete or inaccurate descriptions, size and complexity of the document, and other issues. | 05-28-2009 |
20090119679 | PRESENTATION LAYER APPLICATION INTEGRATION - A system for interfacing data between at least a first and a second software program, the system hosting the execution of the software programs and each software program respectively executing computer instruction code, the system including: a computing device operable by a user and with which the user submits authentication data, the computing device indicating the grant of access to the user of the first and second software programs upon independent verification of the user's credentials by the first and second software programs where verification is required; a first selection means operable by the user to select data available to the first software program; a second selection means operable by the user to initiate a first browser and causing the first browser to post the selected data; a receiving means enabling the second software program to receive and process the posted selected data; and transmitting means enabling the second software program to return the processed data to a second browser in a form readily receivable by the second browser. | 05-07-2009 |
20090115573 | RFID ENABLED SYSTEM AND METHOD USING COMBINATION OF RFID ENABLED OBJECTS - A system for selecting digital content from at least one content source employs a plurality of RFID enabled objects that are read by one or more RFID readers. The RFID enabled objects may be, for example, RFID enabled media objects or RFID enabled non-media objects, such as any suitable RFID enabled object. Specific combinations of RFID tags and RFID enabled objects, or RFID enabled media objects provide access to more (or different) digital content than the same tags provide alone. A method includes contactlessly reading a plurality of RFID tags associated with a plurality of RFID enabled objects to obtain a plurality of RFID tag information and determining whether each of the read plurality of RFID tag information has been read within a suitable time period with respect to each other. If so, the method includes sending the read plurality of RFID tag information for receipt by a content delivery authorization unit to determine if downloadable content is available for download. | 05-07-2009 |
20090098862 | SERVICE AUTHORIZER - A service authorizer system for pushing and pulling data service authorization requests to wireless terminals is disclosed herein. The wireless terminal or a service authorization server may generate requests for authorization. The wireless terminal may generate a request for authorization that is sent to the service authorization server, which generates a multi-modal response and transmits the multi-modal response to the user. The service authorization server may also generate a multi-modal request for authorization that is sent to the wireless terminal. | 04-16-2009 |
20090089403 | MOBILE DATA COLLECTION AND VALIDATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Methods and systems for collecting and validating data are provided. Data may be collected from users at a variety of locations with a mobile device. The mobile device may wirelessly transmit the collected data to a central location. The collected data may then be validated at the central location and any resulting error messages may be transmitted to the mobile device while the mobile device remains in close proximity to the user so that the data may be corrected. | 04-02-2009 |
20090085724 | RFID ENABLED MEDIA SYSTEM AND METHOD THAT PROVIDES DYNAMIC DOWNLOADABLE MEDIA CONTENT - An audio and/or video media content providing device includes a controller, such as a server, that is responsive to RFID tag based information obtained from a remote RFID enabled media object. The controller is operative to facilitate access to media content associated with a stored periodically changing media content list. For example, a content registry database may be periodically updated through a suitable user interface to change a link between content identification information read from a remote RFID enabled media object, with media application information so that the same RFID tag may allow the downloading of different media. The link between the content ID and the media ID may be dynamically changed through the controller. This may be advantageous, to provide for example, a Top 10 song card or other RFID enabled object that stays the same but can be used to securely download different media over time. | 04-02-2009 |
20090083290 | VIRTUAL CUSTOMER DATABASE - The present invention includes a virtual customer database system for delivering personalized services to a consumer operating a communication device. The virtual customer database system includes an administrator and a distributed database. The distributed database may be selectively loaded by the administrator with customer related information extracted from participating businesses. The distributed database includes secure databases associated with each participating business and a public participant database. The administrator may process push and pull service requests by selectively querying the distributed database. Sensitive customer specific information may remain with each corresponding participating business while responses to the requests may include personalized customer specific information provided via a common interface standard. | 03-26-2009 |
20090077114 | DATA MAPPING DESIGN TOOL - A data mapping tool facilitates database engineer interaction with a data mapping document design system that facilitates creating the technical specification for migrating legacy databases. The data mapping tool provides a flexible selection of mapping modes, including a fully automated mode that resolves conflicts that may occur during the creation of the technical specification. The available modes also allow the database engineer to fully specify the intermediate staging tables used in the technical specification, and to request an partially automatic and partially interactive role over the execution of the data mapping document design system. | 03-19-2009 |
20090077014 | DATA MAPPING DOCUMENT DESIGN SYSTEM - A data mapping document design system provides a market differentiator that facilitates creating the technical specification for migrating legacy databases. The system addresses the significant technical problems associated with the immensely labor intensive, complex, and error prone endeavor of manually creating the technical specification. The system not only achieves cost and time savings in clearly measurable aspects of data migration such as migration project cost and completion timelines, but also achieves improvements in other harder to measure and track areas, such as data quality, and achieves reductions in subsequently discovered data errors. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076867 | BALANCED SCORECARD AND REPORTING TOOL - Methods and systems for developing key performance indicator (KPI) systems are provided. A centralized data store contains an indexed collection of KPIs. The KPIs may be arranged in a manner that facilitates rapid searching and retrieval. Multiple computer devices are connected to the centralized data store. The computer devices are programmed with computer-executable instructions for searching the data store and creating balanced scorecard applications that utilize one or more of the KPIs. | 03-19-2009 |
20090070187 | ENERGY MERCHANT EXCHANGE - Methods and systems for evaluating decisions associated with energy market interaction events and providing feedback to users are provided. Market interaction events include events associated with energy production and the sale of energy. Market interaction events that result in lost opportunities are identified and associated lost profits are analyzed and then displayed to users. Policies that result in the lost opportunities may also be identified and changes in policies may be recommended. | 03-12-2009 |
20090064097 | CODE ACCELERATOR - Methods and systems for generating mainframe computer code are provided. Collections of code segments for implementing common input and output operations and error handling operations are linked to an application development platform. Developers identify attributes of input and output operations. The application development platform may then search the collections to locate appropriate input and output operation and error handling operation code segments and generate a template that includes them. The developer may then add code to implement business logic and generate a mainframe application program. | 03-05-2009 |