03rd week of 2010 patent applcation highlights part 58 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20100017196 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSION OR DECOMPRESSION OF DIGITAL SIGNALS - Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, devices and systems associated with compression and decompression of digital signals are disclosed. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017197 | VOICE CODING DEVICE, VOICE DECODING DEVICE AND THEIR METHODS - It is an object to disclose a voice coding device, etc. in which the deterioration of a voice quality of a decoded signal can be reduced in the case that low frequency domain components of a spectrum are used for coding high frequency domain components and that no low frequency domain components exist. In this voice coding device, a frequency domain transform unit ( | 2010-01-21 |
20100017198 | ENCODING DEVICE, DECODING DEVICE, AND METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed is a decoding device and others capable of flexibly calculating high-band spectrum data with a high accuracy in accordance with an encoding band selected by an upper-node layer of the encoding side. In this device: a first layer decoding unit ( | 2010-01-21 |
20100017199 | ENCODING DEVICE, DECODING DEVICE, AND METHOD THEREOF - Provided is a decoding device and others which can mitigate the spectrum energy discontinuity and improves the decoded signal quality even when a sub-band is subjected to a spectrum attenuation process in the band extension method. The device includes: a substitution unit ( | 2010-01-21 |
20100017200 | ENCODING DEVICE, DECODING DEVICE, AND METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed is an encoding device which can accurately specify a band having a large error among all the bands by using a small calculation amount. The device includes: a first position identification unit ( | 2010-01-21 |
20100017201 | Data embedding apparatus, data extraction apparatus, and voice communication system - A voice communication system having, on a transmission side, a data embedding apparatus provided with an embedding allowability judgment unit ( | 2010-01-21 |
20100017202 | Method and apparatus for determining coding mode - Provided is a method and apparatus for determining a signal coding mode. The signal coding mode may be determined or changed according to whether a current frame corresponds to a silence period and by using a history of speech or music presence possibilities. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017203 | AUTOMATIC LEVEL CONTROL OF SPEECH SIGNALS - A method and apparatus for processing audio signals. The method includes receiving an audio signal as a sequence of digital samples, said audio signal containing a speech portion and a non-speech portion, dividing said sequence of digital samples into a sequence of sub-frames, selecting a set of sub-frames from said sequence of sub-frames, said set including a current sub-frame, determining whether a difference of peak values for any pair of sub-frames is greater than a pre-determined threshold, wherein said pair of sub-frames are contained in said set of sub-frames, and concluding that said current sub-frame represents said speech portion if said difference of peak values exceeds said pre-determined threshold. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017204 | ENCODING DEVICE AND ENCODING METHOD - Provided is a voice encoding device which can accurately encode a spectrum shape of a signal having a strong tonality such as a vowel. The device includes: a sub-band constituting unit ( | 2010-01-21 |
20100017205 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR ENHANCED INTELLIGIBILITY - Techniques described herein include the use of equalization techniques to improve intelligibility of a reproduced audio signal (e.g., a far-end speech signal). | 2010-01-21 |
20100017206 | Sound source separation method and system using beamforming technique - A system and method for sound source separation. The system and method use a beamforming technique. The sound source separation system includes a windowing processor; a DFT transformer; a transfer function estimator; and a noise estimator. The system also includes a voice signal extractor that cancels individual voice signals, except an individual voice signal that is desired to be extracted among individual voice signals, from the integrated voice signals. The system further includes a voice signal detector that cancels a noise part provided through the noise estimator from a transfer function of an individual voice signal which is desired to be detected and extracts a noise-canceled individual voice signal. Even when two or more sound sources are simultaneously input, the sound sources can be separated from each other and separately stored and managed, or an initial sound source can be stored and managed. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017207 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ASCERTAINING FEATURE VECTORS FROM A SIGNAL - A signal is used to form intermediate feature vectors which are subjected to high-pass filtering. The high-pass-filtered intermediate feature vectors have a respective prescribed addition feature vector added to them. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017208 | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT FOR PROCESSING VOICE - An improved integrated circuit for processing voice (speech) is provided. This is a voice LSI. The voice LSI reduces a voice output level to 0V if a speech segment is silent. This voice LSI can reduce a white noise. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017209 | RANDOM VOICEPRINT CERTIFICATION SYSTEM, RANDOM VOICEPRINT CIPHER LOCK AND CREATING METHOD THEREFOR - The present invention provides a random voiceprint certification system comprises a training system, a random cipher generator, and a testing system, which is employed to process training or testing operation for the input raw voice data. In training voice, the training system obtains an appointment voiceprint feature model parameter groups from the input raw voice data. From the appointment voiceprint feature model parameter groups several voiceprint characteristic units are obtained and at least one reference voiceprint password, which is for the testing system to carry out the voice testing operation is built. In processing testing voice, the random cipher generator generates randomly at least one reference voiceprint password from the voiceprint characteristic units of the appointment voiceprint feature model parameter groups to build the random voiceprint cipher lock. The present invention generates randomly one or several reference voiceprint passwords. The random voiceprint certification system is built completely to form the random voiceprint cipher lock. Therefore, the effect of not easy for illegal invasion can be achieved. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017210 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEARCHING STORED AUDIO DATA BASED ON A SEARCH PATTERN - A system for searching stored audio data is described. The system includes a memory configured to store audio data received from a radio receiver and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive a search pattern, search the stored audio data for the search pattern, and provide audio data based on the search. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017211 | Method for the construction of a cross-linked system - Disclosed is a method for constructing a cross-linked system whose topology of components creates a network, especially a method for creating predetermined functional units, such as cell types and tissues as well as biological and/or physical components that are based thereupon, by developing the cross-linking of the system in a self-organizing manner. The inventive method is characterized by the following steps: a) the network is represented by graph; b) edges of the said graph are provided with markings which are formed such that the graph can be unambiguously assigned to a minimal automaton; c) the automaton is described by a formal grammar representing a system of equations whose solution are defined in text form. The approach to obtain the solutions of the system of equations describes a way to construct the system, while transducers insert the components into the network in order to entirely construct the system. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017212 | TURN-TAKING MODEL - A method is claimed for managing interactive dialog between a machine and a user. In one embodiment, an interaction between the machine and the user is managed in response to a timing position of possible speech onset from the user. In another embodiment, the interaction between the machine and the user is dependent upon the timing of a recognition result, which is relative to a cessation of a verbalization of a desired sequence from the machine. In another embodiment, the interaction between the machine and the user is dependent upon a recognition result and whether the desired sequence was ceased or not ceased. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017213 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR POSTPROCESSING SPECTRAL VALUES AND ENCODER AND DECODER FOR AUDIO SIGNALS - For postprocessing spectral values which are based on a first transformation algorithm for converting the audio signal into a spectral representation, first a sequence of blocks of the spectral values representing a sequence of blocks of samples of the audio signal are provided. Hereupon, a weighted addition of spectral values of the sequence of blocks of spectral values is performed in order to obtain a sequence of blocks of postprocessed spectral values, wherein the combination is performed such that for calculating a postprocessed spectral value for a frequency band and a time duration a spectral value of the sequence of blocks for the frequency band and the time duration and a spectral value for another frequency band or another time duration are used, wherein the combination is further performed such that such weighting factors are used that the postprocessed spectral values are an approximation to the spectral values as they are obtained by converting the audio signal into a spectral representation using a second transformation algorithm which is different from the first transformation algorithm. The postprocessed spectral values are in particular used for a difference formation within a scalable encoder or for an addition within a scalable decoder, respectively. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017214 | EXTENDED SERVICES ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE FOR DISTRIBUTED ANALYTICS - A distributed processing service is configured between an Enterprise Service Bus (ESB), which supports a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) for delivering utility services, and a Sensor Data/Event Processing Bus, which receives data communication from sensors on a utility grid. The distributed processing service provides middleware that allows the event-driven Sensor Data/Event Processing Bus to communicate with the transaction-drive ESB, thus permitting the delivery of services from the SOA to the utility grid. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017215 | PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION STANDING AND SITTING ROOM NOTIFICATION SYSTEM - A method, system, and computer program product for transmitting, in real time, notification of the number of passengers riding on a public transportation vehicle. A passenger count is transmitted by an electronic counting system on a public transportation vehicle. The passenger count is received by a passenger notification device in real time. The passenger notification device then transmits a notification message containing the passenger count and a known capacity of the public transportation vehicle to a remote telecommunication device. The notification message transmitted by the passenger notification device may also contain supplemental information of additional features of the public transportation vehicle, and suggest alternative route options to the user. Additionally, the notification message may contain predictive information of the number of available spaces on the public transportation vehicle by referencing historical passenger data to further determine the likelihood that a person will be able to board. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017216 | EVENT SCHEDULING FORECASTING FOR A CALENDARING SYSTEM USING HISTORICALLY COLLECTED EVENT DATA - The present invention discloses a solution for event scheduling forecasting for a calendaring system using historically collected event data. In the solution, metrics collected from historic events can be utilized to compute event duration for scheduled and events being scheduled. Metrics such as number of attendees, quantity of topics being covered, and meeting duration can be collected. Metrics can be aggregated from one or more systems including, but not limited to, calendaring systems and presentation systems. A forecasting engine can utilize metrics to compute a duration for events which can be used to advise event coordinators, adjust scheduled event times, and notify of potential schedule conflicts. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017217 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SETTING AND ENABLING BADGES ON WEB PAGES - A charity badge may be set up for a web site of a publisher. The publisher may indicate a charity organization that the publisher wants to support. The charity badge may not be visible until an event occurs. The event may be a disaster event. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017218 | BUSINESS METHOD FOR DOMAIN NAME AND TRADE MARK ASSIGNING AND MARKETING - The business method for domain name and trade mark assigning and marketing is performed by a person or legal entity by assigning a domain name (URL) in domain fields, which is identical, similar in pronunciation, or in writing, or in other ways, up to complete confusion, to a trade mark, company name, field of activity, brand, key word, popular word, geographical or filed name, personal name, family name, pseudonym and/or other person's or legal entity's attributes which belong to another person or legal entity; or by assigning a trade name, brand, company name, and/or other person's or legal entity's attributes, which are identical, similar in pronunciation, or in writing, or in other ways, up to complete confusion, to a domain name (URL) which belongs to another person or legal entity. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017219 | System and method for evaluating business compatibility - A system and method for evaluating the business compatibility between potential business associates. In order to perform such a function, information is first collected from many different parties who are seeking a business match. The user inputs various information, including but not limited to the identity of the user or organization, the location of the user or organization, the type of business associate sought, character features of the business associate sought, size of the organization, duration of the business relationship sought, the user's qualifications, the user's investment in the organization, the estimated total capital required to launch the project, and the amount of capital contribution an individual intends to provide toward the project. The collected information is inserted into a database for future reference. Once a user has input the information, the user may use the system to find and rank user's that are the best match to the user based on the information input by the user. The system helps match a user with potential business associates by computing a business compatibility score. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017220 | Financing of Tenant Improvements - Methods for lease financing of tenant improvements. Improvements to a lease space are leased from a special purpose entity to a tenant under an improvements lease distinct from the space lease. The special purpose entity may be a legal entity owned under tax accounting rules by a landlord of the space. Financial statements of the special purpose entity may be consolidated with financial statements of the landlord. The special purpose entity may be capitalized by: (a) an equity investment by the landlord of at least three percent of the value of the tenant improvements and (b) debt issued by the special purpose entity of at least about eighty percent of the value of the tenant improvements, the debt being non-recourse against the special purpose entity, the landlord and the improvements and being secured by an absolute obligation of the tenant. The special purpose entity owns the improvements lease. Development of the tenant improvements may be financed by the special purpose entity. Rent payments under the improvements lease may have a present value at least equal to a value of the improvements at a time of commencement of the improvements lease. The improvements lease may be structured together with the space lease to support an accounting conclusion that the space lease and improvements lease are to be considered together as a single lease and classified as an operating lease. Rent payments under the improvements lease may be fully tax deductible to the tenant. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017221 | METHODS FOR COLLECTING TECHNOLOGY FEES FOR USE OF GRAIN OR BIOMASS CONTAINING A PROPRIETARY TRAIT - Embodiments of the present invention are drawn to methods for collecting technology fees for downstream use of a grain or a biomass containing a proprietary trait. The method includes providing an amount of grain or biomass containing at least one proprietary trait to a downstream user and collecting a fee based on a property attributable to the proprietary trait(s). | 2010-01-21 |
20100017222 | Systems and Methods For Scheduling Healthcare Visits - Methods and systems are provided for searching for and scheduling healthcare provider visit appointments via a user interface. A user may access a healthcare visit agent via the internet, and instruct the agent, via a user interface, to conduct a search among one or more healthcare provider systems for available visit appointments. In certain embodiments the agent generates an array of available appointments based on search criteria entered by a user via the user interface, and then populates the user interface with the array. A user may then select one or more healthcare provider appointments from the array, and instruct a scheduler to reserve the appointment time for the user at the healthcare provider. In certain embodiments the user may search for available appointments based on visit basis criteria, location criteria, calendar criteria, insurance criteria, patient satisfaction criteria and patient retention criteria. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017223 | Electronic donor medical records management system - There are disclosed an electronic donor medical records management system and a method of managing electronic donor medical records in a system. In an embodiment, the system includes a recovery agency site having a first electronic chart component configured to allow a recovery agency to add online donor charts directly to the system; and a medical records site having a second electronic chart component configured to allow processing of the online donor charts. In one embodiment, the method includes navigating a browser to a recovery agency site related to a donor; selecting an add donor link; selecting a prefix to identify a recovery agency; entering a recovery agency donor number; selecting necessary documents to be uploaded and associated with a donor chart; clicking a checkbox for review; and clicking a save donor button. Other embodiments are also disclosed. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017224 | Methods, Systems, and Products for Tracking Surgical Items - Systems and methods provides the ability to accurately track all equipment used in a surgical suite through the use of RFID tags. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017225 | DIAGNOSTICIAN CUSTOMIZED MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS USING A DIGITAL LIBRARY - The Customized Medical Diagnostic Apparatus operates under the control of a physician to implement a patient-specific instance of the apparatus by identifying medical information sources, retrieved from a Digital Library, which correlate to anomalies identified in a set of patient medical data relating to an identified patient or identified class of patient. The system includes a Digital Library for providing access to a plurality of information sources which relate to interpreting patient medical data and possible ailments associated with the patient medical data. A data characterization module calculates control variations of a set of patient medical data to identify anomalies. Based upon this statistical analysis, a Digital Library interface module searches the Digital Library for information sources relating to the set of patient medical data and interpretations of the identified anomalies. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017226 | MEDICAL WORKFLOW ONCOLOGY TASK ASSISTANCE - Assistance is provided in an oncology workflow. A tool or assistance link is provided as part of the workflow or display of task information. Task information for other patients may assist the medical professional in current task decisions. For example, the target dose, warning dose, fraction dose and number of fractions for patients with tumors at a same site (e.g., brain), with a similar size (e.g., 1 cm), a similar stage (e.g., stage 2), and/or other diagnostic information may be useful in a prescription generation task. While completing the task, the user activates the tool or assistant to determine what has been done in similar circumstances. The tool or assistances link acts as colleague advice for determining a current treatment. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017227 | Method, System and Related Software for Collecting and Sharing Patient Information - Methods of creating, distributing and/or accessing patent information are described herein that include: a) preparing at least one doctor input information dataset, b) utilizing at least one processing technique to process the at least one dataset to form an updated patient scenario, c) translating the scenario into a suitable protocol or index, and d) storing the scenario. Systems that create, distribute and/or access patient information are also described herein that include: a) a computer, b) a user interface, and c) software designed to prepare at least one doctor input information dataset, utilize at least one processing technique to process the at least one dataset to form an updated patient scenario, translate the scenario into a suitable protocol or index, and store the scenario. Methods of creating patient information is also disclosed that include: a) identifying a patient, b) retrieving a scenario related to the patient, a medical condition, or a combination thereof, c) preparing at least one doctor input information dataset, d) utilizing at least one processing technique to process the at least one dataset to form an updated patient scenario, an updated medical condition scenario or a combination thereof, e) translating the scenario into a suitable protocol or index, and f) storing the scenario. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017228 | CARE PLAN CHANGE PROPAGATION - In a medical health care network ( | 2010-01-21 |
20100017229 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHRONIC ILLNESS CARE - In one aspect, the present invention relates to a computerized system programmed for providing care support to at least one patient having at least one chronic illness. In one embodiment, the system includes a medical professional module adapted for receiving, storing, and providing data in communication with at least one medical professional at the point of care, a health coach module adapted for receiving, storing, and providing data in communication with the at least one patient and at least one health coach, a patient module adapted for receiving, storing, and providing data in communication with the at least one patient, and, a public health module adapted for receiving, storing, and providing data in communication with at least one research professional. Each of the medical professional module, health coach module, patient module, and public health module is operatively associated with a corresponding one of the at least one medical professional, at least one health coach, at least one patient, and at least one research professional through a network. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017230 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLLECTING, PROCESSING, AND STORING DISCRETE DATA RECORDS BASED UPON A SINGLE DATA INPUT - According to the present invention, there is provided a system and method for the collection, capture, processing, storage, and tracking of data for both electronic clinical trial and electronic source health records for purposes, based upon a single data collection instance. Upon the collection of data at a clinical trial site, the data are transmitted to a central server where it is captured as an electronic source document(s) in human readable format. The system then transmits the captured electronic source document to a trusted third-party's electronic document repository. Then, the system uses the same captured data to populate the clinical trial's electronic data capture database. The system incorporates security and encryption features to ensure that privacy information requirements are not violated. In the preferred embodiment, the electronic data capture provider for a clinical trial has no control over the server of the trusted third-party vendor, complying with regulatory requirements. Additionally, the collected data can be pushed into a clinical site's electronic health record system or any equivalent system which houses electronic data. Throughout the operation of the system, an audit trail is maintained which records information relating to all data recording, modifying, and accessing events. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017231 | Active Patient Management - A rules engine implemented on one or more processors can receive patient data from one or more hospital business application servers and update a transaction database stored on a memoir or storage device in communication with the one or more processors. The rules engine can execute a rule based on the patient data stored in transaction database and display content to a hospital staff member or a patient via a user interface based on the executed rule. The transaction database is updated by the rules engine upon receipt of a user response to the displayed content. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017232 | Information Transmittal And Notification System - One embodiment of this invention is an automated information transmittal system including a first database component operative to receive and maintain at least one medical data parameter, a processor programmed to detect the medical data parameter and to compare the medical data parameter to a configured set of instructions, and a primary transmitter component operative to transmit a first signal to a portable electronic device if the medical data parameter satisfies the configured set of instructions, wherein a user of the portable electronic device may review the medical data parameter by accessing a remote application from the portable electronic device. The system further includes a portable electronic device transmitter component operative to transmit at least a second signal from the portable electronic device, the second signal generated upon input from the user and transmitted to at least a first output device in a remote location, an authentication component operative to acknowledge the second signal received by the first output device, and a second database component operative to receive and maintain authentication and transmittal information generated by the authentication component, the portable electronic device and/or the first output device. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017233 | MEDICAL IMAGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - The data efficiency of medical image management system is improved. PACS ( | 2010-01-21 |
20100017234 | AUTOMATED INSURANCE ENROLLMENT, UNDERWRITING, AND CLAIMS ADJUSTING - An insurance enrollment and underwriting method includes providing a first user interface with one or more controls for enabling a user to specify one or more health conditions in an enrollment application for pet health insurance. Data representing one or more health conditions specified through the first user interface is received. That data is electronically processed. Each condition is electronically flagged as a condition that is acceptable, precluded, or for manual review. A dollar limit of coverage for each of a plurality of diagnoses in lieu of one or more exclusions is calculated. The plurality of diagnoses include one or more diagnoses related to one or more of the health conditions. Where all conditions are and flagged as acceptable or determined to be acceptable following a manual review, an active policy is packaged to include coverage for each of the plurality of diagnoses up to each diagnosis' corresponding dollar limit of coverage. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017235 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING UNCERTAIN TRANSACTION AMOUNTS IN A PAYMENT SYSTEM - A first acquirers receives, via a payment network configured to facilitate transactions between multiple issuers and multiple acquirers, an authorization response flagged with a flag. The flag indicates that clearing of a first transaction, associated with the authorization response, is to be suspended. The first transaction initially has an uncertain amount, and is associated with a first payment account, of a first user, associated with a first issuer. Subsequent determination of a final certain amount for the first transaction is awaited. Upon determination of the final certain amount, the first one of the acquirers proceeds with clearing the first transaction, based on the final certain amount. The steps are repeated for at least a second acquirer and at least a second transaction. The second transaction is associated with a second payment account, of a second user, associated with a second one of the issuers. The steps are carried out by an operator of the payment network, and the flag is understandable to the first and second issuers and the first and second acquirers. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017236 | Method and System for Configuring a Vehicle - A method and system for providing insurance, the method including making an agreement to provide insurance for a vehicle and reconfiguring the vehicle to alter the driving performance of the vehicle based on the agreement. The system includes a server arranged to provide a user interface through which a user can make an agreement for the provision of insurance and to generate instructions for reconfiguring a vehicle to alter the driving performance of the vehicle based on the agreement. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017237 | TRAVEL-RELATED METHODS, SYSTEMS AND DEVICES - A method for sharing travel-related information over a network includes enabling a user access travel-related information on a data storage device. The data is generated and transmitted by a system hosted any of several different social networking platforms. The method includes retrieving the travel-related data for multiple users over the network and displaying different maps which visually indicate the data. A method for displaying travel options includes displaying a map, enabling a user to designate travel criteria, enabling the user to change the criteria, and updating a visual representation of the search results concurrently with the user's criteria change. A method for searching reviews includes filtering reviews based on a degree of correspondence between a searcher and the personality profiles of the different reviewers. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017238 | TRAVEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A travel management system. In one implementation, a state-based desktop client provides a travel planning and management workspace for the user. The user may perform travel planning activities, and log out of the travel workspace without having to repeat travel planning tasks. In another implementation, travel planning tasks may be stored as data feeds that keep up-to-date fare and availability data even when the user is not logged into the travel workspace. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017239 | Forecasting Discovery Costs Using Historic Data - A computer-implemented method and apparatus for forecasting discovery costs includes probability-based forecasting and capturing historic stage transition data for each matter stage regarding the duration of each historic matter stage and regarding the number of new custodians and data sources added during that matter stage. The stage transition data is statistically and aggregated by stage and matter type. Progress for existing matters is extrapolated. Initiation of future matters is forecast by extrapolating how many new matters are expected to be initiated over the duration of a forecasting period. The average pace of progress is extrapolated from the historic data. Volumes of production and custodians are forecasted by extrapolation using quantitative characteristics of the historic stage transition data. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017240 | RECYCLING AID SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, AND RECYCLING AID METHOD - A recycling aid system for aiding a recycling process of an electronic apparatus is disclosed. The recycling aid system includes: the electronic apparatus; a radio communication apparatus placed in a location on a route through which the electronic apparatus moves; and a management server apparatus connected to the electronic apparatus via the radio communication apparatus. The electronic apparatus includes: a unit configured to obtain physical measurement data of environment of the electronic apparatus, and to store the physical measurement data in a storage unit; a unit configured to obtain traceability data, and to store the traceability data in the storage unit; a unit configured to transmit the environment history data and the traceability data to the management server apparatus; and a unit configured to receive data including the environment history data and the traceability data from the management server apparatus, and to visually output the received data. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017241 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR A MAINTENANCE OPTIMIZATION MODEL - A method of developing maintenance optimization model includes finding relevant criteria to drive the design towards operational performances at minimal cost for the end user, selecting inputs necessary to assess criteria selected, defining mathematical models to jointly drive the equipment/sub-system/system design and its support towards better supportability, and presenting the maintenance optimization model results to enable the exploration of the cause and effect relationships between design decisions and their operational and support impacts. The selected inputs may cover all the potential factors influencing the criteria values. The mathematical modeling can facilitate leveraging the intuitive “cause and effect” relationship between design and support, and affordability. The maintenance optimization model method, system, and computer program product provides a solid basis for the supportability evaluation of equipment/system/sub-system choices, particularly when integrated in a systematic way into the design process and used from the beginning of the development cycle. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017242 | POWER STANDARD COMPLIANCE METHOD AND SYSTEM - Methods, systems, devices and program products are provided for effecting compliance with power usage specifications through positive feedback to a monitoring entity. A power usage specification is provided for a device for a task performed by the device using the device to perform the task, embodiments monitoring power used by the device to perform the task to generate power usage data, comparing the power usage data to the power usage specification, and if the power usage data exceeds the power usage specification, automatically providing a reward to a device end-user selected as a function of a value of the specification exceeding and an agreement with the end-user or a third party. Power usage specifications may comprise predicted power usage values and requirements for the device to perform the task during a first power rate period having a lower energy or resource cost than a second power rate period. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017243 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PORTFOLIO INVESTMENT THESIS BASED ON APPLICATION LIFE CYCLES - The disclosure provides a product/service portfolio investment calculation methodology based on an application life cycle. The present invention defines an application life cycle with a plurality of phases, and provides a mechanism to define a location within the application life cycle improving product and service investment decisions. In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention maps the application life cycle with respect to telecommunications and datacommunications products and services. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017244 | METHOD FOR ORGANIZING PROCESSES - Techniques for generating a target process are provided. The techniques include identifying at least one of one or more steps and one or more artifacts within a target process and one or more other processes, pre-fetching the at least one of one or more atomic steps, one or more decision steps and splits and one or more merges to be used in the target process from the one or more other processes, and associating the at least one of one or more atomic steps, one or more decision steps and splits and one or more merges to be used in the target process at one or more decision points to generate the target process. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017245 | RESERVATION MANAGEMENT - A method, information processing system, and computer program product managing reservations of items. A request to reserve an item is received from a first user. The request includes a specification of at least one of a date and a time for a first reservation of the item. A determination is made that a second user holds a prior reservation for the item that conflicts with the first reservation. A determination is made that the second user is no longer requires the prior reservation. The prior reservation is released in response to determining that the second user no longer requires the prior reservation. The first reservation as specified by the request is allowed in response to the releasing and in response to the receiving from the first user the request. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017246 | SOFTWARE USER INTERFACE FOR SPECIFICATION OF PROJECT TASK DEPENDENCIES AND DEADLINES - A software user interface applicable to project tracking software and a method of use thereof is disclosed that enables entry of dependencies and relative deadlines for sub-tasks of projects. Dependency indicators specify dependencies of sub-tasks on the project start time or on completion times of other sub-tasks, and duration indicators specify the timing of deadlines relative to those time events. A plurality of deadlines can apply to the same sub-task so as to indicate thresholds of overdue urgency, and visual indications such as colors can be assigned to sub-tasks within the plurality to enable indications of overdue urgency in visual presentations of project status. Sub-task visual elements can be included that list and name the sub-tasks, and relate the sub-tasks to dependency indicators. Permissions can be entered that control the abilities of users to view and/or enter parameters. The method can operate over a network or the internet. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017247 | System and Method for Re-home Sequencing Optimization - A system and method for rehome sequencing optimization of a telecommunications network. In a preferred embodiment, a practicable optimized rehome sequencing plan is determined for a rehome plan in order to migrate the network topology from an initial state to a final state while minimizing the costs incurred during the network state transitions across multiple time periods. Constraints that may be considered include specific market restrictions such as the limit on the number of network elements in a cluster, the limit on the number of clusters in a sequencing step, the limit on the number of sequencing steps, and the immobility limit on the network elements. Constraints also may include cost restrictions incurred during network transitions, such as individual cost limits during each network transition state and an overall cost limit of network transitions from the initial state to the final state. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017248 | PRODUCT TRACKING AND AUTHENTICATION USING AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION - According to one general aspect, a method may include generating a transfer order within a planning system. In some embodiments, the transfer order may include instruction for the transfer of at least one physical object from at least a first location to a second location and an expected transfer time. In various embodiments, the method may include automatically communicating at least part of the information included in the transfer order to an execution system. In some embodiments, the method may include monitoring, via the execution system, the movement of the physical objects via tags, wherein each tag is associated with one of the physical objects. In one embodiment, the method may include automatically communicating movement information regarding the movement of the physical object(s) to the planning system. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017249 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING AND POWER MANAGEMENT - Systems and methods for charging electric vehicles and for quantitative and qualitative load balancing of electrical demand are provided. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017250 | SYSTEMS, APPARATUS, AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT - Systems, apparatus, and methods are provided to facilitate product development by linking stages of product development with the allocation of resources and support for the product. Products are developed based on a structured framework having distinct stages in which each stage builds upon information of previous stages. At the end of each stage, a review is conducted to determine whether the product is suitable for further development. Upon each review, an integrated set of tools is used to identify and link the product with resources and support needed for the product. In addition, the tools assist in automatically identifying the resources and support needed for the product as it progresses through each stage. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017251 | Method and Apparatus for Describing and Profiling Employee Schedules - A method and apparatus are provided for identifying activities within a work schedule. The methods includes the steps of identifying an agent, defining at least one schedule profile associated with a single workday of the agent and identifying any occurrences within the work schedule that match the defined schedule profile. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017252 | WORK PACKET ENABLED ACTIVE PROJECT SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE - A method, system, and computer-readable medium for maintaining a project schedule of projects being executed within a software factory are presented. A project management tool receives alerts from the software factory as completion statuses, of software packets being used within the software factory, change. These alerts enable a consolidated and coordinated updating of the project schedule. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017253 | PROFILING SERVICE PROVIDER COMPANIES AND TECHNICIANS - Described herein is technology for, among other things, an electronic services marketplace. The technology involves creating and populating user accounts associated with service provider companies, where the user accounts include service provider company profiles. The technology further involves creating and populating technician profiles corresponding to the technicians of the service provider companies and associating the service provider company profiles with the corresponding technician profiles. The technology further involves receiving a request for services from a buyer, determining whether any of the technicians are able to perform the requested services, assigning the request for service to a particular technician that is able to perform the requested services, and routing payment for the requested service to a financial account associated with the service provider company associated with the particular technician. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017254 | ELECTRONIC SELECT PROVIDER NETWORK - Described herein is technology for, among other things, an electronic services marketplace. The technology involves establishing a first tier of service providers, establishing a second tier of service providers, routing a service order to the first tier of service providers, and routing the service order to the second tier of service providers if the service order is not accepted by one of the first tier service providers. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017255 | Fee estimation tool - A system for generating proposals, managing projects and reporting is disclosed. The present invention allows the user to perform several important functions. First, the software aids the user in estimating costs for a proposal, based on the number of personnel who are anticipated to the employed in the proposed project. Based on this, the program will allow the user to calculate fees, based on hourly billable rates. Additionally, the program can track utilization of all individuals, departments and contractors to determine excessive idle time or overload situations. The software can also be used to enter and track all costs for the project, including billable hours, contractors, materials, etc. The software allows the user to save past proposals and projects for historical and analytical purposes. A database is created from which the user is able to review past proposals, specifically similar ones, in order to better prepare current and future proposals. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017256 | PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHOD AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A method of managing a hierarchically structured project on a computer. The method defines each of subprojects composing the hierarchical structure, define each structure of the works composing each subproject, stores information about each work of the subproject, collects information about the corresponding works among the subprojects selected by the user as a compound work, and displays the information about the work on the compound-work basis. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017257 | Notification System and Method - A dispatching system adjusts resources to meet real-time changes in demand. When a customer requests service, a work assignment is generated and sent to an employee. When a customer cancels the requested service, a cancelation code is sent to the employee. The cancelation code informs the employee that the work assignment has been canceled. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017258 | Establishing Standardized Diamond Profiles and Pricing - A method and system for establishing an index useful for pricing diamonds in a standardized way that thus makes diamonds amenable for derivative trading via futures contracts or the like. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017259 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF AUTOMATICALLY SETTING AND CHANGING PRICE FOR ONLINE CONTENT SELLING - A system, method, and product that enable users to conveniently receive financial benefits from publishing content online are described. A price for a piece of content is dynamically set in the following manner. The piece of content is initially published for free, and categorized for a related category. Related user activities are tracked and used by a business rule to determine a marketability value for the piece of content. If the marketability value exceeds a threshold, a price is determined by applying a pricing algorithm to the marketability value. Subsequent accesses to the piece of content are subject to the price. User activities related to the piece of content are continuously tracked and used to adjust the price. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017260 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VIRAL MARKETING WITHIN A VIRTUAL WORLD - A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code, including generating one or more ad-avatars in a virtual universe (VU) and monitoring information from the VU. Additionally, the method includes directing the one or more ad-avatars to perform one or more viral advertisements in the VU based on the information. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017261 | EXPERT SYSTEM AND SERVICE FOR LOCATION-BASED CONTENT INFLUENCE FOR NARROWCAST - A method and system are provided for influencing media playback by target users in a defined geographic area in order to create social groups for targeted advertising. In one embodiment, an expert system receives input from an advertisement agency defining a geographic area of interest and an advertisement strategy for the geographic area of interest. The expert system then influences media playback by target users located within the geographic area of interest in a manner that influences creation of one or more social groups centered around media playback and satisfying the advertisement strategy for the geographic area of interest. When there is convergence between a social group created via the influence of the expert system and the advertisement strategy, the expert system notifies one or more advertisement systems, which, in response, present targeted advertisements to the target users forming the social group. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017262 | PREDICTING SELECTION RATES OF A DOCUMENT USING CLICK-BASED TRANSLATION DICTIONARIES - The subject matter disclosed herein relates to predicting selection rates of web-based documents in response to a search query. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017263 | CALL CENTER ANALYTICAL SYSTEM HAVING REAL TIME CAPABILITIES - The present invention relates to a corporation call center system having real time capabilities, which comprises: (a) storage for at least a portion of the operational database of the corporation; (b) analysis module for analyzing the data of said storage, and forming model tables describing some selling and purchasing pattern of behavior as realized from prior knowledge, and model engine programs for operating with said model tables; (c) model engine programs for: (c.1.) initially, and in real time during a specific interaction with a customer, substituting real values relating to said specific interaction in said model tables, and determining respectively a most valuable parameter for the corporation or a ranking list of most valuable parameters which has to be obtained from said customer, and providing the same to a real time engine for introduction in real time to said customer; and (c.2.) upon receipt of real, value for said most valuable parameter from the customer, determining in real time by using said model tables a most attractive product or a ranking list of most attractive products, and conveying the same to said real time engine for introduction as an offer to said customer; (d) a real time engine for: (d.1.) during said interaction of an agent with a specific customer, receiving from said model engine programs either said most valuable parameter for the corporation or said ranking list of most valuable parameters, and introducing the same as a real time message to the agent for questioning by the agent from the client a real value for the same, and upon receipt of said real value from said agent, conveying it to said model engine programs; (d.2.) receiving from said model engine programs an indication relating to a most attractive product or a ranking list of most attractive products, and initiating in real time a respective message to the agent notifying him to offer the customer one or more of said most attractive products. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017264 | APPARATUS FOR SELECTING A PROCESS TO BE CARRIED OUT - The invention provides an apparatus for selecting a process to be carried out from a plurality of processes, each process being assigned a process result, having a providing device ( | 2010-01-21 |
20100017265 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCT PURCHASE RECOMMENDATION - A system and method for recommending products at the retail point of decision is disclosed. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017266 | Method and Apparatus for Prioritizing a Listing of Information Providers - A method and apparatus for prioritizing a listing of information providers according to a fee value and availability status indicated for the information providers, and providing a set of one or more information provider identifiers that satisfy a request for a type of information provider that has been received from a user over the Internet. The set of information provider identifiers are ranked according to their associated fee values and availability status. A set of one or more files are generated to display the set of information provider identifiers. The set of files are transmitted to the user, and the user is provided access to an information provider identified by one of the set of information provider identifiers. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017267 | SUPPLY CHAIN AND INVENTORY RISK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A system and method for supply chain and inventory risk management that supplies inventory from a manufacturer to a plurality of customers. An owner entity of the system is transferred a plurality of customer agreements which describe requirements for the distribution of the inventory to the customers in agreed-upon amounts in exchange for agreed-upon payments. Transfer of the customer agreements allows an electronic system of the owner entity to forecast and place orders purchasing from the manufacturer the amount of inventory that will be needed by the customers. Further, the transfer of the agreements increases the certainty that inventory purchased by the owner will be sold to the customer. The electronic owner system may also commission the services of a logistics agent that is capable of providing shipping and handling services customized to high-risk inventory, such as electronic components, increasing the owner's profit on the sale of the inventory. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017268 | System to Quantify Consumer Preferences - A user interface includes a plurality of selectable graphical elements, each of the graphical elements representing a respective attribute level of a product attribute, a first area for presenting at least one of the plurality of selectable graphical elements that has been designated by a respondent as representing an unacceptable attribute level, a second area for presenting one of the plurality of selectable graphical elements that has been designated by the respondent as representing a least-preferred attribute level, and a third area for presenting one of the plurality of selectable graphical elements that has been designated by the respondent as representing a most-preferred attribute level. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017269 | METHODS, SYSTEMS AND DEVICES FOR PROVIDING IMAGES OF FEATURED ARTICLES AND FOR MERGING OF THE IMAGES - An e-commerce method involves on-line viewing of a first article through a linking node for virtual merging on another structure. A particular application of the invention is directed to on-line apparel shopping involving a color matching scheme using color codes provided with images to be merged. For example, on-line viewing of one article, such as clothing, on another structure, includes creating an item from image-data corresponding to a colored article selected by an on-line viewer from an on-line viewer site with an image of a colored structure selected by the on-line viewer, and indicating whether the colored article and the colored structure satisfy a color-matching criterion. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017270 | METHODS, SYSTEMS AND DEVICES FOR CATEGORIZATION OF ARTICLES AND ASSOCIATED IMAGES AND FOR IMAGE MERGING THEREOF - An e-commerce method involves on-line viewing of a first article through a linking node for virtual merging on another structure. A particular application of the invention is directed to on-line apparel shopping involving a color matching scheme using color codes provided with images to be merged. For example, on-line viewing of one article, such as clothing, on another structure, includes creating an item from image-data corresponding to a colored article selected by an on-line viewer from an on-line viewer site with an image of a colored structure selected by the on-line viewer, and indicating whether the colored article and the colored structure satisfy a color-matching criterion. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017271 | METHODS, SYSTEMS AND DEVICES FOR USER PROFILE-BASED VIEWABLE IMAGES AND FOR MERGING OF THE IMAGES - An e-commerce method involves on-line viewing of a first article through a linking node for virtual merging on another structure. A particular application of the invention is directed to on-line apparel shopping involving a color matching scheme using color codes provided with images to be merged. For example, on-line viewing of one article, such as clothing, on another structure, includes creating an item from image-data corresponding to a colored article selected by an on-line viewer from an on-line viewer site with an image of a colored structure selected by the on-line viewer, and indicating whether the colored article and the colored structure satisfy a color-matching criterion. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017272 | VIEWING IMAGES FOR REVIEW IN MERGED IMAGE FORM AND WITH PARAMETER-BASED IMAGE PROCESSING - A method involves on-line viewing of a first article through a linking node for virtual merging on another structure. A particular application of the invention is directed to on-line apparel shopping involving a matching scheme using codes provided with images to be merged. For example, on-line viewing of one article, such as clothing, on another structure, includes creating an item from image-data corresponding to an article selected by an on-line viewer from an on-line viewer site with an image of a structure selected by the on-line viewer, and indicating whether the article and the structure satisfy a category-matching criterion. In certain embodiments, the articles are represented by (search) parameters that permit organizational advantages. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017273 | Method Apparatus, and System for Grouping Transportation Services - Grouping transportation lanes is disclosed. Transportation lanes include origination and destination location information, and also have associated values. The grouping includes creating an origination area, creating a destination area, compiling lanes into a lot, and making a determination with respect to the number of carriers available to operate in a lot area. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017274 | Electronic Voting Terminal and Voting System - An electronic voting terminal includes: a display; a data input device; a biometric input device; a case having an open and a closed position, the case protecting the display, the input device, and the biometric input device in the closed position, the case making the display, input device and biometric input device accessible by the voter in the open position; a communications medium; a microprocessor to control the display, the data input device, the biometric input device, and the communications medium; and a power supply that accepts alternating current and provides direct current to the microprocessor The device utilizes the biometric input device to validate the identity of the voter, utilizes the data input device to receive the ballot from the voter, and utilizes the communications medium to transmit the ballot. A system for voting also includes a centralized computer and voter registration database. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017275 | MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE CONFIGURED FOR TRANSIT APPLICATION - An apparatus configured for transit application and methods for utilizing the apparatus for transit application is disclosed. One embodiment of the invention is directed to a mobile communication device comprising a processor, a computer readable medium coupled to the processor, wherein the computer readable medium comprises code for receiving a first transit location, code for displaying options to select a second transit location, code for receiving a selection for a second transit location, and code for sending an authorization request message to an issuer associated with the mobile communication device. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017276 | SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR MANAGING AND TRACKING RECYCLABLE PRODUCTS - A system, computer program product for managing and tracking recyclable products. The computer program product includes computer codes for uniquely associating one or more recyclable products with unique identifiers and other product information stored in a database, receiving tracking information associated with the one or more recyclable products, periodically storing and updating the tracking information in the database, associating the unique identifier with a recycling user having user account information stored in the database, updating the reward total based on a recycling activity of the recycling user, and updating the reward total based on a recycling activity of the recycling user. Each recyclable product includes indicia that is both a unique scannable identifier and a visual indicator that the recyclable product is recyclable. The visual indicator is arranged to encourage recycling. The tracking information includes information scanned at one or more stages of the lifecycle of the one or more recyclable products. The user account information includes user information including a reward total and recycling data associated with the recycling user. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017277 | System and Method for Electronic Coupon Service Using Smart Card - The present invention provides a system and method for an electronic coupon service using a smart card, which can prevent illegal use of electronic coupons and can identify information about service in real time. The method includes the steps of: issuing, by an electronic coupon server, an electronic coupon to an authenticated user smart card at the request of a user who wants the electronic coupon to be issued; distributing, by a service terminal, the electronic coupon, which has been issued by the electronic coupon server, to the user smart card when the user smart card is inserted into the service terminal; and transferring, by the service terminal, the electronic coupon stored in the user smart card to a service provider smart card at the time of providing the service by the service provider, and provides an electronic coupon service system using the smart card, which can achieve the method. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017278 | Interactive Gifting System and Method - A method and system for gifting using interactive multimedia and a gifting system. The gifting system can include a gift card, a website for redeeming the gift card, a plurality of gift representations corresponding to actual gift items, and means for advertising additional retail products or services to consumers. The gift card can also include a greeting card and a unique card identifier associated with the user. The methods and systems can be used to advertise products to consumers, which can be purchased for personal use or for gifting. The system can be used to direct consumers to a card issuer's website. The system can include a customizable avatar to read aloud text converted to an audio speech file that relates to the gift item. The system can also include a game in which points redeemable for gift items are awarded to the website's users for answering advertisement-related questions correctly. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017279 | UNIVERSAL AFFINITY SYSTEM - An improved universal affinity system and method is uniquely configured to be implemented and operated with a reduced impact on existing merchant point of sale and affinity systems. The improved system and method also enables merchants to provide highly targeted incentives and advertising to users of the universal affinity system. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017280 | ADVERTISING SYSTEM AND PROCESS - An advertising system and process that allows private individuals and traders to place, view and respond to classified advertisements using a mobile phone (or cell phone) network. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017281 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING ADVERTISEMENT INDUCING ACTIVE PARTICIPATION FROM TARGETED CUSTOMERS AND SYSTEM THEREFOR - A method for providing advertisement inducing active participation from targeted customers and a system therefore includes providing a high advertising effect to advertisers through active participation of customers and offering a predetermined compensation to customers participated in consultation. The method for providing advertisement inducing active participation from targeted customers comprises: (a) receiving consultation advertisement registering information from advertisers; (b) outputting consultation advertisement depending on the input registering information; (c) receiving consultation requesting information from customers about the consultation advertisement; and (d) providing a predetermined compensation to customers who input the consultation requesting information. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017282 | METHODS, SYSTEMS AND DEVICES FOR MERGED IMAGES AND FEE GENERATION IN ONLINE RETAIL - An e-commerce method involves on-line viewing of a first article through a linking node for virtual merging on another structure. A particular application of the invention is directed to on-line apparel shopping involving a color matching scheme using color codes provided with images to be merged. For example, on-line viewing of one article, such as clothing, on another structure, includes creating an item from image-data corresponding to a colored article selected by an on-line viewer from an on-line viewer site with an image of a colored structure selected by the on-line viewer, and indicating whether the colored article and the colored structure satisfy a color-matching criterion. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017283 | DYNAMIC ADVERTISING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VIRTUAL UNIVERSES - A system and method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code, includes receiving bids for dynamic product placement advertisements in a virtual universe (VU) and performing a bid resolution for the received bids. Additionally, the system and method include rendering an object in the VU as a product placement advertisement by replacing a default texture of the object with a product placement texture based on the bid resolution. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017284 | System and Method of Providing Discounts on the Purchase of Gasoline - A method of a discount on the purchase of includes determining accumulated discount information each time: (i) a customer performs one of one or more predefined actions, (ii) customer identification information is received in association with the performed action, and (iii) first information relating to the performed action is received. The accumulated discount information is determined by converting the first information into a point value, and deriving the accumulated discount information from the point value. The accumulated discount information is stored in association with the customer identification information. The method further includes obtaining the customer identification information when the customer initiates the purchase of gasoline, obtaining the accumulated discount information using the customer identification information, and providing the customer with a discount on the purchase of gasoline based on the accumulated discount information. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017285 | Transferring Funds Electronically - Apparatuses and methods to transfer funds electronically via premium messages. In one aspect, an apparatus to electronically transfer funds from a customer to a supplier includes: a server component connected to a network; and a database component coupled to the server component. The server is configured to transmit a plurality of premium rate mobile terminating text messages to the mobile cellular telephone to effect a payment from the customer to the supplier after the customer has placed an order with the supplier. The server component is configured to populate the database component with an identification of the customer telephone number. The server component is configured to prompt the customer to supply additional personal data. In response to the additional personal data, the server component populates the database component with the additional personal data. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017286 | Marketing Performance Model and Management Platform - A marketing analysis system analyzes individual and joint media effects of marketing in various media by combining multiple distinct streams of data, such as transaction, survey, and media exposure data. As a result of the analysis, the effects of various activities in various media outlet types are quantified with respect to its influence on a measure of marketing effectiveness, such as total sales for a brand, or various brand metrics such as brand awareness. Based on the quantified effects on the measure of marketing effectiveness, additional information, such as resource allocation across different media outlets, may further be determined. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017287 | Method and System for Dynamic Advertising - A system and methods for advertising to targeted candidates and optimizing the advertisements to improve candidate response. The method and system enable an entity to advertise a need of an entity to a targeted group of candidates. After information about the need is received and the candidate target group is identified, the information is converted into a plurality of advertisements and distributed to a plurality of publishers that are within the candidate target group. The advertisements are displayed to candidates when they access at least one of the plurality of publishers. The advertisements are optimized to improve the response of the candidate target group by adjusting at least one manual control on a computer-network interface. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017288 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DESIGNING EXPERIMENTS - Methods and systems for designing an experiment using a computer to determine whether the experiment is a true experiment are described. These approaches allow a user who is unsophisticated in the complexities of true experimental design to design and deploy an experiment that produces substantially confound-free results and can be used to determine and quantify any causal relationship between independent and dependent variables. The computer may select one or more independent and/or dependent variables of the experiment or may assist the user in selection of independent and/or dependent variables. Formation of control and treatment groups, randomization and/or blocking to reduce the effects of confounding variables may be performed by the computer with or without input from the user. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017289 | Geographic and Keyword Context in Embedded Applications - A computer-implemented method includes generating, using an embedded client application, a keyword context for a container document holding the embedded client application; generating, using the embedded client application, a geographic context associated with a device on which the container document is displayed; submitting the keyword context and the geographic context to a remote server; and displaying an interactive application using information obtained in response to the submission of the keyword context and geographic criteria. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017290 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND PROGRAM FOR ATTACHING ADVERTISEMENT - An image feature extractor of a server extracts a feature quantity of an input image from a client terminal. A keyword obtaining section obtains a keyword of the input image based on the feature quantity. A related image retriever retrieves a related image based on the keyword of the input image. The image feature extractor also extracts a feature quantity of the related image. The keyword obtaining section also obtains a keyword of the related image based on the feature quantity of the related image. An advertisement retriever retrieves an advertisement based on the keyword of the input image and the keyword of the related image. The input image, the keyword of the input image, the related image, the keyword of the related image and the advertisement are transmitted to the client terminal and displayed on its monitor. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017291 | Recording medium distribution system and recording medium distribution method - Provided is a recording medium distribution system and a recording medium distribution method capable of simply offering information adequate to a user widely. A recording medium distribution system ( | 2010-01-21 |
20100017292 | NEED-DRIVEN ADVERTISING - An advertising system is provided that interacts with end-users and advertisers to facilitate the generation and delivery of advertisements that are specifically targeted to end-users' product interests and needs. An end-user interacts with the advertising system to provide a product request representing the end-user's interest in receiving advertisements from advertisers. The product request includes a specific product or product category with which the end-user is interested, as well as product attributes further defining the end-user's interests for the specific product or product category. Advertisements are generated and provided to the end-user based on the product request. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017293 | System, method, and computer program for providing multilingual text advertisments - A system, method, and computer program for providing multilingual text advertisements is provided. An advertisement is received in a source language. One or more target languages to associate with the advertisement are specified. At least one landing page associated with the advertisement is identified based on the one or more target languages. A user is then directed to the at least one landing page when the advertisement is accessed by the user. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017294 | EMAIL ADVERTISEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - An outgoing email server inserts electronic advertisements in outgoing email messages. The server creates enhanced email messages in which the original plain email message text is framed with one or more electronic advertisements, as well as banners or footers related to the company or organization where the email author is employed. The system allows the assignment of one or more keywords to each electronic advertisement to facilitate the placing of electronic advertisements on a contextual basis. The preferred system searches the text of the outgoing email message for the one or more keywords assigned to the electronic advertisement. In another aspect, the system uses a database including email addresses for prospective recipients and assigns targeting words to those email addresses. If these targeting words match the keywords assigned to the advertisement, the advertisement will be placed. The system also allows electronic advertisements to be placed on a static or rotating basis. In addition, the system provides means for selecting and designing electronic advertisement campaigns using the above techniques. | 2010-01-21 |
20100017295 | NAVIGATION INTERFACE - A method and apparatus of simplified navigation. A web page is provided having a link to a sister site. The sister site facilitates simplified navigation. Pages from the sister site are served responsive to actuation of the sister site link. In one embodiment, the sister site includes matrix pages to permit matrix navigation. | 2010-01-21 |