24th week of 2010 patent applcation highlights part 65 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20100153089 | Creation and Use of Virtual Device Drivers on a Serial Bus - A node on a serial bus, preferably a device such as a personal computer (PC), can emulate other devices using virtual device drivers. A PC connected to a 1394 bus exposes its CROM on the bus which presents an image to other nodes on the 1394 bus and describes the functional units supported by the node. The CROM can be changed dynamically by adding unit directories to the CROM detailing peripherals connected to the PC. The PC can then be enumerated as the connected device by other PCs on the bus. The PC can emulate or morph itself into any desired device or even multiple devices at the same time. The invention also allows a PC to create devices that don't yet exist on the bus. The invention allows a user to create virtual device objects with device properties to have just in case a user plugs the particular device in to the PC. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153090 | WORD SENSE DISAMBIGUATION - A machine-readable storage medium includes computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to receive as input a target sentence comprising a target word and retrieve a gloss of the target word. The processor is further caused to parse the target sentence and the gloss. The processor is further caused to assign a score to the gloss based on the gloss's coherence to the target sentence. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153091 | USER-SPECIFIED PHRASE INPUT LEARNING - Architecture that enables a user to perform manual word-breaking by phrase input. Phrase input is where the user inserts a phrase-key (or separator) as a delimiter that indicates to an editor application such as an IME (input method editor) the composition of a specific phrase when entering characters (e.g., Asian). The word-breaking is controlled by the user. The conversion quality is improved as the user knows the desired input and ambiguous cases are reduced. A phrase can be specified while the user is composing the characters. By selecting a phrase-key separator, the user can specify the composing characters before the characters are presented as a phrase. Moreover, the architecture includes a phrase prioritization mechanism wherein each phrase can be treated as a single entity and assigned a character identifier (ID), which is related to the sequence of a candidate list. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153092 | Expanding Base Attributes for Terms - In one embodiment, a method for expanding concept attributes for a concept term includes receiving an attribute term for expansion and determining one or more word senses for the attribute term. A word sense is selected from the one or more word senses. One or more conceptually similar terms is selected for the attribute term based on the word sense and it is determined that that at least one of the one or more conceptually similar terms is an additional attribute. A first mapping associating the additional attribute with the attribute term is generated, and a second mapping associating the additional attribute with the concept term is generated. The mappings are stored in an onomasticon. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153093 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING CASE RESTORATION - A method and apparatus for providing case restoration in a communication network are disclosed. For example, the method obtains one or more content sources from one or more information feeds, and extracts textual information from the one or more content sources obtained from the one or more information feeds. The method then creates or updates a capitalization model based on the textual information. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153094 | TOPIC MAP BASED INDEXING AND SEARCHING APPARATUS - A topic map based indexing apparatus analyzes community Q/A lists to acquire Q/A analysis information, removes redundant answers depending on the Q/A analysis information, removes insignificant answers based on the degree of reliability, ranks answer lists, and extracts the highest ranking answer as a best answer, to thereby store, in a community Q/A topic map, index information containing the community Q/A lists and the Q/A analysis information. A topic map based searching apparatus analyzes a user question to acquire question analysis information, searches similar questions from community Q/A lists belonging to a specific topic node of a pre-stored community Q/A topic map, ranks the searched similar questions depending on the question analysis information, removes redundant answers among answers to the ranked similar questions, ranks the answers, and extracts the highest ranking answer as a best answer. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153095 | Virtual Pet Chatting System, Method, and Virtual Pet Question and Answer Server - A virtual pet chatting system includes a virtual pet client unit, a virtual pet data maintaining unit as well as a questioning and answering unit. A virtual pet chatting method includes: sending, by a first virtual pet, a natural language question to a second virtual pet; and generating, by the second virtual pet, a natural language response sentence according to the natural language question, after understanding the natural language and performing reasoning taking into account attributes of a virtual pet. A virtual pet questioning and answering server includes a natural language understanding module and a response sentence generating module. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153096 | Handheld Electronic Device and Method for Disambiguation of Compound Text Input and That Employs N-Gram Data to Limit Generation of Low-Probability Compound Language Solutions - A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software that is operable to disambiguate compound text input. The device is able to assemble language objects in the memory to generate compound language solutions. The device is able to analyze the combinations of language objects in light of N-gram data stored on the device to avoid proposing low-probability compound language solutions. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153097 | MULTI-CHANNEL AUDIO CODING - A multi-channel audio encoder ( | 2010-06-17 |
20100153098 | DATA COMPRESSION FORMAT - An encoder for compressing a plurality of independent mono audio channels into a recording and generating a restricted set of additional parameters used to master an audio track of a storage device is described. The plurality of independent mono audio channels are constructed such that the storage device can be played using solid state disk player so that in a first mode all of the plurality of independent mono audio channels are played as the recording and in a second mode the original channels are reconstructed using a higher sample rate. A corresponding decoder and an audio system comprising such encoder and decoder are also described. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153099 | SPEECH ENCODING APPARATUS AND SPEECH ENCODING METHOD - A speech coder and so forth for preventing deterioration of the quality of a reproduced speech signal while reducing the coding rate. In a speech signal modifying section ( | 2010-06-17 |
20100153100 | ADDRESS GENERATOR FOR SEARCHING ALGEBRAIC CODEBOOK - An address generator for searching an algebraic codebook is disclosed. The address generator includes: a multiplier multiplying the dimension and a width value of a correlation matrix; a first adder adding a length value and an offset address of the correlation matrix; and a second adder adding the results of the multiplier and the first adder to generate an address for algebraic codebook searching. The amount of calculation required for an address calculation to search an algebraic codebook can be reduced. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153101 | Automated sound segment selection method and system - A computerized method and system is provided for automatically selecting from a digitized sound sample a segment of the sample that is optimal for the purpose of measuring clinical metrics for voice and speech assessment. A quality measure based on quality parameters of segments of the sound sample is applied to candidate segments to identify the highest quality segment within the sound sample. The invention can optionally provide feedback to the speaker to help the speaker increase the quality of the sound sample provided. The invention also can optionally perform sound pressure level calibration and noise calibration. The invention may optionally compute clinical metrics on the selected segment and may further include a normative database method or system for storing and analyzing clinical measurements. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153102 | SCALABLE CODING APPARATUS AND SCALABLE CODING METHOD - A scalable coding apparatus is provided to suppress deterioration of a quality of a coded signal in a normal frame next to a frame compensated for the occurrence of a data loss. The scalable coding apparatus is provided with a core-layer coding section ( | 2010-06-17 |
20100153103 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DECODING WCDMA AMR SPEECH DATA USING REDUNDANCY - WCDMA speech data is received over a plurality of channels each with at least one bit-sequence generated using a channel decoding such as a convolution decoding. At least one junction is selected in the generated at least one bit-sequence using a determined channel metric and/or physical constraint metric. Bits in the generated at least one bit-sequence are concatenated based on redundancy and the selected junctions to form at least one speech stream. A single speech stream is selected based on speech constraints for voice decoding. The at least one bit-sequence is selected, for example, using a maximum likelihood metric, by searching starting from a selected junction corresponding to a highest junction metric value. The selected at least one bit-sequence is verified using a selected redundancy verification parameter. The single speech stream is formed using the selected at least one bit-sequence over different channels for voice decoding. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153104 | Noise Suppressor for Robust Speech Recognition - Described is noise reduction technology generally for speech input in which a noise-suppression related gain value for the frame is determined based upon a noise level associated with that frame in addition to the signal to noise ratios (SNRs). In one implementation, a noise reduction mechanism is based upon minimum mean square error, Mel-frequency cepstra noise reduction technology. A high gain value (e.g., one) is set to accomplish little or no noise suppression when the noise level is below a threshold low level, and a low gain value set or computed to accomplish large noise suppression above a threshold high noise level. A noise-power dependent function, e.g., a log-linear interpolation, is used to compute the gain between the thresholds. Smoothing may be performed by modifying the gain value based upon a prior frame's gain value. Also described is learning parameters used in noise reduction via a step-adaptive discriminative learning algorithm. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153105 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REFERRING TO ENTITIES IN A DISCOURSE DOMAIN - Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and tangible computer-readable media for referring to entities. The method includes receiving domain-specific training data of sentences describing a target entity in a context, extracting a speaker history and a visual context from the training data, selecting attributes of the target entity based on at least one of the speaker history, the visual context, and speaker preferences, generating a text expression referring to the target entity based on at least one of the selected attributes, the speaker history, and the context, and outputting the generated text expression. The weighted finite-state automaton can represent partial orderings of word pairs in the domain-specific training data. The weighted finite-state automaton can be speaker specific or speaker independent. The weighted finite-state automaton can include a set of weighted partial orderings of the training data for each possible realization. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153106 | CONVERSATION MAPPING - A method may include receiving communications associated with a communication session. The communication session may correspond to a telephone conversation, text-based conversation or a multimedia conversation. The method may also include identifying portions of the communication session and storing the identified portions. The method may further include receiving a request to retrieve information associated with the communication session and providing to a display, information associated with the identified portions. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153107 | TREND EVALUATION DEVICE, ITS METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A trend evaluation device includes trend evaluation means having at least one of relative cooccurrence probability calculation means for calculating a change of cooccurrence probability of a keyword and an associated word and relative associated word similarity calculation means for calculating a change degree of a conversation topic concerning the keyword, so as to calculate a trend score by considering one or more combinations of the relative cooccurrence probability and the relative associated word similarity obtained by these means. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153108 | METHOD FOR DYNAMIC LEARNING OF INDIVIDUAL VOICE PATTERNS - The present invention is a system and method for generating a personal voice font including, monitoring voice segments automatically from phone conversations of a user by a voice learning processor to generate a personalized voice font and delivering the personalized voice font (PVF) to the a server. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153109 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPEECH SEGMENTATION - Machine-readable media, methods, apparatus and system for speech segmentation are described. In some embodiments, a fuzzy rule may be determined to discriminate a speech segment from a non-speech segment. An antecedent of the fuzzy rule may include an input variable and an input variable membership. A consequent of the fuzzy rule may include an output variable and an output variable membership. An instance of the input variable may be extracted from a segment. An input variable membership function associated with the input variable membership and an output variable membership function associated with the output variable membership may be trained. The instance of the input variable, the input variable membership function, the output variable, and the output variable membership function may be operated, to determine whether the segment is the speech segment or the non-speech segment. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153110 | VOICE RECOGNITION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A voice recognition system and method of a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device has a storage device which stores voice templates and characteristics of each of the voice templates. The method recognizes voice data form a sound input, calculates a similarity ratio between characteristics of the sound input and the characteristics of each of the voice templates, and sorts the voice templates according to the similarity ratio in a list of text symbols representing the voice templates. The list of text symbols can be selected as a proper text input by a user. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153111 | INPUT DEVICE AND INPUT METHOD FOR MOBILE BODY - Provided is an input device for a mobile body, the input device allowing a safe input operation at the time of operating an equipment such as a car regardless of whether the mobile body is traveling or stopping. The input device includes: an input section ( | 2010-06-17 |
20100153112 | PROGRESSIVELY REFINING A SPEECH-BASED SEARCH - Disclosed are editing methods that are added to speech-based searching to allow users to better understand textual queries submitted to a search engine and to easily edit their speech queries. According to some embodiments, the user begins to speak. The user's speech is translated into a textual query and submitted to a search engine. The results of the search are presented to the user. As the user continues to speak, the user's speech query is refined based on the user's further speech. The refined speech query is converted to a textual query which is again submitted to the search engine. The refined results are presented to the user. This process continues as long as the user continues to refine the query. Some embodiments present the textual query to the user and allow the user to use both speech-based and non-speech-based tools to edit the textual query. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153113 | AUTOMATIC CREATION AND TRANSMISSION OF DATA ORIGINATING FROM ENTERPRISE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AS AUDIO PODCASTS - A system and method for the automatic creation and transmission of data and information originating from enterprise information systems, such as ERP, CRM, SRM, and so on, as audio podcasts, for playback on portable media players, mobile devices or personal computers. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153114 | AUDIO OUTPUT OF A DOCUMENT FROM MOBILE DEVICE - Architecture for playing a document converted into an audio format to a user of an audio-output capable device. The user can interact with the device to control play of the audio document such as pause, rewind, forward, etc. In more robust implementation, the audio-output capable device is a mobile device (e.g., cell phone) having a microphone for processing voice input. Voice commands can then be input to control play (“reading”) of the document audio file to pause, rewind, read paragraph, read next chapter, fast forward, etc. A communications server (e.g., email, attachments to email, etc.) transcodes text-based document content into an audio format by leveraging a text-to-speech (TTS) engine. The transcoded audio files are then transferred to mobile devices through viable transmission channels. Users can then play the audio-formatted document while freeing hand and eye usage for other tasks. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153115 | Human-Assisted Pronunciation Generation - Pronunciation generation may be provided. First, a pronunciation interface may be provided. The pronunciation interface may be configured to display a word and a plurality of alternatives corresponding to a one of a plurality of parts of the word. The plurality of parts may comprise phonemes or syllables of the word. Next, pronunciation data may be received through the pronunciation interface. The pronunciation data may indicate one of the plurality of alternatives. Then a pronunciation of the word may be generated based upon the received pronunciation data. The pronunciation may correspond to the indicated one of the plurality of alternatives. In addition, the pronunciation data may indicate which one of the plurality of parts of the word is stressed. This stress indication may be received in response to a user sliding a user selectable element to indicate which one of the plurality of parts of the word is stressed. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153116 | METHOD FOR STORING AND RETRIEVING VOICE FONTS - The present invention is a system for storing text-to-speech files which includes a means for storing a plurality of voice fonts wherein each voice font has associated therewith a universal voice identifier (UVI). The invention includes delivering a voice font to a receiver of a message containing text wherein the message contains the UVI and the receiver requests the voice font associated with the UVI from the means for storing. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153117 | Single action audio prompt interface utilising binary state time domain multiple selection protocol - An interface protocol for the functional manipulation of complex devices such as consumer electronic devices without the necessity of the visual feedback via textual or graphic data, wherein the sensor functions change with time rather than placement, so that a user action biases a binary state switch, which is correlated to a timed audible audio data stream, the correlation indicating the desired action selected by the user. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153118 | AUDIO ENCODING AND DECODING - A multi-channel audio encoder ( | 2010-06-17 |
20100153119 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CODING AUDIO DATA BASED ON INPUT SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION CHARACTERISTICS OF EACH CHANNEL - Provided is an audio coding apparatus and method that can selectively apply a operation mode of a coding module for stereo or multi-channel representation according to input signal characteristics of each channel, when voice or music signals are transmitted using an audio codec in portable terminals capable of stereo or multi-channel input and output. The audio coding apparatus includes a down-mixer for down-mixing multi-channel audio signals into mono signals; a coder for coding the mono signals; an input channel correlation analyzer for deciding whether to give them stereo effect based on their signal distribution characteristics, and outputting a control signal indicating whether to perform stereo representation process; and a stereo representation unit for performing stereo representation process onto the multi-channel audio signals when the control signal indicating to perform stereo representation process. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153120 | AUDIO DECODING APPARATUS AUDIO DECODING METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - An audio decoding method includes: acquiring, from encoded audio data, a reception audio signal and first auxiliary decoded audio information; calculating coefficient information from the first auxiliary decoded audio information; generating a decoded output audio signal based on the coefficient information and the reception audio signal; decoding to result in a decoded audio signal based on the first auxiliary decoded audio signal and the reception audio signal; calculating, from the decoded audio signal, second auxiliary decoded audio information corresponding to the first auxiliary decoded audio information; detecting a distortion caused in a decoding operation of the decoded audio signal by comparing the second auxiliary decoded audio information with the first auxiliary decoded audio information; correcting the coefficient information in response to the detected distortion; and supplying the corrected coefficient information as the coefficient information when generating the decoded output audio signal. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153121 | INFORMATION CODING APPARATUS - An information coding apparatus includes a predictive signal generator that generates a predictive signal; a predictive residual signal generator that generates a predictive residual signal; a quantizer that quantizes a quantization input signal generated based on the predictive residual signal; a quantization error signal generator that generates a quantization error signal; a feedback signal generator that generates a feedback signal for controlling the frequency characteristic of the quantization noise after decoding based on the quantization error signal; and a quantization input signal generator that generates the quantization input signal. The feedback signal generator is configured by a pole-zero filter that includes a filter coefficient of an all-pole filter which is based on spectral envelope information estimated by the input audio signal, a parameter for adjusting a peak level in the frequency characteristic of the quantization noise caused by the all-pole filter, and the predictive filter coefficient. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153122 | MULTI-STAGING RECURSIVE AUDIO FRAME-BASED RESAMPLING AND TIME MAPPING - A multi-stage recursive sample rate converter (“SRC”) typically embodied as digital signal processor provides for an efficient structure for converting digital audio samples at one frequency, such as 48 kHz, to another frequency, such as 44.1 kHz. A parameter codebook comprising memory stores parameters used at a plurality of stages by the SRC. For each stage, a controller coordinates the SRC to use the appropriate set of parameters from the codebook, process an input audio sample stream, and store the intermediate results in a buffer. The controller then causes the intermediate results to be processed again as input to the SRC in a subsequent stage of processing using a different set of parameters. The process is repeated until all stages are completed, and the final results are the output digital audio data stream at the desired sampling rate. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153123 | Method of improving airline luggage inspection - Method of making airline luggage inspection secure while accommodating the needs of the traveler comprises making a special lock available to airline travelers, the special lock having a combination lock portion and a master key lock, the master key lock portion receiving a master key that can open the master key lock portion of any special lock of this type. The special lock is designed to be applied to an individual piece of airline luggage and has indicia conveying to luggage purchasers that the special lock is “approved” by a luggage screening authority and conveying to the luggage screening authority that the special lock can be opened using the master key. The method includes providing the luggage screening authority directly or indirectly with exclusive access to the master key. The manufacturers and/or providers of the master key and special lock retain copies of the master key. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153124 | AUTOMATED DATA ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - An automated data analysis and recommendation system and method are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of providing a process cockpit includes configuring a definition of requirements through a user interface, analyzing extracted process data and extracting information from the analyzed process data, via a computer, based on the requirements, generating, via the computer, recommended actions based on the information, and determining, via the computer, a related series of interdependent actions and an impact on the related series of interdependent actions based on the particular recommended action for each recommended action. Further, the method includes displaying, via the computer, the information, the recommended actions, the related series of interdependent actions and the impact on the related series of interdependent actions based on the particular recommended action, and configuring, via the computer, the process cockpit to allow at least one business scenario mapping based on the information and a selected recommended action. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153125 | RANDOM AND DETERMINISTIC TRAVEL FEES - Methods, including service methods, articles of manufacture, systems, articles and programmable devices are provided for randomly setting a travel fee. A usage attribute of vehicle traffic travelling upon a toll thoroughfare is observed and compared to a threshold. As a function of comparing the attribute to the threshold, a plurality of different toll rates are randomly assigned to each of a plurality of vehicles, each of the vehicles either travelling upon the toll thoroughfare or potentially entering the toll thoroughfare. An occupant of a vehicle is notified of a toll rate randomly assigned, and fees or credits associated with travel by the occupant's vehicle are charged (levied or awarded) at the randomly assigned toll rate. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153126 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VERIFYING AN OPERATION IN A BODY OF WATER - A method for verifying an operation in a body of water. The method includes receiving a verification request comprising an operation location for an operation. The method further includes determining at least one of a plurality of mapped grid locations corresponding with the operation location, where the plurality of grids are defined by a Minerals Management Service. The method further includes determining, using an asset repository, an asset associated with at least one of the plurality of mapped grid locations. The method further includes determining an asset holder for the asset. The method further includes sending, to the asset holder, a notification comprising the identity of the operator. The method further includes sending, to the operator as a verification response, the identity of the asset holder. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153127 | ELECTRONIC SERVICE OF PROCESS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CARRYING OUT SERVICE OF COURT PAPERS - A system and method for online creation and integration of service of process functions is provided, for use in conjunction with paper or electronic filing of court papers. By logging on to a web page, the user can access a rules and decision matrix database providing the rules and requirements for process service by jurisdiction and type. Such rules can be incorporated into process requests using online tools and document management software. Once entered, the requests are compiled in a database, and a system controller coordinates with affiliated process servers to procure process service in the desired jurisdiction. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153128 | CONTEXT SPECIFIC ANALYSIS - An automatic critique of resumes, cover-letters, and/or other types of documents is provided. The invention employs an input document, a processing device, and a set of rules specific to the document type. The processing device searches the document for specific patterns described by the rules, generates a list of potential errors in the document, generates advice on how to correct the errors and may produce various figures of merit for the document. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153129 | System and Method for Automatically Managing Inventory in a Multiple Table Order Production Facility - A system and method for automatically managing inventory in a multiple tablet order production facility are described. Generally, the method comprises receiving a multiple tablet order, comparing the order to a database of available inventory and placing an order for additional inventory in response to a determination that an inventory of one or more tablets is running low. The method further comprises detecting that additional inventory has been received, receiving the additional inventory, and depositing the multiple tablet order in a package. The package containing the multiple tablet order is labeled with tablet specific information, including the date and time for consuming the tablets in the package was well as a plurality of images of each of the tablets in the package. The system implements the method. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153130 | System and Method for Placing a Multiple Tablet Order Online - An online ordering system and method for placing a multiple tablet order are described. The system comprises a graphical user interface configured to display information for a plurality of medicinal tablets. The graphical user interface is further configured to receive a plurality of multiple tablet orders. Each multiple tablet order corresponds to at least two medicinal tablets for consumption on a particular date at a particular time. Each of the multiple tablet orders corresponds to a multiple tablet package labeled with tablet specific information. The tablet specific information for each package includes the date and the time for consuming the tablets in the package and a plurality of images of each of the tablets in the package. The method is implemented by the system. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153131 | Compensated Electronic Consults - The present invention relates to a system and method for providing health care information to health care providers and for obtaining information pertaining to the practice of a health care provider by providing incentives for provision of such information. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153132 | CLINICAL WORKFLOW ANALYSIS AND CUSTOMER BENCHMARKING - A method and apparatus is provided for analysis of the utilization of a technical medical device, such as a computer tomography, by a medical facility is provided. Recording of the use of the device is performed with time stamp information and a comparison of the use is performed by a programmed computer device to other users of similar equipment or to similar users of different equipment. Optimization of use, such as through the purchase if different equipment and/or software or upgrades to the equipment and/or software is proposed. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153133 | Generating Never-Event Cohorts from Patient Care Data - The illustrative embodiments described herein provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating never-event cohorts. In response to receiving patient care data derived from a population of patients, the patient care data is processed to form digital patient care data. The digital patient care data includes metadata describing a set of patient care patterns associated with one or more patients in the population of patients. The digital patient care data is analyzed using cohort criteria to identify a set of never-event attributes from the set of patient care patterns. The cohort criteria specifies at least one never-event attribute from the set of never-event attributes for each cohort in a set of never-event cohorts. Thereafter, a set of never-event cohorts is generated. The set of never-event cohorts is formed from members selected from the population of patients, and each member of a cohort in the set of never-event cohorts has the at least one never-event attribute in common. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153134 | National Health Information and Electronic Medical Record System and Method - A system that creates a national health information infrastructure provides secure storage and retrieval of personal health information (PHI) while allowing health care providers to retain their preferred method of documentation (handwriting) for the majority of their documentation requirements. Unique codes associated with each handwritten document allow rapid access to the individual patient's PHI by healthcare providers. These unique codes also allow the system to associate the images of PHI documents with the individual (e.g. patient) to whom the PHI pertains. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153135 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING AND REWARDING PATIENT COMPLIANCE - In embodiments of the present invention, a pharmaceutical product compliance reward method and system may include a pharmaceutical product, wherein the pharmaceutical product is marked with a unique identifier; a web site for entering the identifier when a user takes or otherwise utilizes the pharmaceutical product; and a reward system associated with the web site for identifying a condition for reward based on an identifier entered on the web site. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153136 | ALGORITHM AND PROGRAM FOR THE HANDLING AND ADMINISTRATION OF RADIOACTIVE PHARMACEUTICALS - An algorithm and associated program for performing method steps in the maintaining of records and generating of reports used in the processing of radioactive pharmaceuticals. The algorithm is used as the basis of a program which can accomplish this method automatically. The method involves the determination of dose, the acquisition of the materials, scheduling for the issuance of doses and for future doses, the actual monitoring and control of material and equipment disposal. The algorithm and method are also adapted for the generation of reports on a periodic basis. In short, the method performed by the algorithm allows for an automation through a computer system and this, in turn, allows for the automatic processing of the steps performed and the controls involved in the dispensing of radioactive pharmaceuticals and automatically allows for the generation of governmental and other reports therefor. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153137 | MULTIDIMENSIONAL INSURANCE QUOTING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system, method and computer program product for providing insurance rate quotes comprises a quotation module executable by a processor, the quotation module configured to receive a set of parameter values from a user. The quotation module is also configured to transmit the set of parameter values to least one insurance provider and obtain a rate quote based on the set of parameter values. The quotation module is further configured to vary, transparently to the user, at least one value of the set of parameter values and obtain at least one additional rate quote from the insurance provider based on the varied set of parameter values. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153138 | Offer in compromise method and system - A tax resolution system and method are disclosed for identifying and implementing solutions to tax delinquency problems. A taxpayer who is delinquent is guided to provide pertinent data and make adjustments to be analyzed to formulate an offer in compromise to resolve tax delinquency problems or plan a future tax strategy. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153139 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRONICALLY REPORTING FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND NOTIFICATIONS - Systems and methods for reporting information to financial institutions and insurance carriers are disclosed. A reporting system can be a loss payee notification system comprising a communication device, a computer processor, a status update unit, and a bill management unit. The communication device can enable the reporting system to communicate with financial institutions and insurance carriers. The computer processor can provide various functions, including reconciling data received from the financial institutions and insurance carriers with data stored in a database. The status update unit can update the financial institutions of changed insurance information related to properties financed by the financial institutions and can also update the insurance carriers of changed loan information related to properties insured by the insurance carriers. The bill management unit can manage escrow bills to escrow accounts kept by the financial institutions. Other embodiments of the reporting system are also disclosed. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153140 | SYSTEM FOR REDUCING THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH AN INSURED BUILDING STRUCTURE THROUGH THE INCORPORATION OF SELECTED TECHNOLOGIES - A method and computerized system is disclosed for managing the underwriting, quoting and binding an insurance policy with regard to the technology used to militate against the financial consequences of property losses. The invention utilizes a classifier for categorizing and weighing risk, composed of data representing in an identified building, a first unmitigated insurance risk and a second insurance risk, based upon the use of certain technology. A plurality of such weights are summed such that the weights generate a minimized risk for a building structure under consideration. combinations of technologies, employed in existing building structures to a classification, which then permits an underwriter to establish a premium. In another aspect of the invention data structures representing the quantification of risk reduction attendant a given technology or product are chained into a plurality of decision trees that process a construction phase and a pruning phase. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153141 | Financial Instrument Utilizing an Optional Benefit Election - According to one embodiment of the invention, a financial instrument includes an account with an account balance that changes over time, wherein at least part of the account balance may be discretionarily withdrawn and wherein the initial account balance is based upon an initial deposit; a guarantee that a beneficiary may periodically receive a transfer of an amount of money for the life of a first designated party, wherein the transfer may be due to withdrawal from the account or due to benefit payments made to the beneficiary, provided that the amount may vary based upon withdrawals from the account in excess of a particular limit; and an option to modify the guarantee such that upon election the beneficiary may periodically receive the transfer of the amount of money for the longer of the life of the first designated party and the life of a second designated party. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153142 | GROUP DECISION MAKING FOR TICKET PURCHASES - Disclosed is a group decision-making process. One user (the “control”) is selected to propose a possibility (e.g., a group seating arrangement) to other members of the group. The other members access on-line information to review the proposal and then send their feedback to the control. The proposal is altered as necessary based on the feedback and on any exigencies (e.g., one of the seats in the proposal becomes unavailable to the group). When consensus is reached within the group, the control launches an interaction with the vendor to implement the consensus decision. In this way, every group member has the opportunity to affect the decision based on whatever information, constraints, or preferences seem relevant to that group member. Also, the proposal is always kept up-to-date so that the final decision is not based on “stale” information. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153143 | AVAILABILITY PROCESSING IN A TRAVEL PLANNING SYSTEM - A travel planning system that implements seat availability determinations is described. The planning system includes a scheduling process for determining a set of instances of transportation that satisfy a user query and a faring process that determines fares valid for at least some of the instances in the set of instances of transportation. The travel planning system also includes an availability process that uses results from a single source of seat availability for a mode of transportation to determine a set of available instances of transportation and determines whether the results from the single source are reliable. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153144 | Automated Check-in for Reserved Service - Automated check-in systems for air travel and similar services are described herein. A customer indicates a preference for automatic check-in at some point prior to when check-in is permitted. At the first time that check-in is permitted, the automatic check-in data for customers indicating a preference for automatic check-in is processed. The automatic check-in may be prioritized according to various rules. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153145 | TONER ESTIMATOR AND REPORTER - Systems and methods are described that facilitate presenting estimated toner consumption for a print job to a user. A print job is identified from a print job queue or by a job ticket, and is analyzed to identify print job parameters such as rendering mode, resolution, pages in the job, etc. A user may adjust rendering resolution and/or a job sub-setting such as a page cycle value or multiple thereof (e.g., where every Nth page of the job is the same or similar). Raster image processing is performed on the print job (with or without printing the job) to generate rasters, and a lookup table is accessed to identify an amount of toner required for each page given the rasters generated therefor at the given resolution in the given rendering mode. Toner cost estimation information is summarized in a report that is presented to the user (e.g., on a GUI, a printed page, or via electronic transfer). | 2010-06-17 |
20100153146 | Generating Generalized Risk Cohorts - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating general risk scores for general risk cohorts. Digital sensor data associated with a general risk cohort is received from a set of multimodal sensors. The digital sensor data comprises metadata describing attributes associated with at least one member of the general risk cohort. Each member of the general risk cohort comprises data describing objects belonging to a category. A general risk score for the general risk cohort is generated based on selected risk factors and the attributes associated with the at least one member of the general risk cohort. In response to a determination that the general risk score exceeds a risk threshold, a response action is initiated. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153147 | Generating Specific Risk Cohorts - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating risk scores for specific risk cohorts. Digital sensor data associated with a specific risk cohort is received from a set of multimodal sensors. The specific risk cohort includes a set of identified cohort members. The digital sensor data includes metadata describing attributes associated with at least one cohort member in the set of identified cohort members. Description data for each cohort member in the set of identified cohort members is retrieved to form a set of cohort description data. The description data for each cohort member comprises data describing a previous history of the cohort member or a current status of the cohort member. The cohort member is a person, animal, plant, thing, or location. A specific risk score is generated for the specific risk cohort based on selected risk factors, the attributes associated with the at least one identified member, and the set of cohort description data. A response action is initiated in response to a determination that the specific risk score exceeds a risk threshold. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153148 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MODIFICATION OF SERVICE STATUS OF GEOGRAPHICAL DELIVERY AREAS FOR COMMON CARRIERS - Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for modifying the status for one or more carrier services based on one or more geographical delivery areas. Such embodiments provide an interface module executed by a processor to modify data indicating the status for the one or more carrier services in response to obtaining data indicating the one or more carrier services to be modified, a beginning date for which the status of the one or more carrier services is to be modified, an ending date for which the status will return to its pre-existing state prior to being modified, one or more geographical delivery areas in which the status is to be modified, and a modification for the one or more carrier services. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153149 | SOFTWARE FOR MODEL-BASED CONFIGURATION CONSTRAINT GENERATION - This disclosure provides various embodiments of systems, software, and computerized methods for generating one or more business adaptation constraints. In one aspect, the software identifies at least one business option associated with a business adaptation catalog, and then identifies at least one variable application entity in an application mapped to the at least one identified business option. The software determines one or more application integrity constraints associated with the at least one identified variable application entity, and computes one or more business adaptation catalog constraints associated with the at least one identified business option based on the one or more determined application integrity constraints associated with the at least one identified variable application entity. The software then inserts the one or more computed business adaptation catalog constraints associated with the at least one identified business option into the business adaptation catalog. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153150 | SOFTWARE FOR BUSINESS ADAPTATION CATALOG MODELING - This disclosure provides various embodiments of systems, software, and computerized methods for generating a business adaptation catalog model. In one aspect, the software identifies one of a plurality of solutions associated with a particular application, and identifies a business adaptation catalog associated with the identified solution. The software then retrieves information from the business adaptation catalog defining a set of business elements, and generates a business adaptation catalog model illustrating the one or more business elements. Further, the business adaptation catalog can comprise a data structure defining the hierarchical relationships between the set of business elements and a set of constraints defining at least one relationship between at least two of the set of business elements. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153151 | Method and Apparatus for Determining Applicable Permits and Permitting Agencies for a Construction Project - Systems and methods for providing a computer-implemented interactive system for determining which permits are applicable to a construction project are disclosed. Also disclosed are techniques for reducing the number of questions that are asked to determine the applicable permits by selecting questions for presentation to the user based on a number of permits that are relevant to that question. Still further, disclosed are methods and systems for allowing a user to create the data structure used by the system to determine which permits are applicable to a construction project. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153152 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RECURSION CHECK AND LOW-LEVEL CODE GENERATION FOR DIRECTED GRAPH - A method and a system for fast recursion check and low-level code generation for directed graph. In a directed graph each vertex is connected to at least one other vertex with a directed edge to form an ordered pair of a source vertex and a target vertex. Low-level codes are assigned to the vertices of the directed graph, where for each ordered pair the low-level code of the target vertex is bigger than the low-level code of the source vertex. A new edge is added to connect a first vertex and a second vertex of the graph, where the first vertex is the source vertex and the second vertex is the target vertex of the new ordered pair. The low-level code of the target vertex of the new ordered pair is not bigger than the low-level code of the source vertex. For the new ordered pair and all ordered pairs that descend from the new ordered pair, the low-level codes of the target nodes are changed to values bigger than the low-level codes of the corresponding source vertices, when necessary. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153153 | Stable Linking And Patchability Of Business Processes Through Hierarchical Versioning - A system, method and computer program product is presented for versioning a business process model. The business process model is decomposed into a number of artifacts. A hierarchical dependency graph is generated for the number of artifacts to produce, for each artifact, a set of referencing artifacts and a set of referenced artifacts. The set of referenced artifacts are compiled by creating a runtime format and computing a unique version identifier for each referenced artifacts, and the unique version identifier for each referenced artifact is incorporated into a version identifier of each associated referencing artifact from the set of referencing artifacts. At least one of the referenced artifacts is modified to produce a new version of the associated referencing artifact. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153154 | MANUFACTURING COLLABORATION HUB DATA EXCHANGE INTERFACE - A data exchange system provides an efficient and cost effective way to control and monitor the manufacturing processes of multiple logistics plants in a virtual manufacturing network. The data exchange system provides a way to quickly and efficiently implement a virtual manufacturing network that includes multiple logistic plants and an electronic production execution system. The data exchange system and electronic production execution system together form a manufacturing collaboration hub that unifies internal and external manufacturing processes of multiple logistic plants to implement a virtual manufacturing network. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153155 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS FOR OFFSHORE TESTING - The present invention provides a method and system for evaluating a plurality of software applications for offshore testing. A criteria model including one or more criteria for assessing the viability of offshore testing is defined by one or more tool administrators. Thereafter, one or more experts assign scores to the plurality of software applications with reference to the criteria model. One or more cumulative scores may then be calculated for each of the plurality of software applications based on the assigned scores. Further, a graph may be generated on the basis of the one or more cumulative scores. Subsequently, one or more software applications are identified for offshore testing. A transition plan for offshore testing of the one or more software applications may also be defined. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153156 | Critically/vulnerability/risk logic analysis methodology for business enterprise and cyber security - Method and apparatus for computer-aided assessment of risk, criticality, and vulnerability with respect to a site. The method and apparatus may use multiple factors to determine overall risk. In some embodiments, the method may assess or determine an impact if a site or asset is lost. The method and apparatus may identify and quantify what risks are acceptable and unacceptable. In an embodiment, a method and apparatus may incorporate mathematical evaluations and numeric assignments that result in a criticality vector and a vulnerability vector. In some embodiments, the criticality vector and vulnerability vector may be used to represent a site's overall risk and/or prioritization and ranking relative to other sites. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153157 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING NETWORK RESOURCE GROWTH MANAGEMENT - An approach is provided for network resource growth management. Utilization of a network resource that is hierarchically associated with one or more other network resources is determined. If the utilization exceeds a first predetermined threshold, a growth notification is triggered. The growth notification specifies additional network resources required to modify the utilization of the network resource according to a second predetermined threshold. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153158 | PROVIDING PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE APPLICATION AS ENTERPRISE SERVICES - Methods and apparatus, including systems and computer program products, for a service architecture design that provides enterprise services having project management functionality at the level of an enterprise application. The design includes a set of service operations, process components, and optionally deployment units. Suitable business objects are also described. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153159 | PROJECT TIMELINE VISUALIZATION METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Methods, systems, and computer readable storage mediums for presenting project information are disclosed. Project information may be presented by receiving electronic planning information associated with a project, where the received electronic planning information includes at least one milestone associated with two or more phases of the project and occurring during the two or more phases. The received electronic planning information is then transformed into a graphical representation of the received electronic planning information for visual presentation to a user and presented for perception by the user. The presented graphical representation includes two or more bars corresponding to the two or more phases and a connection between the two or more bars corresponding to a time at which the milestone occurs. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153160 | SYSTEM FOR SUPPORTING COORDINATION OF RESOURCES FOR EVENTS IN AN ORGANIZATION - A system and method for supporting coordination of resources for events in an organization includes a knowledge component storing a resource-utilization model, the resource-utilization model comprising at least one ontology, each ontology comprising a respective schema and data stored according to the schema; a knowledge acquisition component adapting the resource-utilization model in real-time in response to receiving data from various sources about resource utilization in the organization; a domain reasoner adapting the resource-utilization model based on contents of a modifiable set of rules applied by the organization; and a query endpoint receiving queries about resources for events and responding to the queries based on the resource-utilization model. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153161 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WORKFORCE REQUIREMENTS MANAGEMENT - The present invention provides a workforce requirements management system and method that determines future demand for service related transactions or activity and optimizes the planning of workforce to meet the future demand. Initially, the workforce requirements management system reviews historical data regarding transaction volume and service activity to determine the future demand for such transactions or service activities. The historical data may come from a conventional enterprise resource planning application and/or include demographic data and/or economic indicators. The workforce requirements management system can optimize a forecast by isolating certain variance factors and refining the forecast accordingly. A forecast can also be optimized by estimating transaction times and correlating variance factors with estimated transactions times. Additionally, the workforce requirements management system can optimize the forecast based on the queuing model employed for the particular service. Finally, the workforce requirements management system can create a long term resource plan that identifies the most efficient balance of full time equivalent and part time equivalent staffing levels to meet the long term forecast need at the desired service level at the lowest overall labor cost. Specific outputs generated by the workforce requirements management system include a transaction forecast, a resource forecast, a resource plan, and a resource schedule. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153162 | On-Line Appointment System - Improved approaches for providing on-line appointments over a network are disclosed. The network is, for example, a global computer network such as the Internet. According to one aspect, users are able to schedule appointments over the network by on-line means. The users are typically individuals or service providers. Service providers are often those businesses that offer appointments to schedule their services. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153163 | Services registry and method for enabling determination of the quality of a service therein - A services registry and method for enabling determination of the quality of a service provided therein are presented. The registry includes a service-oriented architecture (SOA) repository that takes as input information from a plurality of data sources that map to a plurality of rating dimensions. The registry further includes a rating calculation engine that receives service characteristics for a service and calculates, based on category weightings and rating rules that are customizable by an organization, a service quality rating for provision to service consumers that takes into account the plurality of rating dimensions. The rating calculation engine recalculates the service quality rating over time as the service is being used and goes through lifecycle stages. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153164 | BUSINESS MODELING AND ALGORITHMS FOR RESOLVING BUSINESS DAYS AND HOURS ON A CALENDAR - A system and method for business calendar event modeling comprises receiving a plurality of events from a computerized calendar user wherein each event is classified as an OnTime, OffTime or OtherTime event. Wherein, an OnTime event is defined as a calendar period where the calendar user is available, an OffTime event is defined as a calendar period where the calendar user is unavailable; and an OtherTime event is defined as a calendar period unrelated to the calendar user's availability. Then, calculating the calendar user's net OnTime, wherein net OnTime is a sum of periods of a day wherein an OnTime event period does not overlap with an OffTime event period. Also, calculating user available days wherein a user available day is a day having net OnTime. Calculating the number of user available days, hours and minutes before an event. And, finally alerting a user to an event at a predetermined number of days, hours or minutes before the event; or escalating an incomplete event at a predetermined number of days, hours or minutes after the event. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153165 | System and Method for Dispatching Field Technicians Based on Locations of Virtual Warehouses - A method is disclosed for determining a technician to dispatch to a customer site requiring a service call. A first plurality of technicians assigned to a customer site requiring a service call is determined. A location of each of the technicians is also determined. A first plurality of distances is determined between each of the technicians and a plurality of locations at which is disposed equipment needed for the service call. A second plurality of distances is determined between each of the technicians and a plurality of service vehicles at which is disposed the equipment needed for the service call. One of the technicians is dispatched to the customer site based on the location of each of the technicians, on the first plurality of distances, and on the second plurality of distances. A system for implementing the method is also disclosed. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153166 | BUSINESS PROCESS WORKFLOW FLATTENING - A graphical user interface is provided for the performance of process steps for one or more role-based activities for a business process. The business process is made up of a plurality of process steps, at least a portion of which require sequential completion by users having different roles. A user having two or more roles that is accessing the graphical user interface to perform a first process step can be presented with a graphical user interface element. The graphical user interface element, when activated, causes input fields corresponding to an input set to be completed by the user for an additional process step subsequent to both the first process step and a next process step subsequent to the first process step to be displayed. The first process step is associated with a first role, and the additional process step is associated with a second role. First user-generated input is received that selects the graphical user interface element. Second user-generated input is received that provides values for the input fields to generate input sets for the additional processing step. Thereafter, completion of the business process using the generated input sets is initiated. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153167 | INCORPORATING WORKFLOW PROCESS MODIFICATIONS - Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed that operate to create and access electronic content comprising document files that comprise workflow definitions having information about a plurality of activities in the workflow process chain, including prior activities, the current activity, and subsequent activities. Such documents also contain instructions as part of the workflow definition which, when executed, cause modifications to the workflow definition to be recorded in the document file. Execution of the instructions may also result in identifying a subsequent processing entity to process the document file during subsequent activities in the workflow process chain, based on the embedded information. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153168 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CARRYING OUT AN INSPECTION OR MAINTENANCE OPERATION WITH COMPLIANCE TRACKING USING A HANDHELD DEVICE - The present invention is a system and method for inspections and compliance verification of industrial equipment using a handheld device. An inspector first segments an inspected component into logical inspection points. The inspector then scans a unique machine-readable tag, such as an RFID tag, with a handheld device at each logical inspection point. The inspector then takes a media sample, such as a digital photograph, of the physical component referred to by each corresponding logical inspection point. Then the inspector associates the media samples with the corresponding scan of the unique machine-readable tag. For each of the actions the inspector carries out on the handheld device, a timestamp is added that represents evidence of a date and a time of physical visitation to the associated logical inspection point. The inspector may then annotate the media samples in such ways that substantiate inspector statements of problems with inspected components found during inspection. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153169 | Participatory Method and System for Application and Project Management - Provided herein are a methods and a system for implementing a participatory mechanism for selecting of applications, overseeing implementation and progress of projects, monitoring and evaluation of completed projects. The method provides a mechanism for managing projects which involve flexible and hard to quantify outcomes. The method provides a mechanism for managing long-term projects of variable length that require long-term monitoring. The method provides a mechanism for managing projects where human input is essential. The method provides a mechanism to handle a large number of applications for a large number of projects. The method provides a rational method for managing a large number of projects with a large diversity (e.g., hard to replicate projects). | 2010-06-17 |
20100153170 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPLEX SCHEDULE GENERATION - A system and method for generating a schedule for multiple employees in a complex environment. In one embodiment, the method includes generating a schedule for multiple employees with varying skill sets for a time period, wherein the plurality of employees have varying overlapping skill sets that enable them to perform various tasks, and wherein employees are shared across tasks within the time period. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a plurality of user inputs to a scheduling program, including a number of employee designations that each refer to a unique employee, and a number of skill sets that each correspond to one of the employee designations. The method further includes receiving a user input that changes the number of employee designations by indicating at least one changed employee, and estimating an effect of the at least one changed employee on effective staffing levels for each of the various tasks. The method further includes generating estimated effective staffing levels for each of the various tasks. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153171 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FURLOUGH, LEAVE, CLOSURE, SABBATICAL, HOLIDAY, OR VACATION GEO-LOCATION SERVICE - An interaction center system allows an enterprise to manage employees based on geo-location information, other characteristics of the employee, and/or company policies. The interaction center system is able to receive geo-location information about a person. The interaction center system can then identify the person and determine a status associated with the person. An exemplary status is any status for the employee while working with the enterprise or not working with the enterprise. For example, the status may be that the employee is on a furlough, is on vacation, is on leave, has been fired, is subject to a lay-off, is on sabbatical, is observing a religious holiday, or some other status associated with the employee. After determining the person and the status associated with the person, the interaction center system may determine an event rule or grammar that affects this person and deals with the status. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153172 | Interactive Analysis and Reporting System for Telecom and Network Industry Data - This invention relates to a method and system for providing a subscriber with secure access to a custom market share research environment for viewing quantitative market share data stored in a database on the server, and for generating real-time customized interactive reports of said data based parameters such as quarterly data, yearly data, date-range presented data, individual company data, market segment data, entire market data, geographical region data, country data, revenue data, units data, and user-defined data. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153173 | PROVIDING REPORT OF CONTENT MOST SCHEDULED FOR RECORDING - A user is provided a report based on data collected from multimedia content or channels that are most scheduled for recording by users. User defined criteria specify a period used for filtering qualifying recording events for inclusion in the report. The report may be provided on an information channel accessible from a multimedia content distribution network. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153174 | Generating Retail Cohorts From Retail Data - The illustrative embodiments described herein provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating retail cohorts. In an illustrative embodiment, retail data derived from a population of retail customers is received and processed to form digital retail data. The digital retail data includes metadata describing a set of retail patterns associated with one or more customers in the population of retail customers. The set of retail patterns form a set of retail attributes for cohort generation. The digital retail data is analyzed using cohort criteria to identify a set of retail cohorts based on the set of retail attributes. The cohort criteria specify at least one retail attribute from the set of retail attributes for each cohort in the set of retail cohorts. Thereafter, a set of retail cohorts are generated. The retail cohorts have members selected from the population of retail customers, and have the at least one retail attribute in common. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153175 | Correlation of Psycho-Demographic Data and Social Network Data to Initiate an Action - An action is initiated based on data collected from a social network of a user. User data is collected automatically from activity of the user. Social data is collected from the user's social network. The social data includes information obtained from the activity of at least one second or greater order indirect member of the social network relative to the user. The user data, social data, and the psycho-demographic data are correlated to initiate the action. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153176 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING CARBON FOOTPRINT OF MAIL - A mail production system enhanced for measuring and reducing carbon footprint of mail. The system includes an inserter machine with sensors configured to detect attributes of mail that may contribute to carbon footprint. A controller computer is in communication with the inserter sensors. The controller further receives and stores mail job attribute data from a data file regarding attributes of the mail to be produced. The computer memory includes data correlating particular mail attributes to corresponding carbon footprint. The controller computer is programmed to calculate a carbon footprint for mail to be produced on the inserter by adding carbon footprint contributed by sensed attributes and mail job attribute data. The controller computer stores carbon footprint data for comparison with future mail jobs. The controller computer provides the user with carbon reduction suggestions corresponding to attributes of the mail. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153177 | SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING THE INTRINSIC VALUE PROVIDED TO INTERNET USERS BY SELECTED WEB SITES - The WEB Site Valuation System identifies each user's personal attribution of value to a selected WEB site. The attribution is constrained by assigning each user a predetermined number of assignable credits/tokens from which the user can draw to “deposit” or “withdraw” previously deposited credits in the “account” of a WEB site. The tally of credits for each WEB site is then a direct indication of the value provided to users. This ultimately creates a token economy for and within the WEB, based upon user opinion of the value of WEB sites. The dynamic mapping and correlation of these value indications with the users' characteristics provides analytical data that can be used to determine the relevance of the WEB site to various socio-demographic populations, as well as the response of the users to changes in the WEB site, market forces, and/or the entire community of WEB sites. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153178 | SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING THE INTRINSIC VALUE PROVIDED TO INTERNET USERS BY SELECTED WEB SITES - The WEB Site Valuation System identifies each user's personal attribution of value to a selected WEB site. The attribution is constrained by assigning each user a predetermined number of assignable credits/tokens from which the user can draw to “deposit” or “withdraw” previously deposited credits in the “account” of a WEB site. The tally of credits for each WEB site is then a direct indication of the value provided to users. This ultimately creates a token economy for and within the WEB, based upon user opinion of the value of WEB sites. The dynamic mapping and correlation of these value indications with the users' characteristics provides analytical data that can be used to determine the relevance of the WEB site to various socio-demographic populations, as well as the response of the users to changes in the WEB site, market forces, and/or the entire community of WEB sites. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153179 | AUTOMATIC CALCULATION OF FORECAST RESPONSE FACTOR - A forecast response factor (RF) determines how quickly product demand forecasts should react to recent changes in demand. When a product sales pattern changes (e.g., a sudden increase in product demand), RF is adjusted accordingly to adjust the forecast responsiveness. The present subject matter provides automatic calculation of the RF, based at least in part on the nature of the product sales (autocorrelation) and the status of recent forecasts (bias). | 2010-06-17 |
20100153180 | Generating Receptivity Cohorts - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating receptivity cohorts. Digital sensor data associated with a set of individuals is retrieved in response to receiving an identification of a proposed future change in a current set of circumstances associated with the set of individuals. The digital sensor data comprises events metadata describing a set of events associated with the set of individuals. The set of events comprises at least one of body language, facial expressions, vocalizations, and social interactions of the set of individuals. An analysis server selects a set of receptivity analysis models based on the proposed future event and the set of events. Each analysis model in the set of receptivity analysis models analyzes the set of events to identify conduct attributes indicating receptiveness of each individual in the set of individuals to the proposed future change. The events metadata describing the set of events is analyzed in the selected set of receptivity analysis models to form a receptivity cohort. The receptivity cohort comprises a set of conduct attributes indicating receptiveness of each individual in the set of individuals to the proposed future change. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153181 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION SERVICES - Systems and methods for providing information services are disclosed. A method for providing an information service can comprise providing a pool of providers, and receiving a request from a requester for an information service from at least one of the providers. One or more of the providers can be identified as a provider subset available to deliver the information service to the requestor. The identified provider subset can be presented to the requester, along with a reputation index for each provider in the provider subset. A selection of a first provider belonging to the provider subset can be received from the requestor. The information service can be performed by transmitting data from the provider to the requester in real-time. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153182 | PRODUCT ADVERTISING AND SUPPLY CHAIN INTEGRATION - A method, apparatus and system are provided that enable an advertising supply chain and product supply chain to inter-communicate and integrate media content advertising with product supply to optimize the effectiveness of out-of-home advertising and ensure the availability of advertised products. As a result, the effectiveness of retail media programs will be enhanced with processes and tools that coordinate and/or integrate the delivery to and presentation of product specific media and the delivery to and presentation of the products themselves on location. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153183 | Product design - A technique to obtain desirable product-specific outcomes is disclosed. An example of a method using the technique includes parameterizing a job to identify steps; defining a market as a job executor of the job; deconstructing the job to determine achievable outcomes at each step in the job; using outcome statements associated with the achievable outcomes as bases for segmentation; allocating customers into segments of customers with different unmet needs, revealing segment of opportunity; uncovering segments of customers that struggle to achieve desirable outcomes at one or more steps of the job; revealing an opportunity to help at least one customer achieve desirable outcomes related to a specific market; designing a product that helps the at least one customer achieve desirable outcomes. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153184 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PREDICTING CUSTOMER BEHAVIOR - According to one aspect of the present disclosure a method and technique for predictive modeling of customer behavior is disclosed. The method includes receiving customer data from a plurality on non-affiliated vendor properties, anonymizing at least a portion of the received customer data and merging the anonymized customer data from each vendor property into a consortium database, and generating at least one predictive model of at least one behavior variable associated with at least one customer represented in the consortium database, the predictive model enabling identification of at least one stimuli likely to affect a desired response by the customer based on the predictive model. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153185 | MEDIATING AND PRICING TRANSACTIONS BASED ON CALCULATED REPUTATION OR INFLUENCE SCORES - Mediating and pricing transactions based on calculated reputation and influence is provided. In some embodiments, mediating and pricing transactions based on calculated reputation and influence includes determining an influence score (e.g., based on a given dimension) for a subject (e.g., a user), in which the subject is requesting a transaction; and determining approval of the transaction based on criteria including the influence score of the subject. In some embodiments, the influence score is a directly estimated objective measure of influence (e.g., estimated using a social graph). In some embodiments, mediating and pricing transactions based on calculated reputation and influence further includes determining pricing of the transaction based on criteria including the influence score of the subject. In some embodiments, mediating and pricing transactions based on calculated reputation and influence also includes sharing transactional revenue for the transaction with the subject based on criteria including the influence score of the subject. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153186 | Business method for promoting goods and services of providers - A business method for promoting goods and services of providers includes the steps of designating a group of targeted recipients, and storing demographics information of each recipient in an electronic database. A plurality of direct mail items including provider promotions is generated, and each marked with a machine-readable ID code unique to each of the recipients. The direct mail items are sorted by their respective ID codes into cooperative mail packages, each mail package containing multiple items with common ID codes. The mail packages are then forwarded to respective recipients. After redemption of a direct mail item by a recipient, the ID code is read and electronically linked with the recipient's demographics information contained in the electronic database. A report is generated based on the direct mail items redeemed. | 2010-06-17 |
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. | 2010-06-17 |
20100153188 | Internet Repository for Employer Provided References for Current and Former Employees - The present invention is a system and methodology embodied in an Internet Website and associated hardware and software to overcome the problem of a prospective employee providing dubious or fraudulent references. A prospective employer need no longer rely on references of relatives, friends, colleagues and/or acquaintances that have been strategically approached by the prospective employee to provide a ‘good’ and most often ‘exaggerated’ reference. The present invention allows for an employee's prior employer to provide an employee reference to a future employer. Such referrals may be stored, indexed, searched and retrieved by prospective employers thereby enhancing the reliability and credibility of a prospective employee reference. While an employee may dispute a claim in a free form narrative or by uploading responsive documentation, the employee may not provide a referral. | 2010-06-17 |