34th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 52 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090210206 | Method and for wide track erasure in a hard disk drive - A method and its implementation as a program system are disclosed herein for generating an air flow report based upon a cellular model of the air flow of a hard disk drive including a parameterized component approximated by a component parameter list and a map of the partitioned regions of the hard disk drive. The air flow report is generated based upon the cellular model and a partition/region map. The partition/region map lumps the simulation domain into a small number of regions and then calculates the fluxes across boundaries of the regions. These fluxes accumulate the results of many individual cells, averaging out small variations caused by rounding and/or the convergence properties of the specific cellular approach used. A simulation figure of merit is calculated from the air flow report that further refines the accuracy, effectively removing even more noise. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210207 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEQUENCE VARIATION/PREDICTION AND GENETIC ENGINEERING DETECTION USING DOCUMENTED CODON/AMINO ACID MUTATION AND/OR SUBSTITUTION PATTERNS - The present invention primarily relates to protein identification and can be particularly useful for bioinformaticists employing a mass spectrometry analysis. The present invention provides systems and methods to produce virtual databases, virtual database entries, or virtual amino acid sequences that can be used to improve the identification of unknown proteins and facilitate recognizing engineered proteins and distinguishing between natural and engineered genes and proteins. The present invention uses variations, such as mutation or substitution patterns, evident in and derived from known DNA, RNA, and protein sequences to predict and generate virtual DNA, RNA, and amino acid sequences that may not be represented in the current databases but that are likely to occur in nature. Substitution patterns may be derived from either the chemical, physical, and biological patterns of mutation or the derived, observable patterns of evolutionary fixation of such mutations between or within species. These virtual sequences (or databases/datafiles of such virtual sequences) contain novel, but statistically likely sequences for use in comparing to unknown proteins (peptides) for protein identification. The use of such synthetic sequences and/or databases facilitate the recognition and distinction between naturally occurring and genetically engineered DNA, RNA, and protein sequences. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210208 | Brains stimulation models, systems, devices, and methods - This document discusses, among other things, brain stimulation models, systems, devices, and methods, such as for deep brain stimulation (DBS) or other electrical stimulation. In an example, a target volume of activation (VOA) can be received, a test VOA can be simulated, and at least one of a target electrode location or parameter can be provide using a relationship between the target VOA and the test VOA. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210209 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SIMULATING EFFECTS OF SUBSTANCES - A method and system for simulating the effect of pharmaceutical substances inside a living body, the method including inputting medication details and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data of the medication, storing the input medication details and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data, calculating concentration and effect of the medication on at least one portion of a living body from the input medication details and the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data, and generating a visualization of the calculated concentration and effect on a virtual body. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210210 | METHOD OF ACCURATE PREDICTION OF ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (ESD) PERFORMANCE IN MULTI-VOLTAGE ENVIRONMENT - The present invention relates generally to semiconductor wafer fabrication and more particularly but not exclusively to predictive, pre-fabrication methodologies for determining inefficiencies in an integrated circuit (IC) design. The present invention, in one or more implementations, provides an effective pre-production methodology for predicting the efficiency and behavior of a designed ESD protective circuit and testing the ESD protective circuit with a simulated IC. The method of the present invention yields predictive results that have been comparatively tested. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210211 | METHOD FOR RECONSTRUCTING STATEMENT, AND COMPUTER SYSTEM HAVING THE FUNCTION THEREFOR - Provided is a computer system ( | 2009-08-20 |
20090210212 | Validating One or More Circuits Using One or More Grids - In one embodiment, a method includes simulating by one or more computer systems a larger circuit to assign one or more values to one or more latch variables associated with the larger circuit, generating by the one or more computer systems one or more reduced circuits from the larger circuit according to the values assigned to the latch variables, generating by the one or more computer systems a transition relation (TR) for each reduced circuit, and generating by the one or more computer systems an initial state set for one or more instances of validation on the reduced circuits according to the TRs. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210213 | SELECTING A LANGUAGE ENCODING OF A STATIC COMMUNICATION IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE - A static communication can be presented efficiently in different languages to facilitate propagation of the static communication across language boundaries. A static communication object that represents a static communication can be loaded with different language encodings of the static communication. When a trigger occurs (e.g., an avatar accesses the static communication object), a language encoding of the static communication that can be understood by the avatar is presented to the avatar. As the static communication propagates throughout the virtual universe, additional language encodings can be added to the static communication object. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210214 | Universal Language Input - Systems, methods, and apparatuses including computer program products for universal language input are provided. In one implementation, a method is provided. The method includes using a first application or operating system component to detect user input to an application interface of a second application. The method also includes, as input is detected in the application interface, automatically using the first application to provide one or more translations of the input including, sending the input to a translation model, receiving translated input from the translation model, and sending the translated input to the application interface of the second application. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210215 | DOCUMENT IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND DOCUMENT IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - A document image processing device includes a region dividing unit that divides a document image into sentence regions, a character recognizing unit that recognizes characters in each sentence region obtained by the region dividing unit, a classifying unit that classifies the sentence regions into groups based on first character sizes and first line spacings, a translation unit that translates the characters constituting a character string in each sentence region, a calculating unit that calculates second character sizes and second line spacings, and a correcting unit that corrects the second character sizes and the second line spacings of the sentence regions classified into a same group by the classified unit so that differences in second character size and second line spacing between the sentence regions of the same group is substantially equal to or less than predetermined values. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210216 | Storage Device That Provides Efficient, Updatable National Language Support For A Mobile Device - Efficient, updatable national language support for a mobile device is provided. NLS file segments are provided in a wrapper in the Virtual NLS file. Segments may be organized by language family. The number of segments that need to be searched is also minimized. At any point, any of the pointers for the dynamically updatable query table can be shifted around to improve performance. Existing APIs may be used for obtaining locale information by causing the APIs to iterate through all the known NLS segments in a specified search order. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210217 | Gaming Apparatus Capable of Conversation with Player and Control Method Thereof - A gaming apparatus of the present invention comprises: a microphone; a speaker; a display; a memory storing effect image data for each language type; and a controller. The controller is programmed to conduct the processing of: (A) recognizing a language type from a sound inputted from said microphone by executing a language recognition program; (B) conducting a conversation with a player by recognizing a voice inputted from said microphone, in addition to outputting a voice from said speaker by executing a conversation program corresponding to the language recognized in said processing (A); and (C) displaying to said display an image based on effect image data corresponding to the language type recognized in said processing (A) according to progress of a game, said effect image data read from said memory. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210218 | Deep Neural Networks and Methods for Using Same - A method and system for labeling a selected word of a sentence using a deep neural network includes, in one exemplary embodiment, determining an index term corresponding to each feature of the word, transforming the index term or terms of the word into a vector, and predicting a label for the word using the vector. The method and system, in another exemplary embodiment, includes determining, for each word in the sentence, an index term corresponding to each feature of the word, transforming the index term or terms of each word in the sentence into a vector, applying a convolution operation to the vector of the selected word and at least one of the vectors of the other words in the sentence, to transform the vectors into a matrix of vectors, each of the vectors in the matrix including a plurality of row values, constructing a single vector from the vectors in the matrix, and predicting a label for the selected word using the single vector. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210219 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CODING AND DECODING RESIDUAL SIGNAL - Provided is a residual signal coding/decoding apparatus and method. The residual signal coding apparatus includes a transformer, a band splitter, a pulse searcher, and a pulse quantizer. The transformer transforms time-domain residual signals into a frequency domain to output transform coefficients. The band splitter splits the transform coefficients into bands to output the transform coefficients. The pulse searcher searches the transform coefficients for the respective bands to select optimal pulses and output parameters of the optimal pulses. The pulse quantizer quantizes the parameters of the optimal pulses. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210220 | Speech analyzer detecting pitch frequency, speech analyzing method, and speech analyzing program - A speech analyzer includes a speech acquiring section, a frequency converting section, an autocorrelation section, and a pitch detection section. The frequency converting section converts the speech signal acquired by the speech acquiring section into a frequency spectrum. The autocorrelation section determines an autocorrelation waveform by shifting the frequency spectrum along the frequency axis. The pitch detection section determines the pitch frequency from the distance between two local crests or troughs of the autocorrelation waveform. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210221 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR BUILDING SPEECH DATABASE FOR SPEECH SYNTHESIS, RELAY DEVICE THEREFOR, AND RELAY METHOD THEREFOR - A relay device | 2009-08-20 |
20090210222 | Multi-Channel Hole-Filling For Audio Compression - Multi-channel hole-filling for audio compression is disclosed. Channel dependency groups (CDGs) are explicitly extracted based on channel transform information. Holes are detected within each CDG for each bark, and a CDG hole is identified as requiring filling as a particular section of frequency bandwidth larger than a predetermined hole bandwidth threshold and with all zero-value coefficients in all channels after quantizing. Bark weights are adjusted by multiplying the original bark weights with one calculated scalar so as to remove each detected CDG hole. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210223 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SOUND RECOGNITION IN PORTABLE DEVICE - Provided are an apparatus and a method capable of recognizing a sound through a reduced burden of computations and a noise-tolerant technique. The sound recognition apparatus in a portable device includes a memory unit that stores at least one base sound and a sound input unit that receives a sound input. The sound recognition apparatus also includes a control unit that receives the sound input from the sound input unit, extracts peak values of the sound input, calculates statistical data by using the peak values, and determines whether the sound input is equal to a base sound by using the statistical data. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210224 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND PROGRAM FOR SPEECH PROCESSING - The present invention relates to a system, method and program for speech recognition. In an embodiment of the invention a method for processing a speech signal consists of receiving a power spectrum of a speech signal and generating a log power spectrum signal of the power spectrum. The method further consists of performing discrete cosine transformation on the log power spectrum signal and cutting off cepstrum upper and lower terms of the discrete cosine transformed signal. The method further consists of performing inverse discrete cosine transformation on the signal from which the cepstrum upper and lower terms are cut off. The method further consists of converting the inverse discrete cosine transformed signal so as to bring the signal back to a power spectrum domain and filtering the power spectrum of the speech signal by using, as a filter, the signal which is brought back to the power spectrum domain. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210225 | SUPPORTING ELECTRONIC TASK MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS VIA TELEPHONE - The disclosed personal information management (PIM) system supports tasks and reminders via a audio user interface. The user creates a task object via a telephone call to the server. The task object may include an audio recording of the user's voice received during the telephone call. The system may convert the user's speech to text and may store the text in the task object. The system may include other structured data further defining the task such as calling party number, due date, start date, priority, status, percentage complete, categories, or the like. As stored by the system, the task may appear with the user's other tasks in the user's client. The PIM system may provide outbound telephone calls to the user as reminders associated with the user's tasks. The user receiving the reminder call may hear voice prompts, computer generated speech, and/or the audio recording associated with the task. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210226 | Method and Apparatus for Voice Searching for Stored Content Using Uniterm Discovery - A method, system and communication device for enabling voice-to-voice searching and ordered content retrieval via audio tags assigned to individual content, which tags generate uniterms that are matched against components of a voice query. The method includes storing content and tagging at least one of the content with an audio tag. The method further includes receiving a voice query to retrieve content stored on the device. When the voice query is received, the method completes a voice-to-voice search utilizing uniterms of the audio tag, scored against the phoneme latent lattice model generated by the voice query to identify matching terms within the audio tags and corresponding stored content. The retrieved content(s) associated with the identified audio tags having uniterms that score within the phoneme lattice model are outputted in an order corresponding to an order in which the uniterms are structured within the voice query. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210227 | VOICE RECOGNITION APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING VOICE RECOGNITION - A voice recognition apparatus includes: a voice recognition module that performs a voice recognition for an audio signal during a voice period; a distance measurement module that measures a current distance between the user and an voice input module; a calculation module that calculates a recommended distance range, in which being estimated that an S/N ratio exceeds a first threshold, based on the voice characteristic; and a display module that displays the recommended distance range and the current distance. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210228 | System for Dynamic Management of Customer Direction During Live Interaction - A system for customer interaction includes a telephony-enabled device for receiving voice calls from customers, a voice recognition engine connected to the telephony-enabled device for monitoring the voice channel, and an application server connected to the voice recognition engine for receiving notification when specific keywords phrases or tones are detected. The system is characterized in that the application server selects scripts for presentation to the customer based at least in part on the notifications received from the voice recognition engine. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210229 | Processing Received Voice Messages - A voice message processing system shortens received voice messages to reduce the time a user must spend in reviewing the user's voice messages. In some embodiments, a data file associated with a caller is created and updated with words and associated audio files that may be used to replace longer words or phrases in future voice messages from the caller. A user may manually configure preferences to aggressively shorten messages in some embodiments. A speech synthesizer may be employed to replace text in messages when sufficient audio files are not stored to provide sufficient processing of messages. An audible indicator may be played with a revised message to allow a user to play back at least a portion of the original, received message without the substituted portions. Such systems provide a user the opportunity to review messages in a reduced time. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210230 | SPEECH RECOGNITION ON LARGE LISTS USING FRAGMENTS - A system and method is provided for recognizing a speech input and selecting an entry from a list of entries. The method includes recognizing a speech input. A fragment list of fragmented entries is provided and compared to the recognized speech input to generate a candidate list of best matching entries based on the comparison result. The system includes a speech recognition module, and a data base for storing the list of entries and the fragmented list. The speech recognition module may obtain the fragmented list from the data base and store a candidate list of best matching entries in memory. A display may also be provided to allow the user to select from a list of best matching entries. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210231 | STUTTERING TREATMENT METHODS AND APPARATUS - Stuttering treatment methods and apparatus which utilize removable oral-based appliances having actuators which are attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a dental or oral appliance are described. Such oral appliances may receive the user's voice and process the voice to introduce a time delay and/or a frequency shift. The altered audio feedback signal is then transmitted back to the user through a tooth, teeth, or other bone via a vibrating actuator element. The actuator element may utilize electromagnetic or piezoelectric actuator mechanisms and may be positioned directly along the dentition or along an oral appliance housing in various configurations. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210232 | LAYERED PROMPTING: SELF-CALIBRATING INSTRUCTIONAL PROMPTING FOR VERBAL INTERFACES - A plurality of prompting layers configured to provide varying levels of detailed assistance in prompting a user are maintained. A prompt from a current prompting layer is presented to a user. Input is received from the user. A level of detail in prompting the user is adaptively changed based on user behavior. Upon the user making a hesitant verbal gesture that reaches a threshold duration, a transition is made from the current prompting layer to a more detailed prompting layer. Upon the user interrupting the prompt with a valid input, a transition is made from the current prompting layer to a less detailed prompting layer. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210233 | COGNITIVE OFFLOADING: INTERFACE FOR STORING AND COMPOSING SEARCHES ON AND NAVIGATING UNCONSTRAINED INPUT PATTERNS - One or more commands are configured to cause content to be stored for retrieval. The content to be stored includes one or more entries. The content may include event-triggered content stored for retrieval upon an occurrence of a specified event or other content. The content is retrieved in response to a retrieval command specifying a given pattern by comparing the given pattern with the stored content and, upon finding a match for the given pattern, wherein the match corresponds with the given pattern within a predetermined variance, retrieving additional content stored with the match for the given pattern. The content also may be retrieved by identifying the occurrence of the specified event and retrieving the event-triggered content upon the occurrence of the specified event. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210234 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF ENCODING AND DECODING SIGNALS - A method of encoding an audio signal, where signals including two or more channel signals are downmixed to a mono signal, the mono signal is divided into a low-frequency signal and a high-frequency signal, the low-frequency signal is encoded through algebraic code excited linear prediction (ACELP) or transform coded excitation (TCX), and the high-frequency signal is encoded using the low-frequency signal. A method of decoding of an audio signal, a low-frequency signal encoded through ACELP or TCX is decoded, a high-frequency signal is decoded using the low-frequency signal, the low-frequency signal and the high-frequency signal are combined to generate a mono signal, and the mono signal is upmixed by decoding spatial parameters regarding signals including two or more channel signals. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210235 | ENCODING DEVICE, ENCODING METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT INCLUDING METHODS THEREOF - A disclosed encoding device converts an audio signal into frequency spectra, determines allowable error powers with respect to bands divided by the frequency of the audio signal by a predetermined with, detects a tonal frequency spectrum from the frequency spectra, and detects a band containing the frequency spectrum. Using the detection result and the allowable error powers, the encoding device performs correction such that allowable error powers determined by a power determining unit with respect to bands adjacent to the band detected by a detecting unit become smaller than the powers of the frequency spectra with respect to the adjacent bands, and quantizes each of frequency spectra having greater powers than the corrected allowable error powers. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210236 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENCODING/DECODING STEREO AUDIO - Provided are a method and apparatus for encoding/decoding stereo audio. In the method for encoding stereo audio, stereo audio is encoded based on at least one of the phase difference between first and second channel audios and information on an angle made by a vector on the intensity of mono-audio and a vector on the intensity of the first channel audio or a vector on the intensity of the second channel audio. Thus, the number of encoded parameters is minimized so that a compression ratio in the encoding of the stereo audio is improved. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210237 | FRAME COMPENSATION METHOD AND SYSTEM - A frame compensation method is provided. The method includes: obtaining a length of a lost frame and a length of a correct frame; determining that the length of the correct frame is integral power of 2 times of the length of the lost frame, and then obtaining a data sequence with the same length as the length of the lost frame according to the correct frame; and compensating the lost frame according to the data sequence to obtain a compensated data frame. A frame compensation system is also provided. Lost frames in various formats are compensated according to correct frames in various formats, so that the limitation of the related art that a lost frame in a single format can be merely compensated according to a correct frame in a single format is eliminated, and the effect of the compensated data frames is better than that of filling comfort noises. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210238 | Methods and Apparatuses for Encoding and Decoding Object-Based Audio Signals - An audio decoding method and apparatus and an audio encoding method and apparatus which can efficiently process object-based audio signals are provided. The audio decoding method includes receiving a downmix signal, which is obtained by downmixing a plurality of object signals, and object side information, extracting metadata from the object-side information and displaying an information regarding the object signals based on the metadata. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210239 | Method for Encoding and Decoding Object-Based Audio Signal and Apparatus Thereof - The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for encoding and decoding object-based audio signals. This audio decoding method includes extracting a first audio signal and a first audio parameter in which a music object are encoded on a channel basis and a second audio signal and a second audio parameter in which a vocal object are encoded on an object basis, from an audio signal, generating a third audio signal by employing at least one of the first and second audio signals, and generating a multi-channel audio signal by employing at least one of the first and second audio parameters and the third audio signal. Accordingly, the amount of calculation in encoding and decoding processes and the size of a bitstream that is encoded can be reduced efficiently. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210240 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF AGE VERIFICATION FOR PURCHASING AGE-RESTRICTED ITEMS - Aspects of the invention relate to an age verification terminal configured for verifying the age of a person and providing a purchase ticket for purchasing an age-restricted item is proposed. In one embodiment, the terminal comprises a video camera configured for capturing an image of the person and a document reader configured for capturing an image of an identification document of the person. The terminal also comprises a connecting device and receiving device. The connecting device configured for connecting to a remote age verification center to transmit the image of said person and the image of (at least a part of) the identification document to the age verification center. The receiver is configured for receiving a purchase approval signal from the age verification center in response to having transmitted the person image and/or the document image. The age verification module comprises a controller configured for controlling a ticket printer to print the purchase ticket in response to receiving the purchase approval signal. The purchase ticket then comprises an image of the person and/or a ticket code intended for allowing purchase of the age-restricted item. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210241 | Emergency Contact System that Interfaces with Government ID - A system for identifying and providing emergency contacts and returning lost identification that interfaces with a government-issued ID and provides only member-provided information to properly authenticated users over the internet. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210242 | LOAD BALANCE PAYMENT - A user can be provided a variety of incentives to take a route that is different from a standard path in order to relieve path load balancing issues. Information on a primary path can be collected and analyzed to determine if it would be beneficial to encourage users to take an alternate path. If it is determined that users should be encouraged to take another path, then analysis of potential users can occur. A result of the user analysis can be used to select users that are offered to take the alternate path as well as an incentive offered to the user to encourage her to take the alternate path. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210243 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ELECTRONIC CUSTOMS FORM - Methods and systems are provided for creating and processing an electronic customs declaration manifest. These methods and systems include creating a image of the customs declaration form, converting the image of the customs declaration form into an electronic customs manifest, and transferring the electronic customs manifest to a database. In addition, a image is may also be forwarded electronically to a remote encoding center, where the customs declaration form data is manually converted into an electronic file for storing in a database. Customs services of both the originating and destination countries review the declared information stored in the database. When the international mailpiece arrives at the border, domestic customs service may find a matching unique identifiers on the international mailpieces and customs declaration forms stored in the database. The service provider may load an international mailpiece into an airplane, if a domestic customs service allow the international mailpiece having a matching unique identifier to leave the originating country. A service provider may return an international mailpiece to the domestic customs service if an international mailpiece is not allowed to leave the originating country. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210244 | TRUSTED ACQUAINTANCES NETWORK SYSTEM - A trusted acquaintances network system [ | 2009-08-20 |
20090210245 | Drawing and data collection systems - An apparatus, system and method is disclosed herein for searching and retrieving data in the form of text and images that may be used for designing and drawings applications in industry and for crime investigation and prevention. Data is retrieved from databases optionally using a statistical profiler and observations/hunch notes to filter and narrow the search. The present invention may serve as a simulation tool, as a storage system, as a legal presentation system and as a calculation program. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210246 | STATISTICAL PERSONALIZED RECOMMENDATION SYSTEM - A method for recommending items in a domain to users, either individually or in groups, makes user of users' characteristics, their carefully elicited preferences, and a history of their ratings of the items are maintained in a database. Users are assigned to cohorts that are constructed such that significant between-cohort differences emerge in the distribution of preferences. Cohort-specific parameters and their precisions are computed using the database, which enable calculation of a risk-adjusted rating for any of the items by a typical non-specific user belonging to the cohort. Personalized modifications of the cohort parameters for individual users are computed using the individual-specific history of ratings and stated preferences. These personalized parameters enable calculation of a individual-specific risk-adjusted rating of any of the items relevant to the user. The method is also applicable to recommending items suitable to groups of joint users such a group of friends or a family. A related method can be used to discover users who share similar preferences. Similar users to a given user are identified based on the closeness of the statistically computed personal-preference parameters. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210247 | System and Apparatus for Item Management - Item-management systems, apparatus, and methods are described, preferably for management of items such as medicaments. In embodiments, an item-management system comprises a holder defining plural cells, a docking station configured to receive the holder, at least one indicator selectively-operable to indicate the holder cell into which an item is to be loaded, and at least one controller operable to selectively operate each at least one indicator to indicate the cell into which the item is to be received. In embodiments, indicators are provided on the holder. In other embodiments, the indicators may by on a guide associated with the docking station to assist the user in loading the holder. The contents of the loaded holder may be easily loaded, for example, into an automated dispensing machine for packaging and subsequent administration to a patient or for another use. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210248 | Adaptive Intervention and Management Method for Healthcare Organizations - A computer-implemnented method to optimize the performance of a health care system, comprising creating a 3-dimensional Healthcare Adaptive Cycle space defined by a Potential dimension, a Connectness dimension, and a Resilience dimension, wherein the Healthcare Adaptive Cycle comprises a K region, a Ω region, an a region, a r region, a backloop transition zone from said Ω region to said a region, and a front loop transition zone from said r region to said K region. The method then determines at a first time a first location for the healthcare organization within said Healthcare Adaptive Cycle, and visually displays the 3-dimensional Healthcare Adaptive Cycle space and the first location. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210249 | MEDICAL DEVICE - A medical device is provided, comprising a data management unit for providing patient data regarding a patient's health and/or treatment status, a display for displaying the patient data provided by the data management unit, and an actuator configured to cause one or both of activation and deactivation of the device. The patient data is displayed on the display in response to the initiation of activation and/or deactivation of the device. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210250 | Intermediation Server, A Method, And Network For Consulting And Referencing Medical Information - An intermediation server that can be used to consult and reference medical information relating to patients and stored in a computer network ( | 2009-08-20 |
20090210251 | System and Method for Intelligent Management of Medical Care - A computerized medical care system provides validation of a diagnosis of a medical condition and requested medical services for treating the medical condition. The medial care system invokes multiple filters to determine the appropriateness of the diagnosis and medical service. Real time feedback is provided based on the determination. If the medical care cannot be validated, the feedback includes the reasons for the failure to validate, and any supporting materials for the lack of validation. The feedback may also prompt the requesting entity to provide additional information to help support the medical provider's position as to why the requested medical care is appropriate. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210252 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REAL TIME ANALYSIS OF MEDICAL ORDERS - A customized, automated tracking system (CATS) and method is disclosed that provides an interface between medical records relating to medication records and clinical laboratory result records. As new records are created or updated, the record is input into a central repository where medication records and laboratory records for a patient/resident are stored. When new medication orders are placed, the central data repository is queried and comparative analysis is performed. Clinical results are compared to the patient's/resident's diagnosis and prescribed medications to determine the appropriateness of the course of treatment. If an order is inappropriate for a given diagnosis, or if the medication ordered is contra-indicated, the central data repository notifies at least one of the primary physician, filling pharmacy or the patient. Historical data is received and archived for later analysis. The data for many patients may be organized and analyzed based on a common characteristic of the medical records. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210253 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS FOR SLEEP DISORDERS - The present invention provides a unique clinical workflow, scoring system, and system architecture for sleep specific applications. The present invention provides a unique logic system, identifying factors of sleep disorders and a sleepiness scale. The present invention comprises a logic system that incorporates the patient's i) medical history, ii) clinical evaluation, and iii) diagnostic testing data for directing patient care and clinical decision making. The system of the present invention incorporates new scoring systems to drive diagnostic testing and decision making. The present invention can also suggest and drive treatment options based on evidence based medicine, society guidelines, standards, consensus statements and clinical expertise. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210254 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CROSS-REFERENCING - A sample, which is embedded in a paraffin block, is placed on a tissue cassette ( | 2009-08-20 |
20090210255 | Efficient Automated System for Processing Refill - The present invention concerns an efficient method for processing a prescription wherein a computer system receives an electronic mail message from a patient system. The electronic mail message includes an electronic mail address having a leading string of characters that are indicative of the prescription. The computer system processes the leading string of characters to identify and process the prescription. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210256 | System For Real-Time Online Health Care Insurance Underwriting - A system for real-time health care insurance underwriting is described comprising a quotation module, a verification module, and an underwriting module. The quotation module receives user input relating to a user's health status via an online user interface. The verification module verifies the user input against information stored in a database to form a list of inconsistencies and present the user via the online user interface with a request to validate at least some information within the user input. The underwriting module automatically creates a debit score based on one or more of at least a portion of the user input and the validated information and generates an underwriting decision based at least in part on the debit score. The quotation module presents one or more offers to sell insurance to the user via the online user interface, the one or more offers based on the underwriting decision. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210257 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING CUSTOMIZED SAFETY FEEDBACK - The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for monitoring driving behavior and providing feedback to the driver. The systems evaluate driving behavior and relay feedback to the driver in a fashion that is customized to take into account individual characteristics and demographic characteristics of the driver. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210258 | INTERNET PROTOCOL DATA TRANSMISSION INSURANCE SYSTEM - An electronic transmission insurance method to insure electronic transmission between a first computer client and a second computer client. An electronic transmission identifier is associated with the electronic transmission. A claim is processed pursuant to the terms of the insurance policy if the network server does not receive the electronic transmission identifier from the second computer client indicating that the electronic transmission has been received by the second computer client. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210259 | INTERNET PROTOCOL DATA INSURANCE POLICY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An internet protocol data insurance policy management system including creating an insurance policy portfolio. A risk associated with an electronic transmission is determined based upon the insurance policy portfolio. An insurance policy is generated based upon the insurance policy portfolio upon receipt of a electronic transmission identifier from a first computer client. The receipt of the electronic transmission identifier from the first computer is indicative of an electronic transmission being transmitted from the first computer client to a second computer client that is distinct from the first computer client. The insurance policy is terminated when the electronic transmission identifier is received from the second computer client. The receipt of the electronic transmission identifier from the second computer client is indicative of the electronic transmission being received by the second computer client. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210260 | Method and System for Transacting Short Term Hunting Leases - A method for an online reservation and rating system for short-term hunting leases for property. In the preferred embodiment, hunters can lease hunting rights for as little as | 2009-08-20 |
20090210261 | System and Method for Multi-Modal Travel Shopping - One embodiment provides a method, that may be implemented on a system, for obtaining a starting point and a destination point for a traveler; identifying multiple options of transportation modes to travel from the starting point to the destination point, and identifying a costs and travel time associated respectively with each transportation mode to travel from a departure terminal to an arrival terminal; identifying respectively for each transportation mode, a costs and travel time associated with local transportation from the starting point to a departure terminal, and identifying a costs and travel time associated with local transportation from an arrival terminal to the destination point; presenting to the traveler for selection, the multiple options of transportation modes to travel from the starting point to the destination point, including costs and travel time associated respectively with each option of transportation mode, including local transportation from the starting point to the departure terminal, from the departure terminal to the arrival terminal, and local transportation from the arrival terminal to the destination point; receiving a selection of a transportation mode and reserving the transportation associated with the respective transportation mode. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210262 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATED TRAVEL - Methods and apparatus for arranging travel according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with one or more computers. The computer may automatically identify appointment data associated with a scheduling application. The computer automatically researches one or more travel arrangements according to the appointment data. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210263 | GOLF COURSE TIME MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A system is provided for tracking and visually displaying golf reservations in a computer-implemented environment. The system provides a display with a grid or array of times arranged according to golf hole numbers. A reservation designator, by its location on the grid, identifies a start time and start hole, and includes an identifier to identify one or more golfers corresponding to a reservation. The duration of the game associated with reservation designator is estimated based upon golf course parameters. The reservation designator thus visually indicates a predicted location of the players corresponding to a golf game reservation. Additionally, the system may provide for tracking and sales of green fees and merchandise. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210264 | Conversation Mode Booking System - A system to book events such as trips are discloses. The system provides a conversation mode that allows a booking to be created within retentive storage in a portable format. In one embodiment, this portable format is a string written in eXtensible Markup Language (XML). This format may be stored to a database using a single database access operation. According to another aspect of the system, a user may ignore selectable portions of the booking as the booking is being created such that an entire booking need not be discarded when it is determined that a single service or informational element included in that booking is no longer needed. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210265 | Promoting Sales Of An Establishment - Disclosed herein is a computer implemented method and system for promoting sales through a customer incentive scheme of an establishment. The establishment offers the customer a redeemable voucher of a first value on purchase of merchandise. The customer registers the redeemable voucher on an online website. The online website is managed by a promotion company. The promotion company places the customer in a promotion cycle on the online website. The promotion cycle comprises a predetermined sequence of redeeming registered vouchers of the customer and multiple registered customers. The promotion company tracks total value accumulated by the customer on the online website till the total value reaches an exchange value predetermined by the establishment and the promotion company. The customer then redeems the redeemable voucher for the exchange value for merchandise from the establishment or a company participating in the customer incentive scheme. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210266 | METHODS, SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR A DECISION FRAMEWORK FOR VALUATING BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION ALTERNATIVES - Methods, systems and computer program products for a decision framework for valuating business transformation alternatives. An exemplary embodiment includes a method for framework for valuating business transformation alternatives, the method including identifying a transformation alternative, performing a strategic value analysis, performing a value risk analysis and performing a qualitative assessment to compute a value of the business transformation alternative based on the strategic value analysis and the value risk analysis. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210267 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY MAPPING SECURITY CONTROLS TO SUBJECTS - A computer system and method is disclosed for automatically and dynamically mapping risk management controls to risk management profiles based upon criteria associated with each control and values associated with each risk management profile. A database is populated with a plurality of risk management controls which may correspond to the commandments of a security requirement. The database is also populated with a plurality of risk management profiles and associated attribute values which represent information technology subjects within an organization. A computer process maps each individual risk management control to the appropriate profiles so that the organization may properly execute the control on the associated subject. Alternatively, a set of risk management profiles may be automatically determined based upon the risk management profiles and a plurality of commandments associated with a security reference. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210268 | BULK ORDER MANAGEMENT - A method includes creating a bulk order. The bulk order includes a plurality of action sets. Each action set represents a set of changes to a plurality of assets, and the bulk order represents, for a plurality of accounts, a plurality of services and assets. The method also includes validating the bulk order. The validating includes verifying a validity of a user name, which includes a validity of an association between the user name and the account and a validity of an association between the user name and the service. The validating also includes verifying the action set obeys a constraint of the product. The method also includes submitting the bulk order for execution of the set of changes. The submitting includes preparing the action set, executing the set of changes and changing a status of the bulk orders header to indicate a completion of the bulk order. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210269 | Method for Operating a Renewable Energy Power Generation Facility - A method is described for operating a renewable power generation facility having a plurality of individual power generation units for generating power from a renewable energy source. In one exemplary embodiment, the method comprises selling the power generation units in the power generation facility to individual investors | 2009-08-20 |
20090210270 | Systems and methods for providing direct communication from personalized targeted advertisements - A method of creating a personalized targeted advertisement for displaying on a webpage of a website is disclosed. The personalized targeted advertisement includes features to provide direct communication between a sender and a recipient of the personalized targeted advertisement. A selection of an advertisement template from a plurality of advertisement templates is detected. Then, a media file and a custom message are received to build the personalized targeted advertisement. The personalized targeted advertisement is then sent to the recipient identified by a unique identification. The advertising server is notified so that the personalized targeted advertisement can be displayed when the recipient identified by the unique identification logs into the website. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210271 | Methods and systems for determining quantitative benefits of travel avoidance through online web conferencing and tracking thereof - Online web conferencing methods implemented in an information handling system are provided that determine and display various savings that result from The methods herein determine and display, among other variables, the total air emissions saved by being able to forego physical transportation of the users on account of being able to meet by an online web conference. Other types of savings that may be determined and displayed include cost savings, productivity savings, environmental savings, and any other type of saving or benefit that results from foregoing transportation of users to a hypothetical meeting location. Users may override default assumptions or estimates to more accurately model the estimated savings. Various transportation modalities may be included as desired. Reports may be generated that summarize the quantities determined by the models of the embodiments disclosed herein. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210272 | Methods & systems for energy, information, and business systems modeling - Systems and methods for providing visual representation of the energy and information systems, in addition to people, for representing a business and its operating efficiency. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210273 | Methods & systems for visualizing business functions and/or operations - Systems and methods for providing visualizing business functions and/or operations using at least one visual representation of the energy and information systems, in addition to human resource elements, for representing a business and its operating efficiency. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210274 | System and Method for Tracking and Managing Environmental Attributes - A system and method for tracking and managing environmental attributes which provides a framework to facilitate the transparent listing, tracking, managing, and sale of environmental attributes. The system and method ensure greater transparency for buyers, sellers, and regulators and allow for the bundling and geographic referencing of environmental attributes. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210275 | COST MANAGEMENT OF SOFTWARE APPLICATION PORTFOLIO - An apparatus for managing a cost of ownership of a portfolio of N software applications (N≧2). A regression function is identified for each application. Each regression function expresses an approximate cost of ownership of the applications in terms of parameters and coefficients. J applications A | 2009-08-20 |
20090210276 | AD HOC AND OPPORTUNISTIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES - Individuals can be organized into travel groups in plans constructed in advance or in real-time to save resources and travel in an efficient manner. Multi-segment trips between starting points and destinations can be constructed with several vehicles, including private, public, and commercial transportation assets. Numerous requests for real-time or planned recurrent commutes by a population of users can be considered in a larger analysis that seeks to optimize one or more attributes such as vehicle usage and/or greenhouse emissions. Data concerning multiple related individuals can be gathered and analyzed—based upon the analysis, a determination can be made if it is logical to group individuals together such that they physically travel together. A transportation asset provider and/or individuals can be offered a reward to become part of the travel group and/or to perform specific tasks related to the travel group, such as using a vehicle with a certain fuel type. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210277 | System and method for managing a geographically-expansive construction project - In an exemplary embodiment, a system for managing a geographically-expansive construction project includes a database of construction project data, the data including geographic location information, terrain data having geographic location information, and a geographic information system (GIS) operable to display the construction project data and terrain data in proper geographic correlation so that a project manager or other user can visually monitor view the status of the construction project. The project manager and other users can update construction project data so that the status display maintains a current view of the construction project. Input from owners of properties affected by the construction project is entered by customer relations representatives, that input is viewable by the project manager as well as field crews working on the construction project. Associated exemplary methods are also presented. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210278 | MAINTENANCE SCHEDULING SYSTEM, MAINTENANCE SCHEDULING METHOD, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A maintenance scheduling system that lays out a maintenance schedule for an image forming apparatus includes an actual-use-result acquiring unit that acquires actual use result information of consumables, a failure-probability-distribution estimating unit that estimates failure probability distributions of the consumables, a cost-related-constant acquiring unit that acquires cost related constants of the consumables, a first cost calculating unit that calculates, for each of plural visit interval values, cost per unit time required for the image forming apparatus, a visit-interval calculating unit that calculates the visit interval value giving minimum cost, a second cost calculating unit that calculates, for each of plural replacement interval values, cost per unit time required for the image forming apparatus, a replacement-interval calculating unit that calculates a calculated replacement interval value, and a maintenance-schedule presenting unit that presents the next visit time and at least one of the consumables to be replaced in the visit. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210279 | Method for Simultaneously Considering Customer Support Dates and Customer Request Dates - The invention disclosed here is a method for achieving simultaneous consideration of multiple customer demand dates within an advanced planning system. The invention provides a method of production planning that considers multiple due dates. The invention solves a production planning model based upon the second (commit) date to produce a first solution, sorts the demand records in order of importance, and then re-solves the production planning model based upon the first (request) date to produce a second solution. The re-solving process is performed on each demand item in the sorted order of importance. The invention optimizes between the first solution and the second solution. Before re-solving the production planning model, the invention changes the lower bound constraints on backorder variables. The re-solving process changes the required date for a single demand item, and this re-solving process is repeated for all demand items that have a first (request) date that is before a corresponding required date. The invention reports the optimal solution produced during the optimizing process. The system and method integrate the consideration of multiple demand dates with an advanced planning system for optimizing established planning objectives (e.g. customer service, short lead times, low inventory, and prioritized allocation of supply and capacity) to compute a feasible production plan for the division. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210280 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING A SCHEDULE BASED ON PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA - The invention provides a method and apparatus for creating a schedule, wherein the schedule is used for a user's schedule arrangement, the apparatus for creating a schedule comprises: acquiring means for acquiring at least one physiological health condition data of the user; analyzing means for generating suggestion on the schedule arrangement based on said at least one physiological health condition data; and generating means for adding the schedule arrangement to the schedule according to a predetermined rule. The invention is used to dynamically create a schedule arrangement adaptive to the physiological health condition of a user under the premise that there is a change in the physiological health condition of the user, so that the scheduled exercises of the user are arranged more efficiently, securely and reasonably. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210281 | Job matching system and method - A system for matching employment candidates to employment positions is disclosed. Measures of personality traits and optionally interests are used to match candidates to employment positions. Candidates' traits may be assessed by administering a questionnaire. A similar questionnaire may be provided to suitable employees who are already filling, or have previously filled, employment positions, in order to assess personality traits of suitable employees for each position. Results are preferably received and compared. A list of suitable jobs may then be provided to the candidate. Software and computer systems embodying the method are also disclosed. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210282 | Online Work Management System with Job Division Support - An online work management system provides a marketplace for multiple job owner and workers. The job owners provide a job description that defines task. The job description may be processed to generate task descriptions that may be published for workers' application. The task descriptions specify the qualification or restrictions for workers to have the task assigned. The online work management system also provides various functions supporting coordination and management of task assignment such as determining the trust level of the user's identity, search the tasks or workers, monitoring the progress of job, managing payment to workers, training and testing the workers, evaluating the review by the job owners, and generation of surveys. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210283 | SUPPORT MANAGEMENT METHOD, SUPPORT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE - A trouble-shooting measure against a fault in an external device installed at a remote place is supported by receiving fault information on the fault that has occurred in the external device, acquiring an installation place of the external device in which the fault has occurred, a repair procedure acquisition unit for acquiring a repair procedure representing a list of candidates of qualified maintenance persons and an outline of the fault that can be dealt with by the maintenance persons included in the list, acquiring a job situation of the maintenance person, and transmitting a trouble-shooting instruction against the fault to a communication terminal unit of a qualified maintenance person in accordance with the acquired repair procedure. Further, trouble-shooting instruction is transmitted in priority to an optimum maintenance person selected based on a relation between the acquired repair procedure and the job situation. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210284 | TICKET APPROVAL SYSTEM FOR AND METHOD OF PERFORMING QUALITY CONTROL IN FIELD SERVICE APPLICATIONS - Methods for overseeing and assessing a locate and marking operation. A ticket is received including ticket information regarding the operation, and a first locate technician is dispatched to perform the operation pursuant to the ticket information. A locate manifest is received that includes at least one digital image associated with a dig area in which the locate technician performed the operation. The locate manifest is compared to the ticket information, and a determination is made if the operation is 1) satisfactory, 2) unsatisfactory and requires further quality control assessment and/or at least partial re-performance, or 3) satisfactory but the first locate technician requires coaching. One or more electronic indications of one of 1), 2) and 3) are provided so as to generate an electronic record of a quality assessment of the locate and marking operation. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210285 | TICKET APPROVAL SYSTEM FOR AND METHOD OF PERFORMING QUALITY CONTROL IN FIELD SERVICE APPLICATIONS - Methods and apparatus for facilitating a quality assessment of a locate and marking operation. Ticket information and a locate manifest are received regarding the operation as performed by a technician. One or more electronic indications of the quality assessment are processed based on the locate manifest, the ticket information, and at least one of: a time required to complete the locate and marking operation; a time at which the locate and marking operation was performed; a cost of the locate and marking operation; one or more conditions associated with a dig area in which the operation was performed; a number of facilities to be located as indicated in the ticket information; a discrepancy between the facilities to be located as indicated in the ticket information, but not indicated as marked in the locate manifest; and an efficiency with which the technician performed the locate and marking operation. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210286 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC OPTIMIZED PRICE DISPLAY - A method of updating prices, includes automatically and continually adjusting prices of goods and services provided by a company through local outlets located across a geographic area, including activating trigger sources, the trigger sources including static and dynamic causes, inputting additional parameters, the parameters including a competitor's name, location, price of an item, a time and date, and an observed popularity of an item, storing the additional parameters in a historical database, making dynamic decisions for adjusting the prices across the local outlets based on the trigger sources and the additional parameters, the making dynamic decisions being based on the trigger sources, the additional parameters, and company selected criteria, which includes revenue targets, market conditions, market forecasts, and historical data, automatically adjusting a price of goods and services provided by the company. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210287 | ADVERTISEMENT SPACE ALLOCATION - A user utility function is implemented in allocating advertisement space to one or more potential advertisers. The user utility function allows advertisement space to be allocated based upon, among other things, the expected utility or usefulness that a proposed advertisement will have to a user. The user utility function, for example, compares proposed advertisements to historical user actions to generate respective user utility values for advertisements (e.g., based upon user responses to advertisements for particular types of product, responses to advertisements from particular types of sellers, etc.). The user utility values can then be applied to bids submitted by advertisers for advertisement space for particular advertisements to obtain modified bids. The modified bids thus reflect, among other things, the expected utility of an advertisement to a user, and thus allow an advertisement host to allocate advertisement space accordingly. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210288 | METHOD FOR GENERATING FORECASTING LANDSCAPES - A method of generating an aggregated forecasting landscape for a particular advertiser's bidded term constructs standardized forecasting landscapes for each marketplace, rescales, by the advertiser's clickability in the respective marketplace, each of the standardized landscapes corresponding to the previous appearance of the advertiser's ad in that marketplace and whose appearance was attributed to the bidded term, and adds together the rescaled landscapes, thereby giving the advertiser a more accurate representation of how many total clicks he can expect for his advertisement as a function of how much he is willing/able to pay. In particular, estimation variance is reduced by introducing rank into the construction of the standardized landscapes, which increases the accuracy of the calculations. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210289 | Pre-Linguistic Product Evaluation Techniques - Pre-linguistic product evaluation techniques are described. In an implementation, a pre-linguistic evaluation is obtained of one or more products and two or more anchor products, respectively, in which the two or more anchor products exhibit an intended design behavior of the one or more products. A linguistic basis is then collected for the pre-linguistic evaluation of the one or more products after the pre-linguistic evaluation is performed. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210290 | Method for determining, correlating and examining the causal relationships between media program and commercial content with response rates to advertising and product placement - A method of determining correlations and causality between media program content and consumer responsiveness involves identifying and storing media and commercial program time occurrence and content information and consumer media reviewing actions which occur in connection with the media and commercial program time occurrence and content information. The information is correlated to obtain and assign responsiveness probability values corresponding to type and intensity of consumer response for each of the media and commercial program time occurrence and content information. These responsiveness probability values are then applied to a second media program to place product advertising at a specific time within specific content therein as determined by the responsiveness probability values thus facilitating creation of new ads and modification of existing ones and further, directing placement of those advertisements within any and all broadcast and Internet media programming. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210291 | MONTETIZING SOCIAL WEBSITE SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for monetizing social websites is described. As an example, a Monetizing Social Website System and Methods comprises the website address “ibidonyou.com.” Ibidonyou.com represents the next generation in monetizing social websites. It necessitates multiple advertisements per member page, as well as multiple ad clicks per individual member by virtue of its networking model, where members ‘bid’ on connections with credits earned from ad placements and clicks on ads. It also offers an incentive to use the credits at advertisers' online stores, furthering ibidonyou.com income from ad placement. More particularly, ibidonyou.com is a social network site where an “Agent” gains friends by bidding on them while further providing the ability to earn credits which have cash value. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210292 | METHOD FOR GENERATING AND CAPTURING CONSUMER OPINIONS ABOUT BRANDS, PRODUCTS, OR CONCEPTS - The invention is an application for capturing and storing consumer opinions about e.g. brands, products or concepts. The system uses a web-browser interface where a number of pictures, sound-files or video-files is displayed. On the top of the page, a logo, a product or a concept is displayed (the primary stimulus) and users (test persons) are asked to select the picture, or sound-file or video-file that they think has the strongest connection to the primary stimulus. After the user has chosen a picture, a sound-file or a video-file, the user is asked to explain why he/she made this selection and he/his is prompted to this, e.g. with a pop-up window. All the input from the user into the web-browser is stored in a database and e.g. exported automatically to e.g. a worksheet where it can be further analyzed using e.g. chi-square tests and manual coding to identify the most common themes in explanations from users. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210293 | INFORMATION TRANSACTIONS OVER A NETWORK - In one example, a method for managing information in an environment that includes a client device includes accessing, at the client device, an electronic input interface. Next, the client device transmits a signal to a host system associated with the electronic input interface by entering consumer profile information into the electronic input interface. A request is then made for creation of an information account for storage of the consumer profile information. The client device then receives authentication information from the host system. Finally, the client device enables the vendor to access some of the consumer profile information stored in the information account. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210294 | Air Compressor and Work Management Data Collection System - An air compressor | 2009-08-20 |
20090210295 | System and Method for Enabling Carbon Credit Rewards for Select Activities - A set of activities are identified that are part of a defined objective to reduce carbon emission. A baseline for the set of activities is determined. An actor's performance of any one of the set of activities is monitored in order to determine information about how the user performed the set of activities. A quantification (e.g. estimation) is made of the carbon conservation by the actor by comparing the information against parameters determined or identified from the baseline. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210296 | System and method for providing a normalized correlated real-time employee appraisal - A method and system for providing a performance evaluation of an at least one employee by a supervisor in an organization. The method and system provide for collecting a plurality of numerical performance goals data for the at least one employee and storing the plurality of numerical performance goals data in a database; collecting numerical business measures data related to the organization and storing the numerical business measures data in the database. Further, the method and system provide for normalizing the numerical performance goals data and the numerical business measures data to a common scale to generate normalized performance goals data and normalized business measures data. The method and system correlate the normalized performance goals data and the normalized business measures data; and determine a plurality of scores for the performance of the at least one employee, wherein each of the plurality of scores are based on the correlated normalized performance goals data and the correlated normalized business measures data. The method and system display the plurality of scores on a display screen, wherein the screen provides a chart that is a visual indication of the plurality of scores representing an overall score for the performance of the at least one employee. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210297 | TICKET APPROVAL SYSTEM FOR AND METHOD OF PERFORMING QUALITY CONTROL IN FIELD SERVICE APPLICATIONS - Methods and apparatus for assessing a locate and marking operation. Ticket information is received as provided to a first locate technician prior to performing the operation. A locate manifest is received including a digital marked-up image of a geographic area surrounding a dig area in which the operation was performed, on which image at least one digital representation of at least one locate mark is electronically overlaid. The locate manifest, at least some of the ticket information, and a plurality of icons representing different possible quality assessments of the locate and marking operation are displayed. The plurality of icons includes an approved icon representing a satisfactory locate and marking operation, a QC icon representing an unsatisfactory locate and marking operation, and a coach icon representing that the first locate technician requires coaching. One of the displayed icons is selected so as to provide a quality assessment of the locate and marking operation. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210298 | TICKET APPROVAL SYSTEM FOR AND METHOD OF PERFORMING QUALITY CONTROL IN FIELD SERVICE APPLICATIONS - Methods and apparatus for facilitating oversight and quality control of a plurality of locate and marking operations performed by a plurality of locate technicians forming an approver group reviewed by an approver. An approver logs-in to access an approver inbox comprising a plurality of displayed locate technician windows, each locate technician window associated with one locate technician of the approver group. The approver selects a first locate technician window representing a first locate technician, and in response information relating to a first operation performed by the first technician is displayed. The approver provides an approver quality assessment input representing a first quality assessment of the first operation, and an electronic record of the first quality assessment is generated and stored. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210299 | Method and Apparatus for Simplifying the Handling of Complex Payment Transactions - A predetermined amount, which may, in general, be zero, less than, the same as, or greater than a (yet-to-be-determined) final transaction amount, is charged upon first presentation of a payment device to a merchant. A final transaction amount is calculated, preferably at a central server, subsequent to the first presentation. A variable adjustment value is calculated, preferably at the central server, by comparing the predetermined amount already charged with the final transaction amount. A new predetermined amount charged, upon a subsequent presentation of the payment device, is modified by the variable adjustment value. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210300 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING ADVERTISING DATA BASED ON END USER TRICK-PLAY TREND DATA - A computer readable medium is disclosed containing a computer program including but not limited to computer executable instructions that when executed by a computer are useful in performing a method for presenting advertising data, the method including but not limited to sensing current trick-play command data at an end user device; updating trick-play trend data for the end user device based on the current trick-play command data; and adjusting a number of advertising data items in an advertising data buffer presented at the end user device based on the trick-play trend data. A system is disclosed useful for performing the method. A data structure is disclosed for containing data used by the system and method. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210301 | GENERATING CUSTOMIZED CONTENT BASED ON CONTEXT DATA - Technologies are described herein for providing customized content based on context data from a participant of a virtual world. The context data based on participation by the participant of the virtual world is received. The customized content for the participant is generated based on the context data. The customized content is provided to the participant via the virtual world. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210302 | ROUTE REWARD AUGMENTATION - Different incentives can be provided to a user for the user to take different routes. Information related to a user's specific situation can be gathered and a reward can be associated with a route. A user can input an intended destination and different routes can be taken, where the routes have various characteristics. The route can be analyzed and a determination can be made as to what routes can be associated with a user taking a particular route. Commonly, different companies can supply rewards such that the user travels past their advertisement or makes a stop at their store. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210303 | System and method for providing targeted promotions to a self-selected group - A system and method for providing a targeted promotional message to a self-selected group of members. A member database includes a plurality of member profiles. Each member profile includes at least a plurality of a region designation, a promotional message preference selection, and a message quantity selection. The system further includes a messaging engine configure to transmit one or more messages to at least one member in the member database based on the member profile for that member. In a preferred embodiment, an auction engine is used to select one or more promoters from a larger group of promoters who desire to send promotional messages to a self-selected group of members. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210304 | Behavioral reward based community accessible via media disc - A personalized interactive media disc supported by a user-fan community having a media disc and an environment for a user to interact with other users as well as access and create data. The media disc is obtained by a user-fan via a licensed premium giveaway at a spectator event. The media disk allows a registered users to access an environment featuring other users and a plurality of databases. Promotional sponsors have specific access to the environment allowing them to maintain promotional events, retrieve demographic information, and to obtain various other user information for marketing purposes within the user community. The greatest access is available solely to the system administrator, including the ability to modify any aspect of the environment. | 2009-08-20 |
20090210305 | Card system for access to an information web portal - A system, method, and computer program are provided for card access to an information web portal. An identification code for a project may be generated. The identification code may be assigned to an access card. The identification code may then be received from a user associated with the access card. Content about the project may be provided to the user based on the identification code. In exemplary embodiments, the content may be customized for the user based on the identification code associated with the user. | 2009-08-20 |