Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080225943 | SINGLE PASS VARIABLE BIT RATE CONTROL STRATEGY AND ENCODER FOR PROCESSING A VIDEO FRAME OF A SEQUENCE OF VIDEO FRAMES - An encode control strategy is provided for variable bit rate encoding of a sequence of video frames in a single pass. The control strategy includes determining whether a video frame has a complexity level statistically outside a defined range from a complexity level of at least one preceding frame of the sequence of video frames, and if so, determining a new average bit rate target for the video frame. The new average bit rate for the video frame is determined employing at least one of spatial complexity and temporal complexity of the video frame. The new average bit rate target for the video frame is used to set frame level bit rate control parameter(s), and the video frame is encoded using the set frame level bit rate control parameter(s). | 09-18-2008 |
20090006493 | Method For Enabling Traceability And Recovery From Errors During Migration Of Software Applications - A method (which can be computer implemented) for addressing errors during migration of software applications includes the step of obtaining access to a data repository, which includes a listing of migration decisions and a listing of dependencies associated with the migration decisions. The method further includes the steps of obtaining an indication of a migration error, tracing the migration error to at least a first one of the migration decisions in the data repository, and employing the listing of dependencies to identify at least a second one of the migration decisions, depending on the at least first one of the migration decisions identified in the tracing step, which is impacted by the migration error. Techniques for populating the data repository are also provided. | 01-01-2009 |
20090049438 | Method for Optimizing Migration of Software Applications to Address Needs - An exemplary method (which can be computer implemented) for enhancing migration of software applications from a source system environment to a destination system environment includes the steps of translating needs into requirements for the destination system, capturing deployment and configuration of the software applications in the source system environment and the destination system environment in a centralized model, analyzing dependencies between the systems in the source and destination systems to construct a mapping between the requirements and elements of the model, and generating enhanced migration rules, based, at least in part, on the mapping. | 02-19-2009 |
20090110081 | SINGLE PASS VARIABLE BIT RATE CONTROL STRATEGY AND ENCODER FOR PROCESSING A VIDEO FRAME OF A SEQUENCE OF VIDEO FRAMES - An encode control strategy is provided for variable bit rate encoding of a sequence of video frames in a single pass. The control strategy includes determining whether a video frame has a complexity level statistically outside a defined range from a complexity level of at least one preceding frame of the sequence of video frames, and if so, determining a new average bit rate target for the video frame. The new average bit rate for the video frame is determined employing at least one of spatial complexity and temporal complexity of the video frame. The new average bit rate target for the video frame is used to set frame level bit rate control parameter(s), and the video frame is encoded using the set frame level bit rate control parameter(s). | 04-30-2009 |
20090300577 | DETERMINING COMPETENCE LEVELS OF FACTORY TEAMS WORKING WITHIN A SOFTWARE FACTORY - A method, system, and computer-readable medium for determining competence levels of factory teams are presented. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: creating a template for an initial work packet, wherein the initial work packet is a self-contained work unit that is assembled within the software factory; creating a partially instantiated work packet by populating the template with details that describe pre-conditions and post-conditions necessary to execute the work packet; provisionally selecting a human team to complete coding of the partially instantiated work packet to create a final work packet; determining whether the human team is competent to create the final work packet; and in response to determining that the human team is competent to create the final work packet, ordering the human team to create the final work packet within the software factory. | 12-03-2009 |
20090300586 | STAGED AUTOMATED VALIDATION OF WORK PACKETS INPUTS AND DELIVERABLES IN A SOFTWARE FACTORY - A method, system, and computer-readable medium for staged validation of work packets within a software factory are presented. In one embodiment, the method includes creating a preliminary work packet. A validation constraint is appended to the preliminary work packet to create a constrained work packet. The constrained work packet is submitted to the software factory, within which the validation constraint is validated at different stages to confirm that the validation constraint is proper for the constrained work packet. If a validation result fails to meet all requirements of the validation constraint at each stage, the validation constraint is resolved, and the constrained work packet is re-submitted at that stage. | 12-03-2009 |
20100010859 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ALLOCATING DEPENDENT TASKS TO TEAMS THROUGH MULTI-VARIATE OPTIMIZATION - A method, system and article of manufacture are disclosed for allocating tasks to a team of persons. The method comprises comprising the step of identifying a set of tasks and a set of persons, each of the tasks having a given set of task attributes, and each of the persons having a given set of employee attributes. The method comprises the further steps of establishing a cost function including a set of cost factors based on one or more of the task or employee attributes, and establishing a utility function including a set of utility factors based on one or more of the task or employee attributes. One or more assignments of the tasks among the employees are found that minimizes the cost function; and the one assignment, of said one or more assignments, is identified that maximizes the utility function. | 01-14-2010 |
20100017782 | CONFIGURING DESIGN CENTERS, ASSEMBLY LINES AND JOB SHOPS OF A GLOBAL DELIVERY NETWORK INTO "ON DEMAND" FACTORIES - A method, system and computer-readable medium for utilizing the design centers, assembly line and job shops of a global delivery network across multiple software factories are presented. Pre-qualified factory organizational units in a software factory are identified. Identified qualified factory organizational units, including design centers, assembly lines and job shops, are matched to customer requirements. If the identified qualified factory organizational units are available, then they are load balanced and deployed to create software deliverables to the customer. | 01-21-2010 |
20100023918 | OPEN MARKETPLACE FOR DISTRIBUTED SERVICE ARBITRAGE WITH INTEGRATED RISK MANAGEMENT - A method, system, and computer-readable medium that support an open marketplace for distributed service arbitrage with an integrated risk management is presented. Orders for work packets, which are processed within a software factory, are allowed to be bid upon only by software factories that have been previously ranked by a centralized marketplace portal, thus ensuring that only qualified software factories are allowed to service such orders. | 01-28-2010 |
20100023919 | APPLICATION/SERVICE EVENT ROOT CAUSE TRACEABILITY CAUSAL AND IMPACT ANALYZER - A method, system, and computer-readable medium for identifying root causes of problems in a software factory. Each work packet being executed within the software factory is assigned meta-data, which describes a relationship between that work packet and other work packets, as well as a relationship between that work packet and resources within the software factory. These metrics provides means for identifying any problems within the software factory. | 01-28-2010 |
20100023920 | INTELLIGENT JOB ARTIFACT SET ANALYZER, OPTIMIZER AND RE-CONSTRUCTOR - A method, system, and computer-readable medium for enabling a transition of a business process portfolio of a client to fit with a standardized delivery platform are presented. A tool inputs, analyzes and optimizes a current job artifact set used by an IT organization. This tool identifies; and maps a set of artifacts used by the IT organization to a central meta-model/ontology representation. By dint of mapping the factory artifacts and processes to this meta-model, a user is able to identify equivalent classes among the artifacts and do a one-to-one, one-to-many or many-to-one mapping between the set of client artifacts and the standard artifacts already included in a Software Factory. | 01-28-2010 |
20100031090 | SELF-HEALING FACTORY PROCESSES IN A SOFTWARE FACTORY - A method, system, and computer-readable medium for self-healing a software factory are presented. Factory metrics that describe resources and operations within the software factory are collected and analyzed. If the analysis reveals a significant problem within the software factory, then corrective measures are taken and stored, thus enabling the software factory to evolve and improve over time. | 02-04-2010 |
20100031226 | WORK PACKET DELEGATION IN A SOFTWARE FACTORY - A method, system, and computer-readable medium for utilizing the design centers, assembly line and job shops of a global delivery network across multiple software factories are presented. A work packet is examined to determine if it is authorized to be sub-contracted out to a different design center, assembly line or job shop than the design center/assembly line/job shop that have primary responsibility for the work packet. If the work packet is authorized to be sub-contracted out, then the work packet is reassigned to a different pre-qualified design center/assembly line/job shop. | 02-04-2010 |
20110288902 | COLLABORATION BASED CAPACITY PLANNING IN A MODULAR BUSINESS SETTING - A computer implemented method, system, and/or computer program product collaboratively reallocate resources across business modules. A collaboration vector, which describes primary and second abilities for each of multiple resources, is defined. A decision matrix is created from multiple collaboration vectors, and a pipeline for transferring the multiple resources among multiple business modules is defined based on the decision matrix. A recurring time interval to measure an effectiveness of the multiple business modules is defined, and the multiple resources are reallocated according to a measured effectiveness of the multiple business modules. The collaborative matrix is optimized to reflect reallocation of the multiple resources. | 11-24-2011 |
20120072260 | PREDICTING SUCCESS OF A PROPOSED PROJECT - A computer implemented method, system, and/or computer program product predicts a success of a currently proposed project. Responsive answers to a survey questionnaire for a currently proposed project are received and used to create a predicted success score for the currently proposed project, based on a pattern of responsive answers to a predetermined combination of questions from the survey questionnaire. The predicted success score for the currently proposed project is compared with and matched to actual success scores from prior projects. If the percentage of prior projects that retained their success scores through completion exceeds a predetermined accuracy threshold, then the currently proposed project is approved for implementation. | 03-22-2012 |
20120095800 | PREDICTING FINANCIAL STATUS OF A PROJECT - A computer implemented method, system, and/or computer program product predicts the profitability of a current project. Historical data from the current project represents profit data points at predetermined intervals of time during the current project. If a linear regression model of the historical data does not adequately describe the historical data, then a polynomial regression model to describe the historical data is generated. If the polynomial model does not adequately describe the historical data, then another project that is similar to the current project is located. This other project has its own set of historical data. If the historical data from the other project fits the polynomial regression model created from the historical data of the current project, then the polynomial regression model is trusted to accurately predict the profitability of the current project, even though the current project's historical data did not adequately fit the polynomial regression model. | 04-19-2012 |
20120136694 | TRANSITION PHASE TROUBLE DETECTION IN SERVICES DELIVERY MANAGEMENT - A method, system, and/or computer program product predicts trouble during a transition phase of a current project. Past operational data and past trouble data for past healthy projects and past troubled projects before transition phases is collected. A trouble correlation between the past operational data and the past trouble data is then determined. A set of key metrics that describes a current health of a current project before transitioning from a current phase to a future phase is defined, and values of the set of key metrics for the current project are identified. Identified values of the set of key metrics for the current project are compared to the past operational data for past healthy and troubled projects in order to generate a pattern comparison. This pattern comparison, along with the trouble correlation, is used to generate a predicted quality of transition for the current project. | 05-31-2012 |
20120144363 | MANAGEMENT OF WORK PACKETS IN A SOFTWARE FACTORY - Work packets are assembled, within a software factory, into a customized deliverable unit of software by software factory components that have been rated as being the most suitable according to requirements set by the customer. The work packets comprise exit criteria for returning the work packets and the customized deliverable unit from an assembly line to a software factory operations unit in the software factory. | 06-07-2012 |
20120245896 | ANALYZING FACTORY PROCESSES IN A SOFTWARE FACTORY - A method, system, and/or computer-readable medium analyzes problems in a software factory. Factory metrics that describe resources and operations within the software factory are collected and analyzed to detect problems that might have occurred during an execution of a work packet within the software factory. If the detected problems exceed one or more threshold criteria, then a detailed analysis of the detected problems is performed by matching each detected problem to one or more specific root causes through an analysis of the factory process building blocks. | 09-27-2012 |
20120284073 | OPTIMIZED COLLABORATION BETWEEN DISTRIBUTED CENTERS OF GLOBAL SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEMS - A computer implemented method, system, and/or computer program product facilitate optimal collaboration between cells from different service centers for delivering a service to a customer. A cost of collaboration between two cells in different service centers is defined. Each of the two cells is a group of resources capable of executing a same task, and the cost is a 3-Tuple that consists of a monetary cost, a makespan cost, and a skill misalignment cost associated with the collaboration. After establishing acceptable cost ranges for the 3-Tuple based on constraints defined by an enterprise policy, a processor creates multiple collaboration matrices based on different permutations of the 3-Tuple. Once an optimal collaboration function derived from the multiple collaboration matrices is identified, the task is assigned to two optimal cells identified in the optimal collaboration function. | 11-08-2012 |
20120284076 | OPTIMIZING SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEMS - A computer implemented method, system and/or computer program product optimizes a service delivery system. A processor receives a first set of inputs that describes a current state of a service delivery system and a second set of inputs that describes a cost overhead for the service delivery system. The processor then optimizes the service delivery system in order to derive an optimized service delivery system. | 11-08-2012 |
20120284078 | TOOL FOR MANAGER ASSISTANCE - A computer implemented method, system, and/or computer program product generate an optimal training policy and an optimal promotion policy to accommodate an upcoming project. Required new job positions are identified for an upcoming project. A skillset matrix, which describes a current skill level of each worker in a work unit, and a promotion matrix, which describes historical evaluations of how well each worker achieved predefined goals of past projects, are generated. The skillset matrix is utilized to create an optimal training policy that identifies which workers are in need of additional training in order to qualify for one or more of the identified new job positions, and the promotion matrix is utilized create an optimal promotion policy that identifies which workers will be candidates for being promoted into one or more of the identified said new job positions. | 11-08-2012 |
20120290359 | PREDICTING SUCCESS OF A PROPOSED PROJECT - A computer implemented method, system, and/or computer program product predicts a success of a currently proposed project. Responsive answers to a survey questionnaire for a currently proposed project are received and used to create a predicted success score for the currently proposed project, based on a pattern of responsive answers to a predetermined combination of questions from the survey questionnaire. The predicted success score for the currently proposed project is compared with and matched to actual success scores from prior projects. If the percentage of prior projects that retained their success scores through completion exceeds a predetermined accuracy threshold, then the currently proposed project is approved for implementation. | 11-15-2012 |
20120291007 | MANAGEMENT OF TEMPLATE VERSIONS - A computer implemented method, system, and/or computer program product modifies a master template for an executable document. A version architecture comprises a master template for a master document, a new variation document that describes what changes are to be made to the master template for a specific context, and a resulting modified template based on the master template and rule-based instructions found in the new variation document. A processor defines an executable master document from the master template that, when executed, produces a final product. Specific rules set out conditions for modifying the master template for the specific context. These specific rules are used to define a new variation document, which is applied against the master template to generate a context-specific modified template. The context-specific modified template is then used to generate a context-specific executable document that, when executed, generates a final context-specific product. | 11-15-2012 |
20120316912 | OPTIMIZING A SHARED SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM - A computer implemented method, system, and/or computer program product optimize a shared service delivery system. A model of an existing shared service delivery system is created. Capacity of the existing shared service delivery system is defined according to required resources for existing projects, new projects, and proposed projects. Existing cells of practitioners in the existing shared service delivery system are identified, and any gaps or gluts of capacity in the existing cells of practitioners are identified according to a general predetermined resource requirement for the shared service delivery system. | 12-13-2012 |
20120323624 | MODEL-DRIVEN ASSIGNMENT OF WORK TO A SOFTWARE FACTORY - A computer implemented method, system, and/or computer program product assigns work to a software factory for implementing a project. A project model of a project is generated. Project model subcomponents are mapped to work packets that are available to a software factory, thus leading to the generation of a work plan for performing the project via an execution of the available work packets. | 12-20-2012 |
20130185693 | WORK PACKET ENABLED ACTIVE PROJECT MANAGEMENT SCHEDULE - A method for managing projects in a software factory is presented. A project management tool includes an end-to-end project plan for a project to create a software product by using a software factory in a global delivery network. A status block is appended to a work packet that is utilized when executing the project. After initiating the project, an alert is automatically triggered whenever the execution status of the work packet changes. The alert is transmitted to the project management tool to update a project schedule for the project, such that a completion status of the end-to-end project plan reflects a status of a project schedule for the project described by the end-to-end project plan. | 07-18-2013 |
20130263150 | AUTOMATED ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES TO FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF AN ENTERPRISE ACTIVITY ENVIRONMENT - A computer implemented method, system and/or computer program product automatically allocates resources to functional areas of an enterprise activity environment. A skill level of a resource is determined for multiple functional areas. An affinity index is created and associated with each of the multiple functional areas, wherein the affinity index is based on a level of productivity drop of other resources in a specific functional area if the resource is assigned to another functional area. Expected resource and skill level requirements of a project are identified. The resource is automatically allocated to one or more functional areas based on the affinity index associated with a particular functional area in view of the expected resource and skill level requirements. | 10-03-2013 |
20130339970 | WORK PLAN PRIORITIZATION FOR APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE USING POOLED RESOURCES IN A FACTORY - A computer implemented method, system and/or computer program product schedules execution of work requests through work plan prioritization. One or more work packets are mapped to and assigned to each work request from a group of work requests. A complexity level is derived for and assigned to each work packet, and priority levels of various work requests are determined for each entity from a group of entities. A global priority for the group of work requests is then determined. The global priority and the complexity levels combine to create a priority function, which is used to schedule execution of the work requests. | 12-19-2013 |
20140025411 | AUTOMATIC CONFIGURATION OF PROCESS DEFINITION METRICS - Various embodiments manage metrics in a business process management environment. In one embodiment, a business process is instantiated for execution. A set of process elements associated with the business process are identified. A set of metric configurations are accessed based on the business process being instantiated. A set of metrics is identified based on the set of metric configurations. Each of the set of metrics is associated with a process element type. At least one process elements in the set of process elements is automatically configured to collect at least one metric in the set of metrics based on the process element type of the at least one process element matching the process element type associated with the at least one metric. | 01-23-2014 |
20140025412 | AUTOMATIC CONFIGURATION OF PROCESS DEFINITION METRICS - Various embodiments manage metrics in a business process management environment. In one embodiment, a business process is instantiated for execution. A set of process elements associated with the business process are identified. A set of metric configurations are accessed based on the business process being instantiated. A set of metrics is identified based on the set of metric configurations. Each of the set of metrics is associated with a process element type. At least one process elements in the set of process elements is automatically configured to collect at least one metric in the set of metrics based on the process element type of the at least one process element matching the process element type associated with the at least one metric. | 01-23-2014 |
20140096105 | DETERMINING COMPETENCE LEVELS OF TEAMS WORKING WITHIN A SOFTWARE - A method, system, and computer-readable medium for determining competence levels of factory teams are presented. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: creating a template for an initial work packet, wherein the initial work packet is a self-contained work unit that is assembled within the software factory; creating a partially instantiated work packet by populating the template with details that describe pre-conditions and post-conditions necessary to execute the work packet; provisionally selecting a human team to complete coding of the partially instantiated work packet to create a final work packet; determining whether the human team is competent to create the final work packet; and in response to determining that the human team is competent to create the final work packet, ordering the human team to create the final work packet within the software factory. | 04-03-2014 |
20140278715 | ESTIMATING REQUIRED TIME FOR PROCESS GRANULARIZATION - A method for estimating a time required to complete an atomic task, where the atomic task is one of a plurality of atomic tasks that collectively forms a molecular task, includes obtaining, for each of a plurality of molecular tasks including the molecular task, data including: a known time required to complete each of the plurality of molecular tasks and a known list of constituent atomic tasks forming each of the plurality of molecular tasks, and estimating the time required to complete the atomic task based on the data. | 09-18-2014 |
20140278719 | ESTIMATING REQUIRED TIME FOR PROCESS GRANULARIZATION - Estimating a time required to complete an atomic task, where the atomic task is one of a plurality of atomic tasks that collectively forms a molecular task, includes obtaining, for each of a plurality of molecular tasks including the molecular task, data including: a known time required to complete each of the plurality of molecular tasks and a known list of constituent atomic tasks forming each of the plurality of molecular tasks, and estimating the time required to complete the atomic task based on the data. | 09-18-2014 |
20150051935 | SCHEDULING FOR SERVICE PROJECTS VIA NEGOTIATION - Assignment scheduling for service projects, in one aspect, may comprise preparing input parameter data for servicing a client service request; generating a schedule for servicing the client service request by executing an optimization algorithm with the input parameter data; determining whether the schedule is acceptable by the client; and repeating automatically the preparing, the generating, the transmitting and the determining until it is determined that the schedule is acceptable by the client, wherein each iteration automatically prepares different input parameter data for inputting to the optimization algorithm and generates a different schedule based on the different input parameter data. | 02-19-2015 |
20150052182 | SCHEDULING FOR SERVICE PROJECTS VIA NEGOTIATION - Assignment scheduling for service projects, in one aspect, may comprise preparing input parameter data for servicing a client service request; generating a schedule for servicing the client service request by executing an optimization algorithm with the input parameter data; determining whether the schedule is acceptable by the client; and repeating automatically the preparing, the generating, the transmitting and the determining until it is determined that the schedule is acceptable by the client, wherein each iteration automatically prepares different input parameter data for inputting to the optimization algorithm and generates a different schedule based on the different input parameter data. | 02-19-2015 |