Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100153170 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPLEX SCHEDULE GENERATION - A system and method for generating a schedule for multiple employees in a complex environment. In one embodiment, the method includes generating a schedule for multiple employees with varying skill sets for a time period, wherein the plurality of employees have varying overlapping skill sets that enable them to perform various tasks, and wherein employees are shared across tasks within the time period. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a plurality of user inputs to a scheduling program, including a number of employee designations that each refer to a unique employee, and a number of skill sets that each correspond to one of the employee designations. The method further includes receiving a user input that changes the number of employee designations by indicating at least one changed employee, and estimating an effect of the at least one changed employee on effective staffing levels for each of the various tasks. The method further includes generating estimated effective staffing levels for each of the various tasks. | 06-17-2010 |
20110238583 | TECHNIQUE FOR AGGREGATING REACTIVE POWER LOADS - One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that aggregates an energy service from one or more participants. An aggregator in the system first sends a plurality of price points to a respective participant, wherein each price point corresponds to a particular range of phase angles between a voltage waveform and a current waveform. The aggregator then receives a price point selected by the participant, wherein the selected price point corresponds to a phase angle to which the participant agrees to adjust. Next, the aggregator aggregates from the one or more participants an energy service with reactive-power reduction. | 09-29-2011 |
20110313984 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PARALLEL GRAPH SEARCHING UTILIZING PARALLEL EDGE PARTITIONING - A method and system for performing a graph search, includes constructing an abstract representation of the graph using state-space abstraction. The abstract representation of the graph includes one or more abstract nodes having duplicate detection scopes and one or more abstract edges having operator groups. The duplicate detection scopes of the abstract nodes are partitioned into smaller duplicate detection scopes using edge partitioning. The abstract edges include the smaller duplicate detection scopes. Nodes in the current search layer are expanded using the operator groups of outgoing abstract edges of the abstract nodes the nodes map to. The operator groups associated with abstract edges having disjoint duplicate detection scopes are used to expand the nodes in parallel. Once all the operator groups in the current search layer have been used for node expansion the method progresses to the next search layer. | 12-22-2011 |
20120092190 | Computer-Implemented System And Method For Managing Motor Vehicle Parking Reservatons - A computer-implemented system and method for managing motor vehicle parking reservations is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces are managed through a server. Smart parking devices physically proximate to the parking spaces are interfaced with the server. Vehicle occupancy sensors physically proximate to the parking spaces are interfaced with the server. Parking availability indicators associated with the parking spaces are interfaced with the server. A motorist reserves a parking space. A reservation request for the parking space is accepted. The request is granted if available over any other reservations. Occupancy of the requested parking space is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor. The motorist's or the motor vehicle's identity are verified against the reservation through the nearest smart parking device. Parking availability is indicated through the nearest parking availability indicator based upon the current time, any motor vehicle occupancy, applicable parking regulations, or any unfulfilled reservations for the parking space. | 04-19-2012 |
20120092191 | Computer-Implemented System And Method For Hands-Free Tagging And Reserving Of Parking Spaces - A computer-implemented system and method for tagging a parking space for a motor vehicle through a gesture is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces are managed through a server. Smart parking devices physically proximate to the parking spaces are interfaced. Vehicle occupancy sensors also physically proximate the parking spaces are interfaced. Parking availability indicators associated with the parking spaces are interfaced. Those parking spaces that are unoccupied based on their respective vehicle occupancy sensors and currently available over any other reservations stored in the server are identified to a driver of a motor vehicle. One of the unoccupied parking spaces is reserved upon a gesture provided by the driver. Occupancy of the reserved unoccupied parking space is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor following parking of the motor vehicle. The identity of the motorist is verified against the reservation through the nearest smart parking device. | 04-19-2012 |
20120095790 | Computer-Implemented System And Method For Managing On-Street Valet Parking - A computer-implemented system and method for providing basic valet parking through centrally-managed parking services is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces are managed through a server. Smart parking devices physically proximate to the parking spaces are interfaced to the server. Vehicle occupancy sensors also physically proximate to the parking spaces are interfaced to the server. Parking availability indicators associated with the parking spaces are interfaced to the server. Use the parking spaces is reserved for a valet service. A reservation request for the parking spaces is accepted through the server for use by the valet service for a period of time. Occupancy of the reserved parking spaces by a motor vehicle through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor is sensed during the time period. Availability of each parking space is indicated through the nearest parking availability indicator throughout the time period based upon the current time and use by the valet service. | 04-19-2012 |
20120095791 | Computer-Implemented System And Method For Offering Merchant And Shopper-Friendly Parking Reservations - A computer-implemented system and method for offering merchant and shopper-friendly parking reservations through validated parking is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces are managed through a server. Smart parking devices and vehicle occupancy sensors are interfaced to the server. Use of the parking space is managed. Occupancy of one of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor and the location of the parking space is provided to the server. An identity of the driver of the motor vehicle is determined through the nearest smart parking device and the identity of the driver is provided to the server. Use of the parking space is validated. The parking space's location and the driver's identity are retrieved at the location of a merchant. Payment for at least part of the use of the parking space from the merchant is provided through the server. | 04-19-2012 |
20120095792 | Computer-Implemented System And Method For Offering Commercial Parking Reservations - A computer-implemented system and method for offering commercial parking reservations through flexible loading zones is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces located in a business district are managed through a server. Smart parking devices, vehicle occupancy sensors, and parking availability indicators are interfaced to the server. Use of the parking spaces as a loading zone is reserved. A reservation request from a business is accepted. The business is confirmed as eligible. The request is granted, provided the requested parking space is available over any other reservations. Use of the loading zone is managed. The parking availability indicator is activated contemporaneous to the reservation period. Occupancy of the requested parking space is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor. An identity of a driver is verified through the nearest smart parking device. The use of the reserved parking space is permitted upon matching the driver's identity to the business. | 04-19-2012 |
20120095812 | Computer-Implemented System And Method For Offering Residential Parking Reservations - A computer-implemented system and method for providing recurring residential parking reservations is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces located in a residential area are managed through a server. Smart parking devices, vehicle occupancy sensors, and parking availability indicators are interfaced to the server. Use of the parking spaces by a resident is reserved on a recurring basis throughout a subscription period. A parking reservation, including recurring times and dates, is requested. The request is granted provided the parking space is available over any other reservations stored in the server. Use of the reserved parking space is managed throughout the subscription period. Occupancy of the requested parking space is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor. A motorist's identity is verified through the nearest smart parking device. The use of the reserved parking space is denied if not by the resident and parking non-availability is indicated during each recurring time and date. | 04-19-2012 |
20120127308 | Computer-Implemented System And Method For Providing Gun Shot Detection Through A Centralized Parking Services Server - A computer-implemented system and method for providing gun shot detection through a centralized parking services server is provided. Smart parking devices are physically proximate parking spaces. Acoustic sensors are deployed with at least one acoustic sensor in a smart parking device. Vehicle occupancy sensors and parking availability indicators are associated with the parking spaces. Parking space occupancy is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor. Use of the parking space is processed based on an identity of a driver. Potential gunshots are detected by aurally monitoring ambient sounds in the service region through the acoustic sensors. The potential gunshots are identified by evaluating the ambient sounds for sound characteristics of gunfire and triangulating the ambient sounds relative to the locations of the acoustic sensor comprised in one of the smart parking devices and at least one other of the acoustic sensors. Finally, an alert is generated for the potential gunshot. | 05-24-2012 |
20130097199 | System and method for parallel edge partitioning in and/or graph search - A method and system for searching a graph in parallel which constructs an abstract representation of an AND/OR graph using state-space abstraction. The abstract representation of the graph includes one or more abstract nodes having duplicate detection scopes and one or more abstract edges having operator groups adjusted for AND node outcomes. The duplicate detection scopes of the abstract nodes are partitioned into smaller duplicate detection scopes using edge partitioning, wherein the abstract edges are used to define the smaller duplicate detection scopes. Nodes in the current search layer are expanded by a processing unit using the adjusted operator groups of outgoing abstract edges of the abstract nodes mapped into by the nodes, wherein the nodes expanded in parallel use adjusted operator groups associated with abstract edges having disjoint duplicate detection scopes. The method progresses to the next search layer once all the adjusted operator groups in the current search layer have been used for node expansions. | 04-18-2013 |
20130197869 | METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING THE MAXIMAL PACKING DENSITY OF SHIFTING-TILES AUTOMATED WAREHOUSES - A warehouse management system including a layout module which determines a layout of the automated warehouse, the layout including at least one occupied cell and at least one blank cell and an analysis module which analyzes the layout of the automated warehouse to determine a minimum number of blank cells required to retrieve an object from all of the occupied cells in the warehouse. | 08-01-2013 |
20140089021 | Computer-Implemented System And Method For Providing Multi-Locational Curbside Valet Parking Services - A computer-implemented system and method for providing multi-locational curbside valet parking service is provided. A multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces are managed by a server. A plurality of smart parking devices and vehicle occupancy sensors are interfaced with the server. Use of a plurality of the parking spaces is reserved for a valet service. A reservation request for the use of the plurality of the parking spaces is accepted for use by the valet service for a period of time. Occupancy of the reserved parking spaces by a motor vehicle is sensed through the vehicle occupancy sensor. A valet drop-off location of at least one of the parking spaces that is reserved for the use of the valet service and is not occupied by a motor vehicle is identified. The valet drop-off location and a location of a lock box are provided to the motorist through a user interface. | 03-27-2014 |
20140195279 | Computer-Implemented System And Method For Providing Guest Parking Reservations - A computer-implemented system and method for providing guest parking reservations are provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces located in a residential area are managed through a server. Smart parking devices and vehicle occupancy sensors that are each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces are interfaced to the server. Use of one of the parking spaces for a guest of a resident of the area is reserved. A request for a reservation is accepted and that the resident is eligible to reserve the space is confirmed. The request is granted provided the parking space is available over any other reservations in the server. Use of the parking space is managed. Occupancy of the parking space by a vehicle is sensed through the nearest sensor. An identity of a motorist is verified through the nearest parking device. The use of the parking space is denied if not by the guest. | 07-10-2014 |
20140195280 | Computer-Implemented System And Method For Facilitating Rental Of Private Parking Space By An Urban Resident - A computer-implemented system and method for facilitating rental of a private parking space by an urban resident are provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces located in a residential area are managed through a server. Smart parking devices that are each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces are interfaced to the server. Vehicle occupancy sensors that are also each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces are interfaced to the server. Parking availability indicators that are each associated with at least one of the parking spaces are interfaced to the server. The parking spaces are supplemented with a private parking space under legitimate control by a resident of the residential area. Use of the private parking space is managed through the server and the smart parking device nearest to the private parking space. Parking availability the parking spaces is indicated through the nearest parking availability indicator. | 07-10-2014 |
20140195281 | Computer-Implemented System And Method For Providing Information Through A Display Of Parking Devices - A computer-implemented system and method for providing information through a display of parking devices is provided. A multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces is managed through a server. Smart parking devices, vehicle occupancy sensors, and parking availability indicators are associated with at least one of the parking spaces. Use of the parking spaces is managed through the server. The parking availability indicators associated with the parking spaces are activated. Occupancy of at least one of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor and the location of the parking space is provided to the server. An identity of the driver of the motor vehicle is determined through the nearest smart parking device and the identity of the driver is provided to the server. Information associated with the identity of the driver is displayed on the smart parking device. | 07-10-2014 |
20140195282 | Computer-Implemented System And Method For Offering Customer Priority Parking Reservations - A system and method for offering customer priority parking reservations. Motor vehicle parking spaces are provided through a server. The server respectively interfaces with smart parking devices, vehicle occupancy sensors, and parking availability indicators that are each associated with the parking spaces. The parking spaces are reserved by accepting a request for a customer priority parking reservation from a merchant for a reservation period. Use of the parking space is managed through the server by activating the parking availability indicators associated with the reserved parking spaces, sensing occupancy of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle through the vehicle occupancy sensor, and retrieving and providing an identity of the driver of the motor vehicle through the nearest smart parking device to the server. The use of the parking space is validated from the merchant through the server. | 07-10-2014 |
20140195283 | Computer-Implemented System And Method For Offering Merchant And Shopper-Friendly Parking Reservations Through Tourist Privileges - A computer-implemented system and method for offering merchant and shopper-friendly parking reservations through tourist privileges is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces located in a tourist area of an urban environment are managed through a server. Smart parking devices and vehicle occupancy sensors are each proximate to at least one of the parking spaces. Tourist parking identification cards are issued to an agency authorized to provide tourist parking privileges, which are then provided to the visitors. The parking identification cards are activated by pairing each identification card with a digital ticket issued to the agency. The parking spaces are managed by sensing occupancy of one of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor and by determining an identity of the driver of the motor vehicle through the nearest smart parking device. | 07-10-2014 |