Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080201195 | SYSTEM AND METOD FOR TRANSFORMING AN ENTERPRISE USING A COMPONENT BUSINESS MODEL - A system and method are described for using a Component Business Model (CBM) to transform a business. A CBM map is used to identify components that collaborate to provide a specified capability, and a repository supporting the CBM map is filtered to provide a view of the identified components that highlights how they collaborate. The view is used to identify component features contributing to the specified capability. The specified capability is then enhanced by a transformation strategy that includes re-engineering particular components, identifying a pattern characterizing the collaboration between components and adding a component to perform the collaborative pattern, and/or adding an additional feature to the collaboration and adding component to perform the additional feature. The CBM repository provides exemplar best practices that can be adapted for use in a re-engineered component. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201196 | Method and system for event planning - The present invention provides systems and methods for planning important events such as weddings, milestone birthday parties and the like. A suite of computer-implemented applications perform various aspects of event management, including guest list and seating management, task planning, vendor selection, budget control and gift recordation and tracking. The data gathered, processed and stored by different portions of the application suite is used seamlessly by other portions of the application suite to synergistically enhance the overall functioning of the system. The system may be a web-based Internet implementation where brides and other users can input and manipulate the information for the event planning system. Guests are provided a unique URL to a web page about the wedding, which contains information about the bride and groom. Guest preferences can be input and that information used to coordinate seating. The budgeter provides the user with task and vendor details to optimize planning. | 08-21-2008 |
20080208671 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MATCHING PEOPLE AND JOBS USING SOCIAL NETWORK METRICS - A computer-implement method and the associated system of computing resources provides an automated work force management capability that optimizes work assignments for individual workers using work force management techniques in combination with social networking analysis (SNA). The work force management attributes are enhanced using SNA. Bipartite graphing processes are used to match the socially enhance worker attributes with the work requirements. By combining the social networking information with the work force management attributes, work assignments are optimized. This optimization exploits historical social interactions between workers and combines their influence with the skills and other work force attributes of each worker required for job performance. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208672 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WEB-BASED SUPPORT SUBSCRIPTIONS - Embodiments pertain generally to a method for providing subscription services based on virtual machines. The method includes providing for a service portal for users to subscribe to subscription services for at least one of technical support and software based on the virtual machines and providing the subscription services based on client information and business requirements entered by the customer in the service portal. | 08-28-2008 |
20080215412 | Train Operation Management System - A train operations management system enables an operations controller to carry out crew deployment disruption resolution easily. Preset restriction conditions stipulating restrictions in paths and crew member deployment disruption information are examined, warnings respective to the paths are outputted, and until all the warnings clear, with respect to paths in which multiple deployment disruptions have arisen, in order from the highest priority of urgent resolution of the deployment disruption, resolution information is successively sent to crew member deployment disruption forecasting means and crew deployment information is updated, and when the warnings have been cleared the crew deployment information recorded in crew deployment information registering means is suggested as resolution information. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215413 | PROGRAM STORAGE DEVICE FOR PROJECT PREPARING A PROCUREMENT AND ACCOUNTS PAYABLE SYSTEM - A program storage device for coordinating a project for designing, implementing, and using a general procurement and accounts payable (GP/AP) system for a customer. A playbook database is created and includes templates of information relating to designing, implementing, and using the GP/AP system. The templates are particularized for the customer. A playbook summary view is generated from the playbook database. The playbook summary view displays a folders and views section, a task title display and selection area, a summary task creation button, and a detailed task creation button, which visually appear together in an undivided display area within the playbook summary view. Communication is between team members of a team and the playbook database via a server coupled to the playbook database and an intranet coupled to both the server and the team members. The team members have responsibility for the designing and implementing of the GP/AP system. | 09-04-2008 |
20080221963 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ACADEMIC TUTORING - A system and method for the management of an academic tutoring service provides a series of interfaces, each providing functionality useful to a different user category, for use in the organization and management of the academic tutoring process. Included is the ability to create schedules for students and tutors, automatic invoicing to parents and tutoring session report generation. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221964 | METHOD OF OUTSOURCING EVERYDAY TASKS - A method of outsourcing everyday tasks is provided. The method includes the steps of posting a task request with detailed information concerning the services to be performed. Service providers are able to bid on the posted tasks, wherein the service providers may include a bid amount and description of the quality of service to be performed. Thereafter the consumer selects a specific service provider to accomplish the posted task. The method further facilitates completing the monetary transaction via an electronic escrow account operated by and accessible only by a third party. Moreover, a database aggregates user information as part of a detailed feedback system to alleviate fraud or poor quality of service. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221965 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISASTER TRAINING, SIMULATION, AND RESPONSE - A system for conducting simulations of disaster and hazardous incident responses to assist in the organization, planning, and testing of the response of healthcare and other institutions to such incidents. A series of modules are used to enter personnel resource information into the system, design and create disaster and hazardous incident scenarios, assign personnel to incident command system (ICS) roles, and conduct a simulation with said personnel taking appropriate responsive actions. Personnel may interface with the system through a program creating a dashboard interface. Personnel can access an ICS organization chart, and use it to initiate messages and communications, conduct meetings, take actions, and assign subordinate positions. Personnel can view the status of the response actions in real-time. Standard and custom reports can be created and viewed. The system also can be used to respond to a real incident using the same interface and methods practiced in the simulation. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221966 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR ENABLING USER-FRIENDLY, INTERACTIVE COMMUNICATION AND MANAGEMENT OF CARTAGE TRANSACTIONS - An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for cartage management, optimized for the needs of the individual operator while scalable to handle the largest cartage operation. The system is based on a distributed computing and communications network, with an integrated user interface running on a mobile console providing a single point of control for cartage applications, and other peripheral devices including a biometric device, a navigational device, and a printer/scanner. The cartage applications are further integrated via a common database, and a mechanism whereby information produced by one cartage application may be programmatically consumed by another cartage application, thus enabling the cartage applications to operate as a cohesive whole. | 09-11-2008 |
20080228548 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTING CALENDAR EVENTS BY EXAMINING CONTENT OF USER'S RECENT E-MAIL ACTIVITY - A system and method for selecting calendar events based on examining the content of a user's recent e-mail activity. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a scheduling manager assembles a keyword list, wherein the keyword list includes a collection of keywords with associated weights for each keyword among the collection of keywords. If the scheduling manager detects at least two conflicting calendar events scheduled within a calendar program, the scheduling manager searches the at least two conflicting calendar events for at least one keyword on the keyword list. The scheduling manager computes a keyword weight score for each of the at least two conflicting calendar events. If one calendar event among the at least two conflicting calendar events has a highest keyword weight score, the scheduling manager schedules the one calendar event within the calendar program. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228549 | PERFORMANCE EVALUATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A performance evaluation system. The system includes a performance evaluation module configured to enable employee performance reviews based on completion of a plurality of tasks and a plurality of skills required to complete the tasks for each of a plurality of projects on which an employee is staffed, wherein the performance evaluation module returns an employee performance score for the employee in relation to other employees at comparable job levels as the employee. The system also includes a project staffing module configured to enable a user to staff a project by selecting at least one candidate employee based on a skill level proficiency rating in a desired skill and a length of time for which the candidate employee has utilized the desired skill. The system further includes a skills management module configured to enable a user to search a database for persons who have a specified skill and an external contacts module configured to enable a user to search for contact information in the database. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228550 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR UTILIZING A TASK GRID TO GENERATE A DATA MIGRATION TASK - A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to present a task grid to a set of users. A specification of target column information and source column information is accepted from the set of users to produce a data migration task grid. A data migration task is generated from the data migration task grid. The data migration task is processed. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228551 | PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT OPTIMIZATION PROGRAM, PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT OPTIMIZATION METHOD, AND PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT OPTIMIZATION DEVICE - An optimization control part controls as an optimum method that optimizes a personnel assignment with an optimum gradient method by simulating with a simulator. An increase and decrease personnel assignment calculation part calculates the increase and decrease personnel assignment by using an approximation model to find the next tentative optimum solution and to generate an initial value by using the approximation model. In addition, the personnel assignment information storage stores the necessary information to optimize the personnel assignment, and the simulator, the optimization control part and the increase and decrease personnel assignment calculation part refer to the information in the personnel assignment information storage part, update it and perform processing. | 09-18-2008 |
20080235071 | Automatic Generation of Personalized Meeting Lists - A method and system for providing a personalized list of meetings per subject per user of the system ( | 09-25-2008 |
20080235072 | ACHIEVING RECURRING ITEM RECORDINGS FROM CALENDARING APPLICATIONS OVER LOB SYSTEMS - Recurring appointment items in a calendaring application are synchronized and recorded in a backend Line Of Business (LOB) service. Items marked in the calendaring application for time recording are used to create a recurring bound item with extended properties. A sweeper module scans on every run the mailbox for such recurring bound items. Occurrences of bound recurring appointments, which occur between the last scan and the current scan are determined and detached from the corresponding recurring series such that standalone bound items are created for such occurrences that can be recognized by an LOB application. Entries for bound items are retrieved from a client data store and synchronized it with the backend LOB service through a create-, update-, or delete-operation request. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235073 | AUTOMATICALLY PRESCRIBING TOTAL BUDGET FOR MARKETING AND SALES RESOURCES AND ALLOCATION ACROSS SPENDING CATEGORIES - A facility for automatically prescribing, for a distinguished offering, an allocation of resources to a total marketing budget and/or individual marketing activities is described. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235074 | Method for Forecasting and Managing Multimedia Contacts - Multimedia contacts are forecasted, propagated, and managed for each period in a range. The number of contacts received in a period is forecasted using historical methods and is propagated to succeeding periods based on the business goals, such as how quickly a certain contact type is to be handled. After the contacts have been propagated, a total contacts to handle is determined for each period, and the staffing requirements are calculated therefrom. | 09-25-2008 |
20080243580 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SERVICES PARTNER LABOR RATE OPTIMIZATION - Effective and efficient multi-vendor labor rate negotiations are supported by using a minimization algorithm to provide an optimized total cost of staffing allocation. Critical impact factors are also provided to identify specific labor categories or other vendor attributes that have the greatest impact on the total staffing allocation cost. By varying the elements identified by the critical impact factors and using the computer-implemented optimization algorithm, real-time changes are available to the vendors to assist in the negotiations of services contract agreements. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243581 | PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM - A personnel management method and system. The method includes receiving by a computing system, first data from a first resource in response to a first survey. The computing system receives second data in response to a second survey. The computing system analyzes the first data with respect to said second data. Based on the analyzing, the computing system generates a first resource specification report associated with a first resource and a project model. Based on the analyzing and the project model, the computing system generates a first project specification report. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243582 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING CONFLICTING CALENDAR ENTRIES - The present invention enables a user to schedule meetings and detect scheduling conflicts. A system user such as an employee schedules a meeting. The time and date of the meeting is stored in an account for that user. When the same user schedules another meeting, that meeting is detected and compared with any previously and scheduled and stored meetings for that user. If there is a conflict between the presently scheduled meeting and any previously scheduled meeting, then the present invention alerts the user and gives the user the opportunity to select the new meeting for that time or to retain the currently scheduled meeting. The present invention can also store and track the unscheduled meetings. In the event the scheduled meeting is postponed or canceled, the user can be notified and given the opportunity to schedule and attend a previously declined meeting that was scheduled for that same time. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243583 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DYNAMIC SCHEDULING OF CONTENT DELIVERY - A method for use in providing content to a user includes providing a first item of content to the user, calculating a first remaining amount of time between an end of the first item of content and an end of a fixed period of time, selecting a second item of content based on information relating to the user and with a length of the second item of content being equal to or less than the first remaining amount of time, and providing the second item of content to the user. A storage medium stores a computer program for causing a processor based system to execute these steps, and a system for use in providing content includes a processing system configured to execute these steps. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243584 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ALLOCATING REPRESENTATIVES TO SITES IN CLINICAL TRIALS - Methods and systems for allocating representatives, such as clinical research associates (CRAs), to sites. One embodiment comprises a method for allocating CRAs to sites by determining for each CRA the first segment travel time from a starting location to a first node associated with a CRA, and the second segment travel time from the first node to a plurality of second nodes, wherein each second node is geographically associated with a site, determining the third segment travel time from each second hub to its corresponding site(s), for each CRA determining the aggregate travel time to each site by adding at least the first, second and third travel segments, for at least some of the CRAs and at least some of the sites, evaluating the aggregate travel times between CRAs to each of the sites, and allocating a CRA to allocate to each site based in part on the travel times. | 10-02-2008 |
20080243585 | IMPLEMENTING MEETING MODERATOR FAILOVER AND FAILBACK - A method, apparatus, and computer-usable medium for scheduling a meeting, determining a set of policies for selecting a replacement meeting moderator if an original meeting moderator is not present in the meeting, specifying the a set of policies for reestablishing control of the meeting to the original meeting moderator when the original meeting moderator rejoins the meeting, deciding whether to implement a default policy or a custom policy as the set of policies. The default policy includes examining a user directory, establishing a hierarchy ranking of a collection of meeting members, where the original meeting moderator holds the highest rank, and designating a member of the collection of meeting members as a replacement meeting moderator, where the member holds a next highest rank in the hierarchy ranking. | 10-02-2008 |
20080249828 | Method and System for Workscope Management and Control - A system, method or program for controlling a repair and maintenance process for equipment is provided. A database of source data based on original equipment manufacturer information is maintained, and a maintenance plan based at least in part on the source data is generated, which designates a workscope, and which can be electronically approved. A maintenance instruction based at least in part on the workscope is generated and a logical order is communicated within a maintenance center for inspection of the equipment based at least in part on the maintenance instruction. A repair instruction is communicated to a repair unit based at least in part on the inspection and a repair task is performed based at least in part on the repair instruction. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249829 | System and Method for Co-Ownership and Use of a Plurality of Properties - A system and method for enabling a plurality of owners to have the right of exclusive use of a plurality of properties, such as yachts or homes, in various geographic locations throughout the world for a period of time based on a rotating usage schedule. A majority of the owners have an undivided interest in one or more properties, yet has equal rights of exclusive use of a majority of the properties in the system, subject to the rotating usage schedule. Alternatively, the owners may collectively own an undivided interest in a group of properties and have an equal right of exclusive use of a majority of the properties in the system, subject to the rotating usage schedule. One or more management entities manage the properties, rotating usage schedule, staffing, maintenance, insurance, permitting, licensing, registration, oversight of legal issues, provisioning, payment of expenses and taxes, renting, or any combination thereof. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249830 | Appointment scheduling system - The present invention relates to an online appointment scheduling system. The system is configured to register a client (e.g., doctor) and at least a first and second vendor (e.g., sales representative) with the system. The system receives from the client a set of rules for vendor appointments. A client schedule of available appointments is generated that complies with the set of rules. The client schedule is accessible by the first vendor, to allow the first vendor to book an appointment. Once booked, the appointment is designated as a pending appointment. The system then requires that the first vendor confirm the pending appointment within a confirmation window and, where upon confirmation, the appointment is designated as a confirmed appointment. Alternatively, if the first vendor fails to confirm the appointment within the confirmation window, a notification is sent to a second vendor of a now available appointment. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249831 | Business method and system for sponsoring a special event - A business method and system centered on an enabling facility for providing special events includes a central area for observation of the special event by the sponsors of the special event or by those accompanying the attendees to the special event and a plurality of special activity areas. A staff at the enabling facility will introduce and guide the attendees to the selected activities. Also included in the enabling facility is a security system for the special event. | 10-09-2008 |
20080255917 | Method For Business Management - A method for managing the complete workflow of a personnel network-oriented business that allows those at varying levels of the company hierarchy to manage, monitor, assign, accept and fulfill their client obligations through an interactive software-based process. Secure levels of administration and delegation combine with an array of links that ultimately organize workflow from beginning of a client file to the end. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255918 | Ontological representation of knowledge - A technique for representing a project over a network involves developing requirements for the project and linking responses to the requirements. A user associated with the project is automatically linked to project data in accordance with the user's role in the project. The project data includes the requirements, responses and other data. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255919 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SCHEDULE NOTIFICATION - Systems and methods are provided for receiving schedule information and providing notifications to participants of the schedule and scheduled jobs or tasks. Employees may define preferences for the content, mode, and timing of notifications. Notifications may be sent via text message, including SMS and IM text messages, and also via email, telephone call, pager, and fax. Employees may be enabled to respond to text message notifications either confirming or rejecting scheduled jobs or tasks. Attendance of employees at scheduled jobs or tasks may also be tracked by receiving text messages or GPS information from the employees' cell phones. System and methods are also provided for sequentially notifying other employees, in order of employee priority, of opportunities to cover for employees who are unable to fill assigned jobs or tasks. | 10-16-2008 |
20080262894 | SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE FOR SCHEDULING AND PRODUCT MANAGEMENT - A modular system architecture for a process stream generating historical work transactional data. The data are received by a system Data Import Module. The Data Import Module transforms the historical work transactional data into at least one Workload Volume. A Forecast Module in communication with the Data Import Module receives a selected Workload Volume and projects a future workload demand or Forecasted Workload Volumes derived from a selected search algorithm. A Staffing Requirements Module in communication with the Forecast Module receives a selected Forecasted Workload Volume. The Staffing Requirements Module has a plurality of Staffing Guide functions applying staffing constraints that drive the Forecasted Workload Volume. A Scheduling Module in communication with the Staffing Requirements Module receives a selected Staffing Requirements and transforms the Staffing Requirements into a schedule viewable by a user. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262895 | BUSINESS RESILIENCE SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods are provided as pieces of the end-to-end resilience capability such as impact assessments, continuity plans and monitoring/alert technologies. Various disclosed systems and methods may be used to leverage technology in conjunction with consulting services to optimize the creation, maintenance and execution of business resilience. Select systems and methods utilize a diagnostic risk atom tool to connect an enterprise risk assessment that can be associated with a risk mitigation strategy and action plans that are triggered based on alerts and notification methods tied to an individual's role, responsibility and assets that they manage. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262896 | Demand-driven, collaborative systems and processes for collecting structured information - A demand driven process of collecting structured product and service information including the steps of: receiving a request for information from a requestor about a specific product or service, or attribute or class thereof, associating one or more potential responders with the request for information, providing the request to the potential responders, receiving and organizing one or more responses, and providing the organized responses to the requestor, all electronically. An arrangement for the same includes user computers for receiving requests for information, network communication devices for transmitting the requests to potential responders, memory for storing electronic responses and a controller for organizing, updating, and providing access to the electronic responses. | 10-23-2008 |
20080270214 | System and Process for Managing the Preparation of a Bid Document in Response to a Tender - A system for managing the preparation of a bid document in response to a tender receives clauses selected from a tender document and categorises each clause into one of a plurality of clause categories. An author association component of the system associates each clause categorised as a response requirement with a response author. A messaging component sends a response template including at least one response requirement to an associated response author, and receives the completed response template from the response author. A bid document generator generates a bid document on the basis of the response text received from response authors. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270215 | Data processing system and method - A job assignment is received into a portable device. A job site associated with the job assignment is diagrammed using the portable device. Job site readings are also entered into the portable device. The portable device then displays an indication of at least one piece of equipment needed at the job site and communicates the job site diagram and job site readings to a database. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270216 | System and method for standards and governance evaluation framework - A system includes a standards inventory database to store at least one control model, the at least one control model including at least one control objective and one or more controls, wherein each of the one or more controls is related to at least one asset of an organization, a tests datastore to store one or more control tests to be applied to the at least one asset of the organization, each of the one or more controls being associated with at least one of the one or more control tests, and a server including a testing tool to evaluate each of the one or more controls using the at least one of the one or more control tests associated with each of the one or more controls and to assign a status to the one or more control tests, and a metrics engine to track performance metrics of each of the one or more controls based on the status of the one or more control tests to provide trends in compliance with the one or more controls. | 10-30-2008 |
20080270217 | PARKING FEE SYSTEM AND METHOD - A comprehensive, integrated system for management of fee for parking businesses, including payment collection and processing for these business, as well as other businesses to which such a system may be applicable. | 10-30-2008 |
20080275754 | SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATED MANAGEMENT OF A MIXED WORKFORCE USING PRIORITY QUEUING OF AUTOMATED BID DISPATCH AND COMPLIANCE MONITORING - A system for coordinating and monitoring laborers and their agents in and across organizations is provided which includes a database, a computing apparatus, and a first and second network. The database contains information regarding a staffing requirement, including a time period a labor is required and a minimum professional qualification for the labor, a staffing schedule including data on whether or not the staffing requirement is currently filled, and a sequence of preferences related to filling of the staffing requirement. The first network includes a first digital messaging pathway between the computing apparatus and a first potential laborer, and the second network including a second digital messaging pathway between said computing apparatus and an entity possessing the staffing requirement or an agent of the entity. | 11-06-2008 |
20080281665 | Automated Calendar Concierge - A method and system of an embodiment of the present disclosure may include receiving data from a calendar client at a network element communicatively coupled to a network wherein the data comprises information relating at least in part to unscheduled time for a user associated with the calendar client, searching a database for at least one event offering corresponding to the unscheduled time, and sending the at least one event offering to the calendar client. The method and system may include ranking or filtering event offerings based at least in part on preferences of a calendar client user. | 11-13-2008 |
20080288320 | ACTIONABLE BUSINESS PLAN CREATION AND EXECUTION - Disclosed is a system and method for creating and executing business plans. A business plan is created as an actionable business plan using an interactive knowledgebase. The actionable business plan is stored in an electronic format using a hierarchical parent/child storage structure, such as a structure that may be created in a database. The actionable business plan is presented to a user for reporting and maintenance through an interactive Graphical User Interface (GUI). The system and method may further support managing multiple business plans on a single system by placing each individual actionable business plan into a separate folder. The folders may be incorporated as an extension of the hierarchical parent/child structure of an actionable business plan. Each folder and the associated child business plan elements may have unique access permissions such that each individual user is presented with the business plan elements that are related to folders that the individual has permission to access. The system and method may also support tracking a business plan that spans multiple quarters with an ability to focus on plan elements that occur within a definable range of quarters and then view calculated weighted progress for the specified range of quarters. The system and method may generate an interactive report that shows all business plan elements that span the specified quarters. Two primary reports are a weighted average for all business plan actions that are due during the chosen quarters and a weighted average for all business plan actions due throughout the entire course of the business plan. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288321 | Automatic maintenance estimation in a plant environment - A maintenance system for a process plant collects and uses historical data about maintenance orders. The data identifies the maintenance items for completing an order, such as the labor, materials, and maintenance tasks required. The data is historical data developed from actual completed maintenance orders. The system uses archived historical data and estimates various maintenance information, such as estimated cost for completing the maintenance order, and estimated start and completion times. The estimated data may be based on averaged data as a result. This estimated data along with the other maintenance order information may be sent to a scheduler for identifying a priority to the maintenance order and scheduling it accordingly. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288322 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT - Systems and methods for facilitating the management of project resources such that high levels of supervision and project management may be achieved. Embodiments of the systems and methods further enable rapid response project management through the interaction of a client relationship management system, a phone system, an email communication system, and an analysis system. Further, in at least one embodiment, a résumé and notice of client contact automation system may be integrated with the various other components to facilitate project resource selection and client satisfaction. | 11-20-2008 |
20080288323 | METHOD OF ARRANGING SUPPLEMENTAL MEETING SERVICES - A method of scheduling meetings within a calendaring system can include receiving a meeting request specifying a meeting time, at least one participant, and a supplemental meeting service to be scheduled concurrently with the meeting. A determination can be made that a supplemental meeting system is not available. Accordingly, participants can be notified of the meeting time and that supplemental meeting service information has not been determined. The method also can include attempting to obtain the supplemental meeting service information from the supplemental meeting system until a predetermined time prior to the meeting time. If the supplemental meeting service information is obtained before the predetermined time prior to the meeting time, the participants can be notified of the supplemental meeting service information. | 11-20-2008 |
20080294490 | Networking Platform For Facilitating Interactions And Sharing Of Caretaking Responsibilities Between Family Members - Systems and methods of a networking platform for facilitating interactions and sharing of caretaking responsibilities between family members are described in this application. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of managing a set of calendar events of the care receiver, the set of calendar events of the care receiver to be submitted by one or more of the care receiver a caregiver. One embodiment can include, generating a reminder associated with an upcoming occurrence of a calendar event of the set of calendar events at a predetermined amount of time prior to the upcoming occurrence, the reminder to be provided to one or more caregivers, updating a status of one or more of the set of calendar events based on an update provided by one or more of the care receiver the caregiver, identifying the schedules of the one or more care givers, and/or identifying at least one responsible caregiver to manage a calendar event of the care receiver by comparing the schedules of the one or more care givers with the set of calendar events. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294491 | Dynamic and Predictive Information System and Method for Shipping Assets and Transport - The dynamic, predictive information system and method assigns shipping assets (drivers-tractors-trailers) from carriers to transport orders by shippers. Computer databases hold shipping asset data. Specific transport orders are electronically joined to specific driver-tractor-trailer combinations. A search and sort routine produces resulting records based upon proximity, trailer type, proximity of the joined driver-trailer combination, carrier service region and pick-up and delivery date constraints. The sort is by price or performance indicators which are pre-selected shipper ranges matched to historical shipping data from carriers. The system books the carrier, the driver-tractor-trailer combination and the shipper to transport order with an electronic communications phase. In a truck lane scenario, the system joins a specific driver and a specific tractor and a non-specific trailer to a specific transport order. GPS data and electronic shipping document data from PDAs with the drivers is logged into the system and is viewable by the participants. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294492 | PROACTIVELY DETERMINING POTENTIAL EVIDENCE ISSUES FOR CUSTODIAL SYSTEMS IN ACTIVE LITIGATION - The record of custodial systems' involvement in legal matters is coupled with a workflow that detects actual or planned changes affecting custodial systems themselves and/or their associations with other entities in the enterprise map, and that notifies the appropriate parties so the information is preserved. | 11-27-2008 |
20080294493 | WORKFLOW SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSOR, AND METHOD AND PROGRAM FOR WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT - A workflow system is provided in which one person in charge efficiently processes each activity assigned to successive nodes. When a client request management program execution unit | 11-27-2008 |
20080300952 | STORING AND DEPICTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO DYNAMIC EVENT DRIVEN RESTRUCTURING - The present invention discloses a solution for storing and depicting complex non-contiguous organizations that are subject to situation-based restructuring. Different views for organization charts of the organization can be generated, where the generated organization charts are collapsed to a minimal view which automatically hides at least a portion of the organization positions in accordance with a desired view. For example, a view showing only filled positions will hide unfilled positions, collapsing intermediate nodes of a shown hierarchy so that child nodes of a hidden node are directly connected to the parent node of the hidden node. A set of indexed database tables can be used to efficiently store details of the organization. The indexed tables can store positions, assignment, and position reporting details in separate 3NF tables. The solution can be integrated to a commercial off-the-shelf command management system and/or to a commercial off-the-shelf front-end charting application. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300953 | Workforce management system with fairness scheduling - A workforce management system implements enhanced any-day-of-the-week or holiday fairness processing. The system provides one or more display interfaces indexed by day of week or given holiday dates, and through which a user defines a fairness policy with respect to each such day or dates. In use, the system compares a fairness policy with historical credit data to generate a rank order of agent eligibility to fulfill a contact center schedule for a given day or holiday date. This rank order of agent availability is then provided to a scheduler to enable generation of one or more contact center schedules for the given day or holiday date. The day of week and holiday fairness may be carried out independently or combined. The system also enables fairness days or dates to be processed according to a user-defined priority. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300954 | Systems and Methods of Automatically Scheduling a Workforce - Systems and methods of workforce scheduling are disclosed. One example embodiment, among others, comprises a computer-implemented method of scheduling workers. Each worker is associated with one of a set of flexibility classifications, which include non-flex-time and at least one flex-time. The method includes generating a set of shift instances to cover forecasted demand over a planning period, and assigning the shift instances to the set of workers by iterating through the each of the workers to assign at least a portion of the shift instances to a selected one of the workers. The assigning is such that total hours assigned to the selected worker depends on a number associated with the classification of the selected worker. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300955 | System and Method for Multi-Week Scheduling - Systems and methods of scheduling a customer center workforce are disclosed. One exemplary method comprises ordering a set of slots in the scheduling period to be bound to worker shifts. The method further comprises binding a first portion of the worker shifts within a domain to the ordered set of slots to produce a first schedule. The first schedule has a first evaluation factor. The method further comprises comparing the first evaluation factor to a second evaluation factor. The method further comprises outputting a selected schedule based on the comparison. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300956 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALUCLATING AND DISPLAYING ESTIMATED WAIT TIMES FOR TRANSACTION REQUEST BASED ON THE SKILL REQUIRED TO PROCESS THE TRANSACTION REQUEST - A reception management system for handling transactions includes a plurality of ACMs (Automated Contract/Consulting Terminals) for receiving procedure requests for predetermined transactions from customers, a plurality of ROTs (Remote Operation Terminals) to be employed by an operator for handling the procedure requests, a server for storing information for managing the operators for each transaction skill, and information about queues formed for each transaction skill upon a procedure request accepted from an ACM, and a queue monitoring terminal for monitoring the queues by receiving information from the SACD server. | 12-04-2008 |
20080306805 | Method and Apparatus for Queue-Based Automated Staff Scheduling - The invention disclosed herein provides a queue-based scheduling system, which comprises an automated staff scheduling computer program that is highly flexible in enforcing scheduling rules. This flexibility comes from the ability to: (1) Define conditional and unconditional rules; (2) Rank the rules/requests in varying priority as represented by a numeric value assigned to each rule/request; and (3) Specify rules both per individual and per group. These three abilities synergistically produce an automatic scheduling system that can enforce a wide variety of scheduling rules and requirements seen in actual staff scheduling situations. Furthermore, all these abilities rely on using a queue per scheduled assignment to hold requests and rules. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306806 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DYNAMICALLY ALLOCATING TASKS - The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for dynamically allocating tasks. Using the methods and apparatus herein, users can dynamically assign tasks to roles within a workflow process. This allows business process designers to easily create tasks and define roles for those tasks. | 12-11-2008 |
20080313003 | Designing business processes using parametric roles - Automating a business process includes defining an activity of a business process. The activity is associated with an abstract role, and the abstract role represents a user responsible for performing the activity. An organizational role associated with a set of values is defined. The organizational role can have a value from the set of values, where each value ill corresponds to a user set. The organizational role is matched to the abstract role. An instance of the activity is received, and the value for the organizational role is determined. The instance is routed to the user set corresponding to the determined value. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313004 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A BI-DIRECTIONAL FEEDBACK LOOP BETWEEN PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND PERSONAL CALENDAR SYSTEMS - A system providing a bi-directional feedback loop that assists project management to make timely decisions and alterations based on personal calendar data retrieved from team members' calendars. The system provides a project manager user with perceptible alerts in a project manager user interface in response to detecting a conflict between proposed or actual personal calendar events of a team member user and deliverables assigned to that team member user. The project manager user interface enables the project manager to take an action in the event such a conflict is detected. Project manager actions in this regard may include permitting a conflicting personal calendar event, forbidding the conflicting personal calendar event, delegating the conflicting deliverable to another team member, adjusting the deliverable requirements, and/or escalating the conflict to a higher level of management. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313005 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REAL-TIME SCHEDULING OF HUMAN AND NON-HUMAN RESOURCES - A system for real-time resource scheduling comprising a hosted line-of-business software application for service providers operating in various industry verticals; a central data center; an in-store web-based calendar for service provider employees; a web-based calendar for service provider customers; and a mobile customer scheduling interface; wherein the central data center comprises a data store that comprises a master database and a plurality of service provider chain databases; the master database contains metadata of all service provider chain databases housed in the data store; the master database contains user accounts for customers who make reservations with any of the service providers; each service provider has a service provider chain database that is specific to that service provider; each service provider creates and maintains all resource scheduling information for its own human and non-human resources; and no data is shared between service providers. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313006 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR MANAGING EMERGENCY POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS - Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to systems and methods for managing and monitoring a plurality of emergency power supply systems (EPSS's) at a facility via an emergency power management system (EPMS). The EPMS generally comprises EPSS equipment, a management computer system for managing, monitoring, and testing the operational characteristics of the EPSS equipment, and a plurality of interface modules for providing unified communication capabilities between the management computer system and the EPSS equipment. Additional aspects relate to methods for easily and efficiently creating and installing an EPMS at a facility. Further aspects are directed to providing predictive analyses related to the EPSS equipment. Also, aspects of the present disclosure relate to normalizing EPSS equipment information across varying vendors, makes, and models of equipment so as to provide a unified view of all equipment across a given facility. | 12-18-2008 |
20080313007 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SCHEDULING AN IN-HOME APPLIANCE REPAIR SERVICE - A system for scheduling an in-home appliance repair service is disclosed. The system receives inputs from a user via a client device. The inputs are used to identify one or more home appliances in need of repair. For example, the user may have a clogged dishwasher. Data identifying the appliance is then transmitted to a repair scheduling server. The repair scheduling server executes a program which determines a plurality of available repair time slots and transmits a list of choices to the client device for display. The available repair time slots may depend on the type of appliance, the brand of the appliance, the particular model, the user's identify, and/or the geographical location of the appliance. Preferably, time slots are dynamically determined in cooperation with a plurality of service providers. Once the user selects a timeslot, the service is confirmed and scheduled. | 12-18-2008 |
20080319821 | Method for optimizing a maintenance program - The present invention discloses a method and a computer program for optimizing the implementation of a maintenance program for maintenance units. In the method of the invention, an estimated duration is determined for each maintenance module, a periodic working capacity is determined for each serviceman carrying out maintenance programs and location data is determined for each maintenance unit. Further the invention comprises optimizing the maintenance work comprised in the maintenance modules for each serviceman in such manner that the unbalance between the working capacity of the serviceman and the amount of maintenance work required by the maintenance units belonging to the maintenance domain attended to by the serviceman is minimized and the required traveling from a maintenance unit to another is minimized, so that the number of maintenance modules located in the vicinity of each maintenance module is maximized. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319822 | Method and system for creating and trading schedules - Systems and methods are provided to facilitate employees in accurately specifying and weighting preferences in the form of a bid to be used in a preferential bidding system (“PBS”) at the time schedules are created and shifts are assigned and to facilitate creating shift trade requests after schedules are created and shifts are assigned. The systems and methods present a sequence of questions to determine relative importance and weighting of criteria specified as preferences for a schedule bid and then provide a read back explaining how PBS will interpret the criteria and weighting at schedule creation. Systems and methods are also provided to display visual representation of shifts. The visual representation includes a horizontal bar that serves as a timeline. The height and/or the color of segments of the bar are changed to depict active and inactive periods of work. Systems and methods are also provide to filter, on the fly, a listing of shifts as criteria are specified as a preference for a schedule bid or as a filter criteria to identify desirable shift trades. | 12-25-2008 |
20090006170 | PRODUCTION CENTER SYSTEM - Systems and methods of centralized product production, comprising a job initiation component that receives a job request from a user; a resource management component that delegates tasks to one or more modules to produce a product to meet the job request. The modules can comprise an automated computing system or a practice group, and can report back to the resource management component. An assembly component can receive information, documents, and objects from the resource management component and assemble the items to form a product. An interface component allows a user to view progress of the product, and to receive status updates. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006171 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND PROGRAM FOR TRACKING LABOR COSTS - System, method and program for tracking labor expended concurrently by a person for a plurality of different projects or accounts. First program instructions generate a display of a list of the plurality of projects or accounts and a respective plurality of fields for the plurality of projects or accounts indicating whether labor expended by the person will be allocated to the respective plurality of projects or accounts. Second program instructions are responsive at least in part to the plurality of fields with indications that labor expended by the person will be allocated to the respective plurality of projects or accounts, by allocating a portion of elapsed time to each of the plurality of projects or accounts. The time can be allocated equally or unequally to the different projects or accounts as indicated by the person. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006172 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING WORKFLOW MONITORING - An approach is disclosed for providing a workflow monitoring system. Monitoring is performed for a non-occurrence of a successful movement by an object through a workflow that includes a plurality of activities. A task corresponding to the object is generated to specify non-movement through the workflow. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006173 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING AND USING HISTORICAL WORK PATTERNS TO BUILD/USE HIGH-PERFORMANCE PROJECT TEAMS SUBJECT TO CONSTRAINTS - A method for identifying and using historical work patterns to build high-performance project teams, in one aspect, may comprise identifying historical data associated with one or more past projects, determining from said historical data, one or more patterns in team member attributes that are correlated with at least one of an individual determined to be successful and a project determined to be successful, and generating one or more staffing plans based on said determined patterns. A system and program storage device for performing finctionalities of the method are also provided. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006174 | Method and system to connect consumers to information - This invention provides for a method of (or apparatus for) facilitating the delivery of advice to consumers using a server unit which can store and display the names and characteristics of experts and then rapidly assist in connecting the expert and consumer for real-time communication. The server can also have the ability to receive keywords from the consumer, match those keywords to one or more experts, and tell the consumer how to contact an expert. | 01-01-2009 |
20090012833 | SEARCH ENGINE FOR MOST HELPFUL EMPLOYEES - Methods and apparatus for identifying experts in a subject area are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method includes receiving a request to locate a source of expertise in a subject area within an enterprise, and determining if there is at least one individual associated with the enterprise that has the expertise in the subject area. The method also includes identifying the individual if it is determined that there is the at least one individual who has the expertise in the subject area by comparing a profile associated with an initiator of the request with a profile associated with the individual. Information associated with the individual is provided such that the individual may be identified as the source of expertise in the subject area. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012834 | Compliance Management System - A compliance management system that includes a task module configured to process a task comprising task attributes, to associate the tasks with a workflow, and to assign the task to one or more individuals based on a task assignment attribute, the task assignment attribute representing one or more individuals responsible for the task. The system also includes a case module configured to process a case comprising case attributes and to track the resolution and method of resolution of the case and a document module configured to store or retrieve documents, and to associate the documents with one or more tasks or cases. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012835 | Methods for Increased Compensation for Hourly Wage Employees - Three interrelated methods are presented for providing increased compensation of hourly wage and salaried employees based upon performance requirements and results. The present invention includes methods for increasing employee compensation based upon hourly wage multipliers defined by seasonal, daily, and conditional factors. The methods further include the process guaranteeing the resources necessary for the completion of a specific job. A comparison is made between the nominally defined resources required for the job and the actual resources available, with the actual resources available (the employees) receiving increased compensation based upon the difference between the nominal resources and the actual resources. Finally, increased compensation methods may be based upon identified performance factors and the measurement of actual performance levels that exceed base performance levels. The methods described may be interrelated to calculate an increased compensation for a specific employee based upon modification of a base hourly wage or a salary reduced to an hourly wage, according to each of the processes described. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012836 | Handling Exceptional Situations in a Warehouse Management - The invention provides methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for handling exceptional situations in a warehouse management. From a user application of the warehouse, an exception code is received, the exception code being representative of a predetermined exceptional situation in the warehouse. The exception code is verified as to validity, and if the received exception code is valid, a follow-up action based on the received exception code is automatically triggered. | 01-08-2009 |
20090012837 | MARGIN CALCULATOR FOR THE TEMPORARY STAFFING INDUSTRY - A system and method for providing accurate margin calculations for the temporary staffing industry. A database is provided to allow multiple users to enter parameters that impact the margin such as payroll, benefits, discounts, rebates, and per diem expenses. The system can also include external data sources for retrieving information that impacts margin, such as locale specific tax information. The combination allows temporary staffing providers to engage negotiate complex temporary staffing contracts while retaining a satisfactory margin. | 01-08-2009 |
20090018890 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR HYBRID DELIVERY OF REMOTE AND LOCAL TECHNICAL SUPPORT VIA A CENTRALIZED SERVICE - The present solution is directed to a hybrid customer support model for providing remote online support service in conjunction with local onsite support service. A local technician provides on site support service for a device at a premise for a predetermined amount of time. The onsite support by the local technician may be limited to a subset of the tasks for resolving an issue with the device or otherwise be limited to applying a subset or scope of skills to resolving the issue. In one embodiment, the local technician has a first type of skill from a plurality of skills. The local technician identifies an issue with the device and sends the issue to a centralized service. The centralized service receives an identification of the issue—the resolution of which may include a plurality of tasks. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of tasks is performed by one or more remote technicians having a skill type corresponding to the task. A resource pool is managed via the centralized service to support information flow in the hybrid model. The centralized service tracks service information and results. | 01-15-2009 |
20090024435 | Methods, Systems, and Computer-Readable Media for Providing Notification of a Last Job Dispatch - Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide a notification of a last job dispatch. According to embodiments, a method for providing a notification of a last job dispatch is provided. According to the method, whether a technician is dispatched to a last job is determined. In response to determining that the technician is dispatched to the last job, a visual cue indicating that the technician is dispatched to the last job is provided. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024436 | Methods, Systems, and Computer-Readable Media for Determining a Plurality of Turfs from Where to Reallocate a Workforce to a Given Turf - Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for determining a plurality of turfs from where to reallocate a workforce to a given turf. According to embodiments, a method for determining a plurality of turfs from where to reallocate a workforce to a given turf is provided. According to the method, an indication of the given turf is received. Optimal turfs from where to reallocate technicians to the given turf are determined from a plurality of turfs. Visual cues for identifying at least a portion of the optimal turfs are generated. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024437 | Methods, Systems, and Computer-Readable Media for Providing A Ratio of Tasks Per Technician - Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for providing a ratio of tasks per technician. According to embodiments, a method for providing a ratio of tasks per technician is provided. According to the method, a number of tasks associated with a given geography is determined. A number of technicians dispatched to the given geography is determined. The ratio of tasks per technician is determined based on the number of tasks and the number of technicians. The ratio of tasks per technician is displayed. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024438 | Methods, Systems, and Computer-Readable Media for Providing Workforce To Load Information - Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for providing workforce to load information. According to embodiments, a method for providing workforce to load information corresponding to a plurality of turfs is provided. According to the method, a number of hours of pending and assigned work orders corresponding to the plurality of turfs, a number of tickets corresponding to the plurality of turfs, and a number of technicians dispatched corresponding the plurality of turfs are determined. A plurality of textual indicators, each indicating one of the plurality of turfs, are displayed. A first plurality of numeric indicators, each indicating the corresponding number of hours of pending and assigned work, are displayed. A second plurality of numeric indicators, each indicating the corresponding number of tickets, are displayed. A third plurality of numeric indicators, each indicating the corresponding number of technicians dispatched, are displayed. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024439 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING FEEDBACK TO A CHAIRPERSON IN AN ELECTRONIC MEETING SCHEDULING SYSTEM IN ORDER TO ENABLE IMPROVED MEETING RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - A system for providing feedback to a chairperson in an electronic meeting scheduling system to enable improved meeting resource management, in which a chairperson can indicate the attendance modes that are permitted for specific invitees to a meeting. The meeting invitations indicate to the invitees the attendance modes they are permitted to use. Meeting invitees are presented with user interface options allowing them to select from potentially multiple attendance modes, determined in response to inputs from the chairperson, and/or in response to information describing resources. As meeting resources are allocated to accepting invitees, those resources become unavailable for selection by subsequently accepting invitees. Meeting acceptances are collected such that indications of how accepting attendees will attend the meeting are made available in a chairperson interface so that the chairperson can adjust resources allocated for the meeting to reflect how accepting attendees are planning to attend. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024440 | Automated Workflow Via Learning for Image Processing, Documentation and Procedural Support Tasks - A method to manage workflow tasks having the steps of conducting at least one procedure, wherein the at least one procedure has at least one workflow task, recording each workflow task completed in the at least one procedure in a database, analyzing each workflow task completed, wherein the analysis completed identifies each task that may be completed automatically without need for human intervention, define workflow tasks for a given procedure that are to be completed automatically, inputting a user defined procedure, retrieving workflow tasks pertaining to the user defined procedure that are automatically performed, and conducting the user defined procedure, wherein workflow tasks defined as automatic are automatically performed. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024441 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR INFORMATION SHARING ACROSS ORGANIZATIONS - A method of leveraging disperse expertise is disclosed. The method comprises identifying a problem to be solved; searching a database of experts; locating one or more experts to solve the problem; reviewing a profile of each of the one or more experts located in the search; drafting a request for proposal information/request for information which includes a discussion of the problem; sending the request for proposal/request for information to the team of experts; receiving responses to the request for proposals/request for information from the team of experts; and utilizing the response to help find a solution to the problem. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024442 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR INCREASING SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY IN OIL FIELD OPERATIONS - Systems and methods for increasing safety and efficiency in oil field operations are provided. A monitor displays a map of an oil field that includes oil well objects, oil field facility objects, surface work crew objects, sub-surface work crew objects, and safety zones objects and work equipment rig objects. Each of the objects includes a date and location attribute. Each of the work crew objects are coded by a visual indicator to indicate a type of work, and selection of a work crew object produces a text box with a description of the associated work. A safety zone object is associated with the work crew objects and has a radius attribute that can be used to identify scheduling conflicts. A scheduling conflict is identified, and at least one work crew object is rescheduled via a domain-specific software application from which the crew object was extracted to remove the conflict. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024443 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING LARGE OIL FIELD OPERATIONS - Systems and methods for managing large oil field operations are provided. A oil field map is displayed on a monitor. The oil field map includes oil well objects, oil field facility objects, surface work crew objects, subsurface work crew objects, safety zones objects, and work equipment rig objects associated with at least one work crew object and having a geographic locater device for tracking its location, each of the objects include a date attribute and a location attribute. The oil field map is customizable by date and has a date selector tool. At least two surface or sub-surface work crew objects are scheduled via a domain-specific software application from which the surface or sub-surface work crew object was extracted. The scheduling of the surface or sub-surface work crew objects is repeated until all surface and sub-surface work crews are scheduled for a date range of interest. | 01-22-2009 |
20090030766 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING MEETING PREPAREDNESS - A method and computer program product for facilitating meeting preparedness, including defining one or more requested meeting attendees, and defining one or more requirements for entry to a meeting. An invitation to the meeting is sent to at least a portion of the one or more requested meeting attendees, the invitation including the one or more requirements for entry to the meeting. At least a portion of the one or more requested meeting attendees are required to provide feedback concerning status of the one or more requirements for entry to the meeting prior to the meeting. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030767 | SCHEDULING AND IMPROVING ERGONOMIC BREAKS USING ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION - An ergonomic break system and method for scheduling and improving an ergonomic break for a user from a computing device. The system and method schedule the break based on environmental information to minimize annoyance to the user. Environmental information includes the condition of the computing device (such as whether the user is typing at the keyboard or using a mouse), the condition of the environment in the immediate vicinity of the computing device (such as whether the user is on the telephone or has another person in the room with her), and the condition of the user (such as whether the user is looking at the display device or is properly stretching during the ergonomic break). The system and method also include features that improve the user's productivity during the break and improve the effectiveness and effectiveness of the break. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030768 | Trusted and Secure Techniques for Item Delivery and Execution - Documents and other items can be delivered electronically from sender to recipient with a level of trustedness approaching or exceeding that provided by a personal document courier. A trusted electronic go-between can validate, witness and/or archive transactions while, in some cases, actively participating in or directing the transaction. Printed or imaged documents can be marked using handwritten signature images, seal images, electronic fingerprinting, watermarking, and/or steganography. Electronic commercial transactions and transmissions take place in a reliable, “trusted” virtual distribution environment that provides significant efficiency and cost savings benefits to users in addition to providing an extremely high degree of confidence and trustedness. The systems and techniques have many uses including but not limited to secure document delivery, execution of legal documents, and electronic data interchange (EDI). | 01-29-2009 |
20090030769 | System and Method for Latency Management Assistant - One embodiment provides a method, that may be implemented on a system, for receiving an electronic communication from a user, the communication identifying a delay incurred or to be incurred by the user, relative to a pre-identified schedule of events; in response to receiving the electronic communication, accessing data identifying the pre-identified schedule of events; generating one or more options to reschedule one or more events of the schedule of events to account for the identified delay of the user; sending to the user the one or more options to reschedule one or more events of the schedule of events to account for the identified delay of the user; and, in response to receiving at least one of a selection from the user, sending notification of the reschedule to one or more of attendees and service providers of the scheduled events. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030770 | Dynamic and predictive information system and method for shipping assets and transport - The dynamic, predictive information system and method assigns shipping assets (drivers-tractors-trailers) from carriers to transport orders by shippers. Computer databases hold shipping asset data. Specific transport orders are electronically joined to specific driver-tractor-trailer combinations. A search and sort routine produces resulting records based upon proximity, trailer type, proximity of the joined driver-trailer combination, carrier service region and pick-up and delivery date constraints. The sort is by price or performance indicators which are pre-selected shipper ranges matched to historical shipping data from carriers. The system books the carrier, the driver-tractor-trailer combination and the shipper to transport order with an electronic communications phase. In a truck lane scenario, the system joins a specific driver and a specific tractor and a non-specific trailer to a specific transport order. GPS data and electronic shipping document data from PDAs with the drivers is logged into the system and is viewable by the participants. | 01-29-2009 |
20090043631 | Dynamic Routing and Load Balancing Packet Distribution with a Software Factory - A system decision engine enables a software factory to effectively handle intelligent load balancing and distribution to workers on a software assembly line through the use of pre-configured rules. The pre-configured rules are based on a projected availability of workers based on past traffic analysis of work packets being sent to particular workers on the software assembly line. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043632 | MANAGING BUSINESS PROCESS CALENDARS - A system and method of managing business process calendars. A method of managing a process includes defining at least one process to be performed by a first entity for at least one second entity, and associating a first subset of a plurality of tasks of the at least one process with the first entity. The method further includes associating a second subset of the plurality of tasks with the at least one second entity, and creating a process calendar based upon the at least one process and the plurality of tasks. The method additionally includes displaying the process calendar. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043633 | PHARMACY TASK LIST GENERATOR - A comprehensive medication management system is disclosed. The comprehensive medication management system offers a number of compliance related services that may be offered to patients in to improve medication therapy compliance. The system identifies compliance barriers facing individual patents and recommends services designed to overcome those barriers. The system further provides feedback to patients to document their progress. The system proactively identifies patients who may benefit from compliance services and blocks their transactions until the services are explained. The point of sale block may be expanded to other classes of patients so that the transactions of other classes of patients blocked and other messages delivered or some other customized interactions carried out. The medication management system may serve as a central repository of information about a patient's medication treatment program and the medication management system may provide quick and easy access to a patient's entire medication history to facilitate consultations between a pharmacist and the patient. The medication management system may generate lists of tasks for pharmacists to perform in order to deliver the compliance related services to individual patients. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043634 | Worker Adaptive Task management and Workflow System - A system provides a daily workflow list that is tailored according to nurse tenure, experience, specialty, licensure and education, for example. An adaptive healthcare workflow and task management system includes a repository of first information indicating clinician tasks and related subtasks for performance by a clinician in providing a particular care service to a patient. The system includes a repository of second information indicating experience and qualifications of multiple different clinicians. A rules processor, in response to a particular clinician identifier and data identifying a clinician task to be performed by the particular clinician in providing a particular care service to a patient, employs the first and second information in adaptively determining a subtask related to the clinician task to be indicated to be performed by the particular clinician based on experience and qualifications of the particular clinician. An output processor provides data for reproduction and presentation to the particular clinician indicating the subtask related to the clinician task to be indicated to be performed by the particular clinician. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043635 | SCHEDULING CHART CREATION SYSTEM AND PROGRAM FOR THE SAME - A scheduling chart creation system which reasonably controls a plurality of constraint conditions and creates a scheduling chart that corresponds to various working patterns and terms of employments. The scheduling chart creation system comprises a hierarchy control section and an application selection section. The hierarchy control section controls various rule information which is the information on terms of employment of employees and forms a constraint conditions at the time of creating a scheduling chart. The application selection section selects the rule information which is applied to the creation of the scheduling chart from the rule information. The hierarchy control section has an organization-data hierarchy control section which hierarchically controls the information of organization to which an employee belong as the rule information, and a time-data hierarchy control section to hierarchically controls a working date and a working pattern of the employee. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043636 | SOFT SKILLS JOB MATCHING SYSTEM AND METHOD - This invention involves a method and system for assessing the match between jobseekers and jobs by using perceptual mapping techniques to ascertain the proper fit of employee to employer. The purpose of this system is to add additional important information to the job matching process to enhance the quality and efficiency of the hiring process. This system involves a soft skills job matching system and method of using the same. The system uses vector algebra to find the closest match of employee to employer. | 02-12-2009 |
20090048894 | TECHNIQUES FOR PROPAGATING CHANGES IN PROJECTS - Techniques for propagating changes in projects are provided. A first resource associated with a first project is modified in some manner. The modification is automatically and dynamically detected. A second project is identified for notification of that change. The notification is communicated to the second project in a custom manner. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048895 | QUALITY MODEL CERTIFICATION ASSESSMENT COST ESTIMATION AND OPTIMIZATION - A method includes determining a standard set of activities to perform an assessment and certification process, and identifying cost elements and cost drivers for each activity of the standard set of activities. Additionally, the method includes determining requirements for a particular assessment and certification project, and determining a cost estimation based upon at least one of the standard set of activities, the cost elements, the cost drivers, and the requirements. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048896 | Work management using integrated project and workflow methodology - In the preferred embodiment, the operational process management methodologies are used to orchestrate the individual activities and project management methodologies are used to manage the schedule, cost, resources and other task attributes of that activity. The system is implemented such that we can fully leverage all standard project management features and operation management features available in existing tools while enabling us manage activities using both the methodologies. This enables managers to fully leverage both process management and project management functionality simultaneously without having to choose one or the other. Using a process increases the quality and consistent of the end result as the same process is repeated consistently. In the preferred embodiment, operational process management methods helps coordinate and monitor the individual activities more effectively and project management methods enable us to manage various activities in an organization in one or more projects which in turn helps better manage the schedule, cost and resources of the individual activities. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048897 | COLLECTIONS PROCESSING SYSTEMS - Methods and systems for assigning work to account collectors and monitoring and tracking work performed by account collectors are provided. Files containing account information are parsed by a computer device to extract account data. A computer device then accesses a set of rules that govern assignments and priorities and processes the account information with the set of rules. The account information is then placed into a database with account collector assignments and priorities determined by the rules. Accountant collectors also provide status updates so that a variety of real time reports can be generated. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048898 | Method of Managing Schedule and Server and Program for Performing the Same - A schedule management server is provided with a transmitting means for transmitting information of the number of necessary staffs estimated in advance to terminal devices for transmitting desirable working schedules. A computer ( | 02-19-2009 |
20090048899 | Method and System for Managing Construction Projects - A method for construction project management includes providing a plurality of standard inspection lists that is suitable for use across multiple construction projects. At least one standard inspection list includes at least one inspection. The method tracks inspections associated with a spatial division in a construction project, wherein at least one room in the spatial division is associated with a corresponding standard inspection list. | 02-19-2009 |
20090063238 | Executed Workload - Methods and apparatuses enable generation of an executed workload electronic record. The executed workload record indicates data related to one or more performance metrics by which performance of a work task is evaluated. One such performance metric is an expected time for completion of the task. Performance of the task can be monitored to determine an actual completion time for the task to compare against an expected completion time. The executed workload record can be used for evaluation of workers. Executed workload records provide centralized, aggregatable information for evaluation purposes. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063239 | Method and Apparatus for Providing an Electronic Calendar with an Indication of Timeslot Availability Dependent on the Importance of a Requester - An electronic calendar scheduling system is disclosed in which a participant schedules an event in a particular timeslot. In one embodiment, the participant may associate a timeslot importance level with the particular timeslot. When a requester later sends the participant a request to schedule another event during the already scheduled particular timeslot, the system informs the requester that the particular timeslot is either available or unavailable depending on the importance of the requester in a predetermined organization hierarchy. In one embodiment, if the requester importance level is greater than the timeslot importance level, then the system informs the requester that the already scheduled timeslot is available. Otherwise, the system informs the requester that the already scheduled timeslot is unavailable. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063240 | ROUTING TRANSACTIONS IN A MULTIPLE JOB ENVIRONMENT USING AN APPROVAL FRAMEWORK - Approval routing and processing is provided in a multiple job environment by providing the ability to pass job information through a universal class, along with information for the employee submitting a transaction for a approval, to an Approval Framework. An engine of the Approval Framework determines whether a routing is necessary, and a user list object of the Approval Framework contains the logic necessary to determine the appropriate person to which to route the transaction, using the employee and job information for the transaction. The Approval Framework also writes the job and employee information to a database such that the logic can be reconstructed outside transaction processing or for subsequent processing, such as to determine a status or path of the approval process or to determine a subsequent person or department to approve the transaction. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063241 | Demand Driven Scheduling - Scheduling of service calls for field service workers may be optimized based, at least in part, upon market demand for field service visits, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. During relatively higher demand periods, schedules for field service workers may be optimized to be relatively compact such that relatively more appointments are placed on a given schedule. During relatively lower demand periods, schedules may be optimized such that relatively more time will be provided between appointments to allow for more up-selling opportunities during service visits. Such scheduling optimizations are referred to herein as demand driven scheduling because how a field service worker's schedule is optimized is determined based, at least in part, on market demand for service calls in a particular geographic region during a given period of time. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063242 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AUTOMATIC TASK ASSIGNMENT AND NOTIFICATION - A system and method of managing and prioritizing tasks amongst resources and, more particularly, to a system and method for providing automatic task assignment and notification amongst globally dispersed human resources. The system includes a change of management application configured to store a list of tasks and a task notifier configured to retrieve a list of geographically-dispersed resources and notify selected ones of the geographically-dispersed resources of a priority of completion of one or more tasks retrieved from the change of management application. The system further includes a message application configured to be polled by the task notifier to determine which of the geographically dispersed resources is at least one of online and currently working. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063243 | PRIVATIZED ASSET FIRE PROTECTION - A method for providing external fire protection is herein disclosed, including providing a service contract for external fire protection, providing access to a dedicated firefighting unit, wherein the dedicated firefighting unit will respond to protect an associated designated piece of real estate, wherein an associated customer provides payment for the service contract, and wherein the firefighting unit responds to notification of an associated external fire at or near the piece of real estate. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063244 | TRIANGULATION METHODOLOGIES - A method for selecting a moderator from a group of moderators, thus defining a selected moderator. An IT-related issue to be addressed is defined. At least one expert is selected from a group of experts, thus defining at least one selected expert. At least one three-way discussion is scheduled between a client, the selected moderator, and the at least one selected expert. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063245 | Scheduling and budgeting application - Generating budgeting information for a project is disclosed. An indication of a project phase and a time period associated with the project phase are received. Financial data associated with the project phase is received. Budgeting information is automatically generated based at least in part on the time period and the financial data. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063246 | Apparatus and Method for Online Advice Customer Relationship Management - An apparatus and method for online advice customer relationship management are described. The method includes the determination of a service provider ID code from a requesting service provider. Once a service provider ID code is determined, a list of service seekers that have received advice regarding a field of service from a service provider corresponding to the service provider ID code is generated. Once generated, the listing of service seekers is displayed via a customer management screen. As such, system administrators, as well as the service providers themselves, may view listings of service seekers in order to provide relationship management of the service seekers, such as for example, providing incentives to service seekers for follow-up advice, as well as blocking undesired service seekers from further contact with the service provider. | 03-05-2009 |
20090070183 | Turfs and Skills for Multiple Technicians - Methods and systems are disclosed for assigning multiple technicians to turfs and to skills. One method allows a user to interface with an Integrated Dispatch System and assign multiple technicians to a turf. The turf designates a geographic area within a telecommunications network. The multiple technicians and the turf are displayed via a graphical user interface on a computer. Another method allows the user to assign multiple technicians to a skill level. The skill level describes a qualification for repairing the telecommunications network. The multiple technicians and the skill level are displayed via the graphical user interface. | 03-12-2009 |
20090076878 | EFFICIENT PROJECT STAFFING - A system may include reception of an indication of a user interface event, determination of an instruction to assign a person to a task based on the user interface event, calling of a service of a user interface controller object to assign the person to the task based on the determined instruction, calling of a service of a business object associated with the task to assign the person to the task, update of the business object to assign the person to the task, synchronization of the user interface controller object with the updated business object, and generation of a user interface to present a Gantt chart representing the updated business object. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076879 | System and method for deployment and financing of a security system - A method is provided to itemize, install, finance and monitor a security system on a school campus. A behavioral recognition training program for administration and staff is provided. A set of financing options is provided that minimizes or eliminates the burden placed on the school district for payment and maintenance of the security system. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076880 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING THE ACTIVITIES OF AN ORGANIZATION - A management tool is disclosed that provides for the comprehensive management of the objectives, policies, tasks, documents, information and activities (collectively “activities”) to an organization. Activities across different levels of an organization and/or involving different groups within an organization can be managed using a single system. Metrics can be captured and analyzed at different levels in the organization. The tool enhances the ability of an organization to strategically align personnel and departments to facilitate the applicable objects and values of the organization. Transparency can be enhanced across different functional groups, and from top to bottom in the organization. | 03-19-2009 |
20090083110 | FORMAL MODEL FOR BUSINESS PROCESSES - Various embodiments described herein provide one or more of systems, methods, and software for formal modeling of business processes. Some embodiments provide a formal model for business processes that allows for expressive querying and reasoning over process models. Some such models provide mechanisms for rich descriptions of processes from different workflow perspectives that may allow automated process verification, simulation, execution, and querying in the process space. Some embodiments include receiving a mapping of at least a portion of a process and determining an order of tasks of the process as a function of π-calculus formulas associated with each type of the tasks of the process map. The ordered tasks may then be translated into a process modeling language representation of the at least a portion of the process. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083111 | Systems and Methods for Coordinating Transportation Between Riders and Volunteer Drivers - A method for facilitating the matching of riders and volunteer drivers where a transportation request is communicated by or on behalf of one or more riders to one or more potential volunteer drivers who are selected from a pool of potential volunteer drivers, and where the selected potential volunteer drivers may either accept or decline the transportation request. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083112 | Automated Event Modification in Electronic Calendar Systems - Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for modifying an event in an electronic calendar system. An event invitation is created in the electronic calendar system. A first timeout value is associated with the event invitation. The first timeout value specifies a time for replying to the event invitation. The event invitation is sent to one or more invitees and the first timeout value is applied to at least a subset of the one or more invitees. If a response to the event invitation is not received from an invitee with an applied timeout value within the time specified by the first timeout value, a first action relating to the event is performed. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083113 | ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY PURSUIT MANAGEMENT AND PRESENTATION GENERATION - A common manner for disclosing information is through a presentation. A presentation is generated automatically to pursue a financial opportunity, such as to disclose to a potential client rationale to purchase a product. In addition, auxiliary tasks that relate to the presentation can be handled automatically, such as sending notices and assigning individuals to disclose the presentation. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083114 | APPARATUS FOR DIARIZING JANITORIAL SERVICES DURING PATROL - The invention provides an apparatus for diarizing the performance of janitorial services during a patrol. The apparatus can be in a personal digital assistant format (“PDA”) that includes one or more built-in peripherals, such as a bar-code scanner. The bar-code scanner is used to scan bar codes that are applied at various locations throughout a facility. The bar codes identify individual locations in the facility that are to be cleaned as part of a janitorial patrol. The PDA is further operable to allow the janitor or cleaner to add enter electronic comments about one or more particular cleaning tasks that are performed at the location respective to each bar code. Other functions are also included in the PDA. | 03-26-2009 |
20090083115 | INTERACTIVE NETWORKING SYSTEMS - A networking system may comprise a web site serviced by a web server assembly. The web site may generally comprise a combination of the following components: a crediting system, a chat bidding system, a performance bidding system, a telephony switching system, a media interaction system, a display system, a photo management system, and a messaging system. An exemplary embodiment of the chat bidding system may comprise a plurality of common user accounts, a queue, and a featured user account. Common users of the common user accounts may pose tasks to the featured user, and may make a pledge for each task. The tasks may be stored in, and sorted by, the queue based on their pledges. A featured user of the featured user account may be presented with a highest ranked task in the queue, and may choose to respond to the task or to skip the task. | 03-26-2009 |
20090089132 | Computer-Assisted Contract Management System for An Enterprise - A computer-assisted management method for an enterprise including multiple work locations is provided. The method includes creating electronic contracts by associating work rules within the electronic contracts, the work rules governing an employer-employee relationship. The electronic contracts including the work rules are stored in a contract database. The electronic contracts stored in the contract database are provided to one or more system. The employer-employee relationship is managed using the electronic contracts including the work rules. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089133 | INTEGRATED CALENDAR AND TASK SCHEDULER - A computer implemented method for integrating a calendar and task scheduler to enable automatic scheduling of meetings and assignment of tasks based on priority. With the illustrative embodiments, a task in a user's calendaring system may be split into multiple time blocks, and each time block for the task may then be scheduled around meetings in a user's calendar. Tasks that are scheduled in the user's calendar may also be automatically rescheduled when meetings within the user's calendar change. Tasks may be scheduled over lower priority meetings in the user's calendar as needed in order to meet the due dates assigned to the tasks. The illustrative embodiments also allow for automatically adjusting meeting or task priorities based on policies, and identifying classes of activities that may be performed concurrently. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089134 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE SERVICE APPOINTMENTS BASED ON DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES - Methods and systems are provided for the analysis of one or more diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), and for the scheduling of vehicle service appointments based at least in part on the DTC analysis. The method involves analyzing the received DTCs to determine an underlying problem. Once the underlying problem is determined, the parts and estimated repair time needed to repair the problem is determined. In one approach, the selection of the proposed slot for the service appointment involves coordinating numerous factors, such as the availability of needed parts, the user's scheduling preferences, and the availability of slots in the dealer's service schedule. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089135 | PROVIDING WORK, TRAINING, AND INCENTIVES TO COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES IN CONTACT HANDLING SYSTEMS - Several of the embodiments disclosed herein relate to accessing and tracking real-time data concerning company representative performance, proficiency, training, scheduling, current workflow, and estimated workflow. Moreover, many of the improvements in contact handling systems disclosed herein automatically provide training, work, and incentives to company representatives to improve performance, proficiency, efficiency, effectiveness, automate scheduling, and automated workflow. Thus, as a result of the teachings disclosed herein, customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, and revenue may be improved in the contact handling industry. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089136 | REAL-TIME ROUTING OF CUSTOMERS TO COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES IN CONTACT HANDLING SYSTEMS - Several of the embodiments disclosed herein relate to accessing and tracking real-time data concerning company representative performance, proficiency, training, scheduling, current work flow, and estimated work flow. Moreover, many of the improvements in contact handling systems disclosed herein automatically provide training, work, and incentives to company representatives to improve performance, proficiency, efficiency, effectiveness, automate scheduling, and automated work flow. More specifically, a method for assigning work to one or more company representatives is disclosed. The method includes assigning a proficiency associated with a training session to the company representative as soon as the training session is completed by a company representative. The method further includes associating the proficiency with increased work capability as soon as the proficiency associated with the training session is assigned to the company representative. As a result of the teachings disclosed herein, customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, and revenue may be improved in the contact handling industry. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089137 | RAPID DEPLOYMENT OF TRAINING FOR COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES IN CONTACT HANDLING SYSTEMS - Several of the embodiments disclosed herein relate to accessing and tracking real-time data concerning company representative performance, proficiency, training, scheduling, current work flow, and estimated work flow. Moreover, many of the improvements in contact handling systems disclosed herein automatically provide training, work, and incentives to company representatives to improve performance, proficiency, efficiency, effectiveness, automate scheduling, and automated work flow. More specifically, this application discloses a method for delivering training to company representatives. Also disclosed is an automated customer service and training management system. As a result of the teachings disclosed herein, customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, and revenue may be improved in the contact handling industry. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089138 | REAL-TIME PERFORMANCE BASED INCENTIVES FOR COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES IN CONTACT HANDLING SYSTEMS - Several of the embodiments disclosed herein relate to accessing and tracking real-time data concerning company representative performance, proficiency, training, scheduling, current work flow, and estimated work flow. Moreover, many of the improvements in contact handling systems disclosed herein automatically provide training, work, and incentives to company representatives to improve performance, proficiency, efficiency, effectiveness, automate scheduling, and automated work flow. More specifically, this application discloses, in part, a method for determining an incentive for a company representative. Also disclosed is a graphical interface enabling a user to control training based incentives. As a result of the teachings disclosed herein, customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, and revenue may be improved in the contact handling industry. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089139 | SCHEDULING PROCESSING TASKS USED IN ACTIVE NETWORK MEASUREMENT - A method of scheduling tasks for active network measurement includes identifying a first measurement task for measuring a first network parameter and a second measurement task for measuring a second network parameter. It is determined whether there is a conflict between the first measurement task and the second measurement task. A first execution time of the first measurement task and a second execution time of the second measurement task are also determined. A task schedule is generated based at least in part on the first execution time, the second execution time, and whether there is the conflict between the first measurement task and the second measurement task. The task schedule is further generated based at least in part on a color graph. | 04-02-2009 |
20090089140 | 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. | 04-02-2009 |
20090094086 | AUTOMATIC ASSIGNMENT FOR DOCUMENT REVIEWING - Assignment algorithm for automatically making assignments between documents and document reviewers for a review process. If the automated assignments need adjusting, a coordinator can manually refine the assignment(s). The assignment algorithm facilitates the automated assignment process based on inputs related to a constraint and/or a preference. The constraints and preferences include, but are not limited to, a conflict of interest, a minimum number of reviews, a maximum number of submissions, a partial assignment, bidding preferences, and health metrics. Once the assignments have been made, histograms can be generated that present an overview of certain health metrics, further allowing refinement of the assignment process. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094087 | MULTI-TIER CROSS-DEPARTMENT SCHEDULING MODEL FOR ORDER PROCESSING OPERATIONS - A multi-tier cross-department scheduling model for order processing operations. A scheduling model for planning assignment of discrete jobs to multiple departments for shipment, wherein selected jobs are assignable to respective selected departments and the departments share finite capacity resources, includes a programmable computer system having loaded therein an objective function, and the computer system being operable to minimize a value of the objective function; and wherein the objective function comprises a sum of cost to ship containers in at least one of consolidated and unconsolidated forms, cost for each of a container equivalent not completed in a selected scheduling horizon, cost to process each job in each department, and cost for setup due to at least one of shift crossing and job splitting. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094088 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND APPARATUSES FOR AUTOMATED CONFIRMATIONS OF MEETINGS - Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products for confirming attendance of prospective attendees to a meeting or events via time management or event scheduling applications, such as calendar applications, are disclosed. Various embodiments comprise scheduling the meeting, waiting for a period of time, and automatically sending confirmation requests to one or more prospective attendees of the meeting. Some embodiments also comprise sending invitations to and receiving acceptances by one or more prospective attendees. Some embodiments further comprise receiving one or more responses to the confirmation requests from the prospective attendees. Some embodiments may reschedule the meeting, or events of the meeting, based upon responses to the confirmation requests. Various embodiments may send or receive the confirmation requests and responses via instant messaging (IM) messages, e-mail messages, and short message service (SMS) messages. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094089 | CUSTOM DISPATCH SOFTWARE - A system and method for a dispatching program and for its implementation, involves logging into a system, selecting or creating a work unit, and assigning work orders to the selected unit. After the work orders have been assigned the assignments are transmitted to each work crew. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094090 | LEAN STAFFING METHODOLOGY - A method of sourcing resumes from databases connected to the internet, the method comprising of receiving a requirement from an employer for one or more candidate(s) to be employed, assessing the requirement to obtain a desired profile of the candidate to be employed, defining at least one primary internet keyword search command based on the desired profile, collecting a first set of resumes based on the at least one primary internet keyword search command, mapping inputs provided by the employer, wherein the inputs are based on the first set of resumes collected, converting the inputs provided by the employer to at least one secondary internet keyword search command, collecting a second set of resumes based on the at least one secondary internet keyword search command, calibrating the candidates identified by the second set of resumes using the at least one secondary internet keyword search command, establishing a standard to identify candidates suitable for an interview, converting the established standard to atleast one final internet keyword search command, and sourcing resumes of candidates according to the at least one final internet search command. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094091 | SERVICE CALL DATA SELECTION AND DELIVERY METHOD AND SYSTEM - A method of dispatching a service call for an electromechanical device, such as a document production device, is disclosed. The method includes receiving, by a dispatching server, a communication requesting service on a first document production device. The communication includes a unique identifier corresponding to the first device. A data server stores operational history data for a multiple document production devices, and the dispatching server accesses the operational history data in the data server to retrieve service data for the first device. The dispatching service sends a service order message to a customer service representative mobile communication device. The service order message includes a location identifier for the first device, operator contact information for the first device, and the service data. | 04-09-2009 |
20090099895 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING ACCESS RIGHTS TO A PROJECT TEAM AREA FOR A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSET - A system and method for managing access rights to a project team area for a community development asset. The system includes an asset consumption dependency generator and a behavior pattern activity analyzer. The asset consumption dependency generator identifies a member of a project team area for a community development asset. The project team area defines access rights of individuals to the community development asset. The behavior pattern activity analyzer identifies a user within a collaborative development network associated with the identified member of the project team area. The behavior pattern activity analyzer also grants an access right to the identified user to access the community development asset based on a social map dependency between the identified user and the identified member. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099896 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WORKFLOW DELINQUENCY REMEDIATION - A system and method for workflow delinquency remediation including defining an activity, and defining a time for the activity. The defined activity and time for the activity may be associated with an email. The activity is scheduled in a first calendar associated with at least one email recipient based upon, at least in part, the defined time for the activity. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099897 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING MOBILE ASSET WORKLOAD - A system for managing a fleet of mobile assets is disclosed. The system comprises vehicle asset communicators coupled to mobile assets/vehicles, local monitors in wireless communication with the communicators, and a controller in communication with the communicators. The controller comprising logic configured to receive work requests to be completed by the fleet and heuristically determine which mobile asset/vehicle to assign each work request to. The controller can receive real-time operational information related to the fleet to assist in the determination of which mobile asset/vehicle is best suited to complete the work request. The communicators enable the operators of the mobile assets/vehicles to accept or decline the work request, and to cancel the work request after acceptance or report to the system that the work request has been completed. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099898 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING WORK REQUESTS FOR MOBILE ASSETS - A system for managing a fleet of mobile assets is disclosed. The system comprises vehicle asset communicators coupled to mobile assets/vehicles, local monitors in wireless communication with the communicators, and a controller in communication with the communicators. The controller comprising logic configured to receive work requests to be completed by the fleet and heuristically determine which mobile asset/vehicle to assign each work request to. The controller can receive real-time operational information related to the fleet to assist in the determination of which mobile asset/vehicle is best suited to complete the work request. The communicators enable the operators of the mobile assets/vehicles to accept or decline the work request, and to cancel the work request after acceptance or report to the system that the work request has been completed. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099899 | System and method for performing substitute fulfillment - A system and method for automating the performance of substitute fulfillment. The system includes a server which receives absentee information representing an absent worker via a telephone communication link or an Internet communication link. In response to receiving the absentee information, the system generates a list of potential substitute workers. The system then contacts potential substitute workers until one is found or until the list is exhausted. The system can also post a list of positions that are available on a website allowing potential substitute workers to search for a position. | 04-16-2009 |
20090106077 | Facilitating in-transit meetings using location-aware scheduling - Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for facilitating in-transit meetings between users. Transit information is received for several users. The transit information for at least some users is compared. If an opportunity for an in-transit meeting between at least two users is detected when comparing the transit information, the at least two users are notified about the opportunity for the in-transit meeting. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106078 | SYSTEM FOR SELECTING DEMANDS FOR AND SUPPLIES OF SUBCONTRACTING AND MATCHING - A system for selecting demands for and supplies of sub-contracting and matching of a user of the Internet or an equivalent network and one or more other users of the Internet or an equivalent network comprises the following stages:
| 04-23-2009 |
20090106079 | Executive Field Service Task Start to Finish - Method and apparatus for completing a field service activity, where the field service activity typically involves providing on-site service for equipment or machinery. A user is presented with a sequence of operations in order to streamline the process of completing a field service activity. The user enters data and proceeds through the sequence of operations to complete the field service activity. The time spent by the user in various stages of completion of the field service activity is captured and recorded. The method optionally includes obtaining approval and signatures authorizing the agreement. | 04-23-2009 |
20090112679 | Appointment Scheduling Method and User Interface - An appointment scheduling method and associated user interface wherein the risk of errors is decreased by displaying in different linked screens identification data of the patient and/or resource to which an action to be performed in the scheduling procedure, pertains. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112680 | System for interaction with celebrities - A method for commercializing a celebrity's time, comprising the steps of: defining a session for interaction with celebrity; offering the session for sale via a medium, such as the Internet; accepting an offer from a buyer and scheduling the session with the buyer such that said celebrity is obligated to interact with the user during the session | 04-30-2009 |
20090112681 | Method and system for click-to-call - A method and system for establishing a connection between a sales agent and a user. A telephone connection is established by a lead generator. The sales agent is selected by the lead generator on the basis of a bid price method and is connected to the user on the basis of the user's services of interest. A unique billing system is also provided for billing the sales agent. The invention may be implemented on a stored program computer under the control of programmed software. | 04-30-2009 |
20090112682 | METHOD OF ARRANGING SUPPLEMENTAL MEETING SERVICES - A method of scheduling meetings within a calendaring system can include receiving a meeting request specifying a meeting time, at least one participant, and a supplemental meeting service to be scheduled concurrently with the meeting. A determination can be made that a supplemental meeting system is not available. Accordingly, participants can be notified of the meeting time and that supplemental meeting service information has not been determined. The method also can include attempting to obtain the supplemental meeting service information from the supplemental meeting system until a predetermined time prior to the meeting time. If the supplemental meeting service information is obtained before the predetermined time prior to the meeting time, the participants can be notified of the supplemental meeting service information. | 04-30-2009 |
20090119147 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT BASED ON A FLOCK STRUCTURE - An embodiment relates generally to a method of providing technical support. The method includes providing for a plurality of technical groups. Each technical group specializes in a technical area and is comprised of a plurality of senior and junior members. The method also includes receiving a technical issue and routing the technical issue to a selected technical group based on the technical area of the technical issue. The method further includes generating a solution to the technical issue from the selected technical group. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119148 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCING PRODUCTIVITY - A method and computer program product include defining, by a user, a time template including a plurality of predefined time intervals for scheduling meetings. The time template is applied across a collaborative system. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119149 | Integrated Access to Occupational Healthcare Information - Aspects of the present invention provide systems and methods relating to aggregated access to healthcare information. One aspect of the invention relates to providing a single point of access to multiple stakeholders with respect to a medical case that may include information from multiple healthcare providers. | 05-07-2009 |
20090119150 | System and Method for End-Users to Customize Customer Service Business Solutions Offered as a Service Over a Network - A system and method for end-users to customize customer service business solutions offered as a service over a network. The invention allows end-users to select and customize over a network a customer service business solution from a number of such business solutions offered by the vendor. It allows users to customize the selected business solution to their own business environment without the need for them to change any of the underlying programming code of the business solution. The system of the present invention is used for a variety of customer business solutions. | 05-07-2009 |
20090125364 | FRAMEWORK FOR ACHIEVING A REWARDING RELATIONSHIP - A framework for achieving a rewarding relationship is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes generating a customer service hierarchy including customer service levels, each customer service level having associated demands, determining if the demands of an initial customer service level in the customer service hierarchy are met, upon a determination that the demands of the initial customer service level are met, determining if the demands of the initial customer service level are exceeded, and for each successor customer service level in the customer service hierarchy, determining if the demands of a predecessor customer service level in the customer service hierarchy continue to be exceeded, upon a determination that the demands of the predecessor customer service level continue to be exceeded, determining if the demands of a successor customer service level in the customer service hierarchy are met. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125365 | AUTONOMIC TIME MANAGEMENT CALENDAR SYSTEM - A method, system, and computer program product for autonomically managing a meeting calendar. An Autonomic Meeting Scheduling (AMS) utility detects a set of pre-scheduling data. The AMS utility generates an optimal meeting schedule based upon the set of pre-scheduling data. A meeting invitation is communicated to at least one meeting invitee. The AMS utility detects an invitation reply data from a meeting invitee. Based upon the pre-scheduling data and the invitation reply data, the AMS utility generates and outputs one of at least a meeting probability value (MPV) and a MPV curve. The MPV is a measure of how probable a scheduled meeting will occur. Moreover, a meeting owner may enable the AMS utility to determine whether the MPV has reached a threshold to execute a scheduling decision (i.e., retain a scheduled meeting, reschedule a meeting, or cancel/extinguish a scheduled meeting). | 05-14-2009 |
20090125366 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DYNAMIC ADAPTATION OF WORKFLOWS - A workflow management method for a workflow system comprises registering events recognized by one or more workflows in a workflow event registry, registering new dependency information in an event dependency registry, and registering corrective actions in an event handling directives module. Further, upon receipt of an event, the method comprises identifying workflows that have a dependency associated with the received event, forwarding the event to dependent workflows which recognize the event, determining, with reference to the event handling directives module, corrective actions for dependent workflows which do not recognize the event, and instructing, by way of recognized events, the dependent workflows which do not recognize the event to perform the corrective actions. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125367 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DIAGNOSING PRODUCTION PROBLEMS IN OIL FIELD OPERATIONS - Systems and methods for diagnosing production problems in oil field operations are provided. A first video monitor displays an oil field diagnosis process flow chart that includes selectable objects such as Review Well Test Differences, Review Sliders, Review Bad Actors, and Perform Steam Flood Performance Check. Each selectable object is associated with one or more incompatible domain-specific software applications. One or more of the selectable objects are selected and one or more additional video monitors display reports extracted by a middle-ware software code segment layer from the associated domain-specific software applications. Oil wells having production problems are listed and problem oil wells are displayed on an oil field map. Any commonalities among the displayed problem oil wells indicative of a common cause of the production problems are visually identified. Work is scheduled in the associated domain-specific software applications sufficient to remedy the common cause. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125368 | System and Method for Scheduling Work Orders - A method of scheduling work orders maintained within an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system comprises maintains key performance indicator (KPI) information associated in real-time with the work orders. The KPI information is present to facilitate decisions related to the scheduling. In response to user input scheduling selected work orders, changes to selected work orders may be committed in the ERP system Orders may be tentatively scheduled and tentative changes maintained without committing to the ERP system. KPI information may be updated for the tentative changes and presented. Further the method may comprise receiving user input specifying a particular date to schedule to; receiving user input to specify particular work orders to schedule; receiving user input to schedule the particular work orders to the particular date; and tentatively scheduling in accordance with said user input to schedule. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125369 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANALYZING AND DISPOSITIONING MONEY LAUNDERING SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY ALERTS - A system and method for analyzing, dispositioning, recording, reviewing, and managing potentially suspicious financial transactions. In some cases, the system models the steps taken by a subject matter expert to reach a conclusion so that a novice can follow similar steps and have the system generate a narrative of the steps taken and the conclusion that was reached. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125370 | DISTRIBUTED NETWORK FOR PERFORMING COMPLEX ALGORITHMS - The cost of performing sophisticated software-based financial trend and pattern analysis is significantly reduced by distributing the processing power required to carry out the analysis and computational task across a large number of networked individual or cluster of computing nodes. To achieve this, the computational task is divided into a number of sub tasks. Each sub task is then executed on one of a number of processing devices to generate a multitude of solutions. The solutions are subsequently combined to generate a result for the computational task. The individuals controlling the processing devices are compensated for use of their associated processing devices. The algorithms are optionally enabled to evolve over time. Thereafter, one or more of the evolved algorithms is selected in accordance with a predefined condition. | 05-14-2009 |
20090132326 | INTEGRATING ADS WITH MEDIA - The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can utilize special metadata to facilitate an improved advertising model in connection with media content delivery. The architecture can monitor a media player device and can launch a metadata interface on the media player device upon detection that a pause feature has been activated. Accordingly, while the media player device is paused (and therefore not presenting the media in a normal fashion), a user can interact with the metadata interface. The metadata interface can provide, e.g., advertisements or additional information related to elements or objects that exist in the media. In addition, the metadata interface can launch suitable applications in accordance with the special metadata. Additionally, the architecture can embed metadata in the media, which can be done in accordance with an advertiser bidding model. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132327 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELLING COMMUNICATION SERVICES - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to receive from a service center a request directing a field service agent utilizing the communication device to fulfill a service order of a customer, receive from the service center information identifying one or more services of the communication system to which the customer has not subscribed, and present the one or more unsubscribed services to assist the field service agent in selling the customer at least one among the one or more unsubscribed services. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132328 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR MANAGING TROUBLE TICKETS OF A NETWORK - Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for managing the trouble tickets of a network. One or more problems within the network along a plurality of lines of the network may be identified and trouble tickets may be opened for the problems. Each trouble ticket may be for dispatching a technician to the field to address the problem that is the subject of the trouble ticket. A certain amount of time may elapse from when the trouble ticket is opened and when the technician is dispatched. During that time the underlining problem may be resolved for various reasons. To detect the resolution of the problem before the dispatching of the technician, the line may be tested at a predetermined interval. If a test indicates that the problem has been resolved the trouble ticket is closed reducing the likelihood that a technician is dispatched for an already resolved problem. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132329 | Meeting Scheduling to Minimize Inconvenience of Meeting Participants - A computer-implemented method of automatically scheduling meetings can include determining that no timeslot is available for scheduling a proposed meeting involving a plurality of participants and selecting a plurality of candidate times for the proposed meeting. An inconvenience metric for each participant of the proposed meeting can be calculated. A schedule misfit metric for each of the plurality of candidate times can be calculated, at least in part, according to the inconvenience metric for each participant. A time for the proposed meeting can be selected from the candidate times according to the schedule misfit metric. The proposed meeting can be scheduled for the selected time. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132330 | Alert distribution and management system and interface components - A method for distributing product alerts among a plurality of facilities is provided. The method includes receiving alerts, processing the alerts into an alert repository, providing an interface to an external system, receiving, via the interface, a request from the external system for an alert related to a product at the facility, extracting the alert from the alert repository, and sending, via the interface, the alert to the external system. A system for managing product alert handling at a facility is also provided. The system includes an alert processor and an interface component. The alert processor maintains a database. The interface component receives a request from an external system for alert handling data, retrieves the alert handling data from the database, sends the data to the external system, receives an action based on the data from the external system, and implements the action to manage alert handling at the facility. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132331 | System and method for workflow management - A system includes a data storage medium to store a plurality of user profiles and at least one work project, each of the work project including at least one task that is characterized by a task definition, and a processor to receive a request for work from a user, the processor including a task management engine to allocate the at least one task to the user based on the user profile and the task definition in response to the request for work. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132332 | COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED SCHEDULING SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - Computer implemented scheduling systems and associated methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for deriving a roster includes generating a roster within the operational constraint by assigning a plurality of workers to a plurality of individual shifts; calculating a value of the operational outcome based on the assigned shifts in the roster; calculating an overall fatigue value for the assigned individual workers based on the assigned shifts in the roster; and determining whether the generated roster is optimized based on the calculated value of the operational outcome and the overall fatigue value of the workers. | 05-21-2009 |
20090138316 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING INITIATIVES ADAPTED TO DELIVER VALUE TO A CUSTOMER - A value data system, including a database component, including: initiative data representing at least one initiative, said at least one initiative being adapted to deliver value to a customer of an organisation; risk data associated with said initiative data, said risk data representing risks corresponding to said at least one initiative; task data associated with said initiative data, said task data representing tasks to be performed to perform said at least one initiative, said tasks including risk mitigation tasks for mitigating said risks; and value data associated with said initiative data, said value data representing values delivered to said customer as a result of performing said at least one initiative; and a user interface component for defining said initiative data, said risk data, said task data, said value data and the associations between said initiative data, said risk data, said task data, and said value component data; and for defining value data representing values delivered to said customer as a result of performing said at least one initiative. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138317 | Connecting Providers of Financial Services - In general, in one aspect, a real-time communication between a consumer of services and a provider of financial services is brokered using a brokerage system on a computer by: receiving a request from the consumer of services to consult with a provider of financial services; identifying an available provider of financial services; and activating a communication channel between the consumer of services and the available provider of financial services. Providers of financial services include, but are not limited to, an account, a tax professional, or a financial advisor. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138318 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADAPTIVE WORKFLOW AND RESOURCE PRIORITIZATION - Certain embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for adaptive workflow management in a clinical enterprise. Certain embodiments provide an adaptive clinical workflow management system. The system includes a workflow engine establishing a workflow based on a worklist including a plurality of tasks to be performed. The plurality of tasks are each assigned a priority and relating to patient care. The system also includes a resource monitor monitoring execution of the plurality of tasks in the worklist using one or more clinical resources to determine resource usage. The workflow engine adjusts the priority of tasks in the worklist based on changing system and network conditions to update the worklist and dynamically adjusts resource usage based on the updated worklist. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138319 | TASK REGISTRATION METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Embodiments of the invention comprise a method of registering a task in respect of a user, the method comprising determining if the user would conform to at least one of delegation and separation of duty (SoD) policies if the user carried out the task; and selectively registering the task in respect of the user based on the determining. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138320 | PRODUCT CATALOG MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A product catalog management system and method is provided for managing product data associated with a plurality of products. In one embodiment, the system comprises a processor, a product information database for storing product data associated with a plurality of products therein, a workflow design module for allowing creation of a workflow diagram for processing product data for storage in the product information database. The product catalog management system also includes a task management module that facilitates generation of a plurality of tasks for processing product data according to the workflow diagram, and a task assignment module adapted to assign the generated task for processing product data for completion. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138321 | Method and system for process improvement in the production of products - A method of achieving improvement in the production of products in an organization is provided. The method includes defining a plurality of organizational principles that apply to the organization. The method also includes defining a plurality of practices to enable the plurality of organizational principles. The method also includes developing a project plan for improving a work area. The work area includes at least a portion of at least one of the practices. The method also includes developing one or more solutions for improving the work area. The one or more solutions are based on a desired future state of the work area. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138322 | Method and system for continuous improvement in the production of products - A method of continuous improvement in the production of products within an organization is provided. The method includes defining a plurality of organizational principles that apply to the organization. The method also includes defining a plurality of practices to enable the plurality of organizational principles. Each of the practices is associated with one or more metrics for performance measurement. The method also includes receiving an input from at least one member of the organization. The input includes a proposal to change at least one portion of the organization's operation. The method also includes determining whether a change will be formulated in response to the proposal to change. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138323 | Automated sales support system - A system and method for notifying salespersons of customer communications including a target item is provided. Individual customers are mapped to one or more salespersons. Target items of interest to a salesperson are defined and a salesperson is associated with a customer. For each salesperson, on-line communication channels are monitored for the occurrence of a communications involving a customer associated with the salesperson and including a target item defined by the salesperson. When such an occurrence happens, a notification is directed to the salesperson. Salesperson access to the system and customer access to the on-line communication channels requires authorization. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138324 | Power Plant Operation Control System and a Power Plant Maintaining and Managing Method - Quick recovery or recovery support of a faulty power generating facility by real time diagnoses such as facility failure diagnosis, supervision for failure symptoms, facility diagnosis by evaluation of performance using databases between the power generating facilities and an operation control system. The operation control system transfers information on operating status and secular characteristic changes of apparatus from power generating facilities or information from operators of selected power generating facilities. The lever of a failure of a power generating facility which has a failure is evaluated and repairing information (e.g. recovery procedures, processes, required parts, inventory of the parts, possible failure causes, etc.) is automatically created from repairing information prepared in advance for each evaluation condition. The repairing information is then sent to the operation supporting section of the power generating facility. | 05-28-2009 |
20090144120 | System and Method for Evolving Processes In Workflow Automation - A system, a method, computer-readable medium for conveying software, or business methods for gradually automating a workflow in a configuration change management system by providing a first workflow template having a relatively low level of automation and complexity in which at least a plurality of tasks require manual input, manual response, or manual approval, operating the first workflow by a workflow automation system engine, monitoring a measurement of the maturity level of the process during the operation the first workflow, and responsive to detecting the maturity level meeting pre-determined benchmark, automatically selecting, engaging, and operating a second workflow template which increases automation by automating one or more subprocesses, adding one or more subprocesses, or eliminating one or more subprocesses. | 06-04-2009 |
20090144121 | Pandemic Cross Training Process - The disclosure relates to a process which determines a cross-training plan in order to ensure a company or business unit will be better prepared for a pandemic event by cross-training additional employees in the most critical services or functions. The pandemic cross-training plan is determined by utilizing such criteria such as geography, experience-level, and employee preference to strategically and systematically cross-train an employee in a critical function. This can be completed either manually through a criteria matrix approach or automatically by a computing device and utilizing mathematical formulas. | 06-04-2009 |
20090150208 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATED INVENTORY AND PLANNING - An integrated inventory and planning system for a factory system, which builds large buildings for transportation substantially intact from one or more construction sites to building sites, is presented. The system can include a demand calculation unit, a requirements calculation unit and a scheduling unit configured to provide a schedule of operation for a factory system producing large buildings for transportation to a substantially permanent building site, wherein the schedule is based at least in part on a first calculation of the demand calculation unit and a second calculation of the requirements calculation unit. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150209 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING MOBILE WORKERS - A system manages mobile workers and includes a plurality of clients and a server in communication with a plurality of clients. The server includes a database having a plurality of target objects that are classified corresponding to facilities assets to be worked on by a mobile worker and attributes of each target object, including any tasks to be performed on target objects. A rule engine is operative with the scheduling algorithm to map from a problem space for partitioned jobs and mobile workers to a solution to schedule jobs and mobile workers in selected different regions. The rule engine is operative to control the scheduling algorithm using heuristics comprising at least one of a tabu search, iterated local search, guided local search, and variable neighborhood search to focus a search space to regions for moving the schedules of high utility. A communications device is operative with the server for communicating any determined schedules and jobs as messages to clients. | 06-11-2009 |
20090157466 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING - An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for scheduling appointments. Appointment requests are received via a communication service, calendar information corresponding to the proposed appointment time and day is retrieved from a calendaring system and displayed to the user without requiring the user to open the calendaring application. The appointment can be accepted, confirmed, and recorded without opening the calendaring application. Multiple appointment times and days can be proposed and accepted among several meeting attendees. Temporary blocks may be placed on proposed and accepted calendar time slots until a finalized appointment time is negotiated and accepted. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157467 | Method and apparatus for controlling access to and generating revenue from a portable lavatory - A method and apparatus for controlling access to and generating revenue from a portable lavatory. The portable lavatory is placed at a predetermined location and a barrier is established around the portable lavatory to block unauthorized access to the portable lavatory. An entrance or passageway is provided through the barrier enabling access to the portable lavatory. Passes are distributed to those individuals desiring to utilize the portable lavatory and upon presentation of the passes to an attendant stationed at the entrance or passageway, the individuals are granted access to the portable lavatory. By charging individuals to obtain a pass the portable lavatory generates revenue. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157468 | INTERACTION-BASED METHOD FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COORDINATION SYSTEMS - The invention relates to a method for the designing, development and implementation of coordination system using an agent-based method. The method avoids the use of the conventional business function approach to design a business process. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157469 | System and Method for Management of Multi-Session, Sequential, Synchronized Electronic Conferencing - A method, apparatus and computer program product for management of multi-session, sequential, synchronized electronic conferencing is presented. A schedule of meetings is defined for each of a plurality of users. Each user logs in to a website for taking part in the meetings according to the pre-defined or dynamically defined schedule. Each user also connects to a server (phone or video) for taking part in the meetings according to the schedule. Each user is placed into a holding area until a scheduled meeting is about to take place. A user is placed into a private conference room with at least one other user in accordance with the schedule of meetings, wherein each user can speak with another user in a same meeting and view details regarding the other user in the same meeting via the website. | 06-18-2009 |
20090164289 | CALL CENTER SCHEDULE COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT - A method for call center schedule compliance management includes an information handling system (IHS) obtaining schedule information. The schedule information is associated with a schedule of an agent. The IHS obtains activity information. The activity information is associated with an activity of the agent. The IHS compares the schedule information with the activity information to determine whether a schedule violation has occurred. The IHS produces schedule violation information in response to determining that the schedule violation has occurred. The IHS analyzes the schedule violation information. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164290 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVITY SCHEDULING - A system and method for a shift management system which is implemented over a computer network and may include graphical user interfaces that allow users, such as mangers, to define shifts, define activities for those shifts, and create personnel profiles for employees. The same or different managers may also assign shifts to employees and assign activities to those shifts. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164291 | Methods and Systems for Evaluating Outsourcing Potential - A system, method, and interactive computer program product are provided for interactively analyzing sourcing options for positions within an organization utilizing a multidimensional, multi-factor analysis. Additionally, this technology provides for evaluating positions in an organization, evaluating the potential for outsourcing, and determining from where to source candidates for the positions in an objective, timely, and cost-effective manner. The dimensions include short-term, tactical drivers and long-term, strategic drivers. The factors include intellectual property, customer facing, availability of skills in the local marketplace, flexibility, communications channels utilized, cost, duration, and organization readiness to procure externally sourced candidates. An interactive, on-screen interview questionnaire and coach is utilized. The system is reconfigurable on a per-client basis. Dimensions and factors are added as required and scales, factors weightings, and benchmark values are adjustable by a user. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164292 | Method of Filling Vacancies, and Server and Program for Performing the Same - A schedule management server is provided to precisely fill vacancies. A computer ( | 06-25-2009 |
20090164293 | System and method for time sensitive scheduling data grid flow management - Controlling the flow of content and receipt of time sensitive scheduling data via a time sensitive scheduling data delivery network is described. This may involve accommodating the management of the display of potentially voluminous time sensitive scheduling data. This may also involve making all of the relevant time sensitive scheduling data information available from high capacity remote data stores accessible to all of a user's time sensitive scheduling data receiving devices via a time sensitive scheduling data network, and on demand by time sensitive scheduling data display zone category to the user's time sensitive scheduling data receiving devices. The user may dynamically manage which display zone classes and subclasses of time sensitive scheduling data appear, what time frame appears and how much time sensitive scheduling data appears on the user's time sensitive scheduling data receiving device display screens. | 06-25-2009 |
20090171743 | SERVICE REQUEST SYSTEM WITH NATURAL SERVICE PROVIDER PROFILING AND METHODS THEREOF - A system and method for managing service requests performs the steps of loading profile settings for service providers, where the profile settings comprise a two dimensional matrix of actions and objects, processing a work order by determining task involved in the accomplishment of the work order, mapping the profile settings into a hierarchy of determined tasks of the work order and providing a listing of service providers for the work order through results of the mapping step. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171744 | System and method for reducing employee training time and distributing corporate and job information to employees - A system and method for communicating corporate information to employees of a company which may include creating an employee user profile that includes an identifier of a job position of the employee within a company. Corporate information to be communicated to employees of the company may be identified. Distribution information may be assigned to the corporate information, where the distribution information may include an identifier associated with at least one job position to communicate the corporate information. The corporate information may be pushed to employees associated with the distribution information, where the pushed corporate information may cause the corporate information to be presented to the employee. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171745 | Automated sales support system - A system and method for notifying salespersons of customer communications including a target item is provided. Individual customers are mapped to one or more salespersons. Target items of interest to a salesperson are defined and a salesperson is associated with a customer. For each salesperson, on-line communication channels are monitored for the occurrence of a communications involving a customer associated with the salesperson and including a target item defined by the salesperson. When such an occurrence happens, a notification is directed to the salesperson. Salesperson access to the system and customer access to the on-line communication channels requires authorization. | 07-02-2009 |
20090177517 | System and method for tracking a contract - A system for tracking a contract is disclosed. The system may include a user input interface configured to receive a user request to track a contract from a contract administrator, a storage device configured to store contract-related information, and a processor. The processor may be configured to determine a list of approvers who need to approve the contract based on a financial impact of the contract and determine a signature approver who needs to sign the contract from the list of approvers. The processor may be further configured to generate an approval and signature request and send the approval and signature request to each approver on the list of approvers, and notify employees of one or more departments when the contract is signed. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177518 | Method, system and program product for filling job orders - A method, system and program product are disclosed for filling job orders, the method comprising: creating electronically a respective commitment reservation for each of a plurality of workers, with each respective commitment reservation comprising a commitment for the respective worker to work on a prospective job not yet created, with the prospective job having one or more job parameters; receiving electronically a job order subsequent to the creation of one of the commitment reservations, the job order specifying a job with one or more job parameters; matching the job parameters of the job in the job order to the job parameters in one or more of the commitment reservations to obtain a reservation-job match; and, securing automatically based on the results of the matching step the job in the job order to one of the workers with a commitment reservation. | 07-09-2009 |
20090187452 | Cleaning work estimating system, cleaning work estimating method, and cleaning work estimating program - There is provided a cleaning work estimating system | 07-23-2009 |
20090187453 | METHOD FOR EVOLVING SHARED TO-DO LISTS INTO BUSINESS PROCESSES - A method and apparatus for evolving a shared to-do list into a business process is disclosed. A business process includes one or more business steps and zeroor more action rules related to the business steps. Members of a workgroup participate in the business process and are able to view, modify, add and delete business steps and action rules as needed. An action rule is comprised of one or more business actions and one or more events that trigger the actions to be executed. A computer program keeps track of the business steps, interprets the set of rules, and updates states of the business process, notifies the members and validates and accepts modifications by the members to the action rules of a business steps. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187454 | Computer Program Product For Efficient Scheduling Of Meetings - A computer program product for efficient scheduling of meetings including a computer usable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to obtain scheduling information of one or more potential meeting participants that includes a work schedule of the one or more potential meeting participants, a work office location of the one or more potential meeting participants during the work schedule, and a remote work schedule of when the one or more potential meeting participants will work remotely from the work office location during the work schedule; and to schedule a meeting based on the scheduling information, wherein a computer-accessible schedule notation of the meeting is created. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187455 | System and method for prioritization of website visitors to provide proactive and selective sales and customer service online - A system that (a) monitors and analyzes a website visitor's (or ‘user's’) behavioral patterns in real-time; (b) identifies key users by comparing the user's actions and information derived thereof to a set of pre-defined, merchant-specific business rules; (c) makes a sales and customer service offer to the user only if ( | 07-23-2009 |
20090187456 | Automated sales support system - A system and method for notifying salespersons of customer communications including a target item is provided. Individual customers are mapped to one or more salespersons. Target items of interest to a salesperson are defined and a salesperson is associated with a customer. For each salesperson, on-line communication channels are monitored for the occurrence of a communications involving a customer associated with the salesperson and including a target item defined by the salesperson. When such an occurrence happens, a notification is directed to the salesperson. Salesperson access to the system and customer access to the on-line communication channels requires authorization. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187457 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A REMINDER OPTION ASSOCIATED WITH AN OBLIGATION - Systems and methods for facilitating fulfillment of an obligation associated with an established agreement are disclosed. In various example embodiments, during a predetermined time interval following an establishment of an agreement, a reminder display element may be presented to one or more parties in a first state to indicate that a reminder option is unavailable. Following expiration of the predetermined time interval, the reminder display element may be presented to the one or more parties, in a second state, to indicate that the reminder option is available. For some example embodiments, the reminder display element may be presented to the one or more parties in the first state based on the reminder option being exercised more than a predetermined number of times. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187458 | KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER IN A PROJECT ENVIRONMENT - Various techniques for effecting knowledge transfer are provided. In one embodiment, knowledge transfer tasks are identified through parsing of one or more repositories comprising project-related artifacts to ascertain tasks that are relevant to a transitioning project participant, and that may be further analyzed to determine whether knowledge transfer is necessary. In a similar vein, knowledge transfer recipients may be identified through similar parsing of the one or more repositories to identify project participants that are relevant to knowledge transfer tasks, with the resulting list of associated project participants narrowed down to selected knowledge transfer recipients according to their respective ability/availability to receive the knowledge transfer. Because these processes can be automated, including the use of an interactive interface, and based on stored artifacts, the subjectivity and variability of prior art techniques may be substantially reduced. | 07-23-2009 |
20090192862 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEAMLESSLY INTEGRATING THE LISTING AND SALE OF REAL PROPERTY - A system and method for allowing a plurality of Sellers of real estate to either list their real estate “By Owner” or “By Agent.” Those Sellers that list “By Owner” may select a time period after which their property may be converted to a “By Agent” listing. “By Owner” Sellers may choose to “push” their listing to only Agents that specialize in selling a particular type of property within the geographic region of the property. Agents may also offer their services to “By Owner” Sellers that have listed properties matching the Agent's specialty. Real estate Buyers may, through a single interface, access all properties that meet the Buyers' criteria, whether listed “By Owner” or “By Agent.” | 07-30-2009 |
20090192863 | Incentive card program for attracting persons to product or service displays - Methods, systems, and techniques for marketing products are provided. Example embodiments provide an Incentive Card Program System (“ICPS”), which enables vendors to attract potential customers to product displays. In one embodiment, the ICPS comprises an incentive card program along with services in the form of hardware, software, or firmware to implement the functions of the program running for example on a computing system associated with product displays, such as a kiosk. In some embodiments, the ICPS optionally includes a portal, accessible over a network such as the Internet, for incentive card holders to obtain information related to their incentive cards. These components cooperate to provide services relating to incentive card programs. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192864 | System for optimizing bulk product allocation, transportation and blending - A computer application loaded on a computer readable medium, a computer apparatus comprising the same, and process employing the same, is described herein. The computer application, when executed, causes a computer to optimize, for maximum net profit margin, the product allocation, transportation routing, transportation vehicle/route scheduling and, optionally, blending, of bulk products that are produced by and loaded from supply locations and delivered to and consumed by demand locations, using a heterogeneous fleet of transportation vehicles over a pre-defined period of time. | 07-30-2009 |
20090198550 | Defining Service Ownership For A Service Oriented Architecture - Defining service ownership for an SOA including defining, in response to an event requiring a change in service ownership and in dependence upon data describing business functions within a business, a service domain; reviewing, by a service domain ownership review board, the defined service domain for approval; upon approval of the defined service domain, identifying potential impact upon currently existing service domains caused by implementation of the defined service domain; identifying a potential owner of the defined service domain in dependence upon a service type of the defined service domain and funding requirements of the service domain; presenting, to relevant stakeholders in the business, the potential owner of the defined service domain for approval; and upon approval of the potential owner of the defined service domain, assigning the potential owner of the defined service domain responsibility for managing the defined service domain. | 08-06-2009 |
20090204464 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING TIME PERIODS FOR MEETINGS - A portable electronic device method of determining time periods for a meeting includes receiving an indication of at least two invitees for the meeting, obtaining calendar data for the invitees, determining free time periods for the invitees based on the calendar data, and creating a list of the free time periods for the invitees. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204465 | Process and system for facilitating communication and intergrating communication with the project management activities in a collaborative environment - The computer-enabled system and method is provided to digitally capture communication related to a project and analyze the captured communication to create and manage work items of the project in a collaborative environment. The invention can be used annotate portions of a digitally captured communication that relate to a potential work item for the project, thereby simultaneously generating a work item and initiating a workflow for the work item. The system may further configured to automatically generate tasks to insert into the user's work breakdown structure when the work items are generated. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204466 | TICKET APPROVAL SYSTEM FOR AND METHOD OF PERFORMING QUALITY CONTROL IN FIELD SERVICE APPLICATIONS - A ticket approval system and method of performing quality control in a field service application. The method includes obtaining a ticket, performing at least one task associated with the ticket, collecting data associated with at least one task, and transmitting the data to a work management server including database and approval applications. Also provided is a method of reviewing the data received by the approval application for quality control purposes. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204467 | System and Method for Accessing Business Process Instances Through Mobile Devices - A BPM system is described for modeling, management and execution of business processes. A process designer component is used to graphically design a business process, which includes a set of activities linked by transitions. The business process is stored and executed using one or more engines. A mobile device can be used to access the business process instance executing on the engine. The mobile work portal can be generated to render information for the process instance onto the mobile device. A process application programming interface can be used to access and manipulate the process instance from the mobile device. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204468 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING WEB-BASED INVITATIONAL MESSAGES - A computerized, web-based system and method allows users, or “members,” to create a system invitation, send a system invitation, update a system invitation, delete a system invitation, and to “pre-set” a system invitation for expiration. Further, the system and method allows members to receive a system invitation, and accept or respond to a system invitation. The system and method also automatically processes system invitations, sorts received system invitations, and deletes system invitations in accordance with the pre-set expiration parameters selected by the member who sends a system invitation. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204469 | Internet Method, Process and System for Publication and Evaluation - A technical method for evaluation, publication and distillation of information, such as scientific articles and other similar work, said method, process and system comprising at least the following technical process steps (1) an interactive online reviewing process of said information before it is published; (2) a publication process of said information if accepted; (3) an evaluation process of said information once published; (4) a distillation process of said published information in a tier filtering system based on said evaluation process. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204470 | Multilevel Assignment of Jobs and Tasks in Online Work Management System - 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. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204471 | Trust Level Based Task Assignment in an Online Work Management System - 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. | 08-13-2009 |
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. | 08-20-2009 |
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. | 08-20-2009 |
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. | 08-20-2009 |
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. | 08-20-2009 |
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. | 08-20-2009 |
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. | 08-20-2009 |
20090216599 | Case Managed Counter-Terrorism System and Process - A machine-implemented Case-Managed ontology and decision support framework provides a basis for a family of machine database architectures for use in a system for countering forces of unknown intentions including fighting and winning the Global War on Terror. The system focuses resource allocation decisions on logically derived, targeted areas of interest with an emphasis on non-kinetic, non-destructive effects. The system combines proven doctrines and novel operational approaches. It employs readily available intelligence information, an ontological understanding of the problem domain, a three-level, metrics-driven, case-managed system and process to counter the forces of unknown origin, and an entire set of operational level activities combining strategic intent, tactical approaches, expected utility analysis, mission-level simulations, and integrated cost modeling. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216600 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ARRANGING A TRANSPORT TRANSACTION - A requester may submit a request for transport comprising a set of transport preferences, which may include a desired starting point, ending point (e.g., destination), and pickup and/or delivery time. The transport preferences may also comprise a price and proximity thresholds indicating that non-conforming transport may be accepted within the supplied thresholds (e.g., not starting from exactly the desired starting point location, etc.). A group of registered users may be searched to find one or more transport providers (e.g., drivers) who may be available to provide the requested transport services. The set of drivers may be filtered based on one or more preferences of the requester. The requester preferences may relate to driver characteristics and/or driver vehicle characteristics. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216601 | SCHEDULING TOOL - In one embodiment the invention is a method of scheduling a meeting between a Requestor and one or more Invitees using a computer network. The method operates by defining a work time for the Requestor and each of the one or more Invitees and calculating an international meeting time within the work time of the Requestor and each of the one or more Invitees. The international meeting time is displayed to the Requester when the Requester initiates scheduling of a meeting. If the Requester schedules a meeting outside the international time an alarm is raised. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216602 | Schedule Analyzer - A project schedule is managed by developing a float profile area chart having a float profile with a float gradient for at least one non-completed activity within the project schedule to pictorially assess schedule viability. A schedule risk index (SRI) score is calculated to qualitatively assess a risk level associated with the project schedule. Schedule quality metrics are measured and the values for the metrics aggregated to provide an indication of the project schedule being manipulated by a scheduler. Historical trends for the schedule quality metrics are trended across at least two update intervals, and schedule performance is also measured, e.g., by trending early starts and early finishes for the project and a relative slippage occurring from the across schedule updates. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216603 | TARGETED PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A targeted product distribution system is described herein with respect to an exemplary management of product flow through a distribution center. Specifically, the system and method described herein is directed to the management and display of direct and easily-understood instructions, such that average individuals, as well as those with mental disabilities, will be able to contribute equally to the overall process. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216604 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESS SOLUTION DEVELOPMENT AND PROCESS SOLUTION IMPLEMENTATION - A method for process improvement implementation by identifying a business life cycle and then characterizing at least one business focused document; identifying a product life cycle and a process improvement activity and characterizing at least one project focused document with respect to these and after inputting predetermined organizational standards, synthesizing and implementing an organizational-specific process improvement solution. | 08-27-2009 |
20090222313 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREDICTING CUSTOMER BEHAVIOR - A predictive model generator that enhances customer experience, reduces the cost of servicing a customer, and prevents customer attrition by predicting the appropriate interaction channel through analysis of different types of data and filtering of irrelevant data. The model includes a customer interaction data engine for transforming data into a proper format for storage, data warehouse for receiving data from a variety of sources, and a predictive engine for analyzing the data and building models. | 09-03-2009 |
20090234698 | INTEGRATED SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An integrated safety management system includes a self inspection module, an incident management module, and a hazard reporting module. A corrective action module integrates the other modules. Each module accepts data corresponding to events or actions, accepts and displays completion indicators, and accepts and displays corrective action indicators. | 09-17-2009 |
20090234699 | User Interface For Scheduling Resource Assignments - A project management resources scheduling user interface is provided in which resource information may be displayed in a condensed timeline for each resource over the duration of a project. Individual tasks or groups of tasks displayed in the project management resources scheduling view may be moved from one resource to another resource while respecting project constraints and dependencies. Unassigned and unscheduled tasks may be dragged onto the scheduling view and may be dropped on a given resource in a timing location required by the project. Tasks may be viewed according to a hierarchical relationship between tasks of a given project. The scheduling view may be used in combination with a Gantt chart view of project tasks for allowing a view of both task-based and resource-based scheduling. | 09-17-2009 |
20090234700 | Systems and Methods for Electronic Interaction with Customers in a Retail Establishment - A service includes a server executing software from a digital memory media, information stored in a data repository and accessible to the server regarding products offered for sale at least one physical retail establishment, and a mobile communication appliance carried and utilized by a customer within the premises of the physical retail establishment and coupled to the server for communication. Information services regarding products displayed for sale are provided to the customer through the appliance within the physical retail establishment. | 09-17-2009 |
20090234701 | Method for assessing business transformations having an information technology component - A method for assessing a business transformation is disclosed. The method includes identifying a marketplace need for the business transformation and determining a business process to meet the marketplace need. The method also includes determining a plurality of requirements to execute the business process and identifying one or more information technology applications to meet the plurality of requirements. The method further includes determining an information technology infrastructure for running the one or more information technology applications and determining an extent of use of the business process by information technology users and customers. The method also includes determining business value created by the business process and evaluating the determinations using a plurality of computer data forms. | 09-17-2009 |
20090234702 | Method of process control for widely distributed manufacturing processes - An integrated process management system particularly suited for an environment in which multiple vendors must interact to cooperatively deliver products. The invention uses a preferably centralized process controller running on a computer. Discrete items or steps in the product manufacturing and delivery processes are given unique identifiers. The unique identifiers may assume many forms. For physical components, such as containers of raw materials, the identifier can be a tamper-resistant label containing a unique alphanumeric sequence. The identifiers are used to track the performance of each defined step in the process. | 09-17-2009 |
20090234703 | Method and system for remote tracking of assets - A method and system for remote tracking of assets. According to one embodiment of the invention, the method for remote tracking comprises receiving location information, receiving a status of a remote asset, creating a task based on the status of the remote asset, determining a receiver to perform the task, and informing the determined receiver of the task. In one embodiment, the system for remote tracking of assets comprises a receiver, an asset, and a controller. The receiver receives location information and transmits the location information to the controller. The asset transmits status data to the controller. The controller receives the location information and status information and transmits task information to the receiver. | 09-17-2009 |
20090234704 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR QUANTIFYING AND USING VIRTUAL TRAVEL MILEAGE - A conference scheduling device automatically collects data such as call detail records of a conferencing session from a collaborative conference unit and associates the data to each of a plurality of conference attendees. The data is converted into mileage credit for the conference attendees. Rewards may be redeemed from the accumulated mileage credit. | 09-17-2009 |
20090240548 | Systems and Methods for Generating a Configurable Workflow for Application Packaging Jobs - A system and method for generating a configurable workflow for application packaging jobs are disclosed. A method may include receiving input from a user interface by a packaging application configured to manage an application packaging job. The method may also include creating a plurality of workflow states based on at least the received input, each workflow state associated with a particular step in the application packaging job. The method may further include associating at least one action with at least one workflow state based on at least the received input, each action defining a transition from its associated workflow state to a target workflow state. Additionally, the method may include associating an assignee type with at least one action based on at least the received input, the assignee type defining at least one assignee that may assigned to the application packaging job for the particular action. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240549 | RECOMMENDATION SYSTEM FOR A TASK BROKERAGE SYSTEM - A recommendation system is provided that recommends tasks to be performed on electronic documents, providers for performing tasks on documents, and prices for tasks that are to be performed on the documents. In some embodiments, the recommendation system works in conjunction with a task brokerage system provided by a broker that helps customers who need tasks to be performed on documents to identify providers who can perform the requested tasks. The task brokerage system allows customers to publish their tasks and providers to discover the published tasks. The discovery process may match providers to customers based on criteria such as reputation, pricing, and availability. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240550 | Methods and systems for real estate transactions - A communication hub to facilitate one or more real estate transactions is provided. The communication hub includes a memory to inventory available properties and a pool of appraisers, contracts, inspectors, and the like that may be scheduled via the communication hub to perform necessary or desired services. The communication hub further operates to initiate an escrow and title search for each inventoried or listed property to facilitate cash-out, trade-in, sale, or purchase of the inventoried or listed property. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240551 | SERVICE ALIGNMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method for creating and executing a service strategy using a service alignment system includes updating a skill set of a service professional available to perform service and defining a service team, wherein service professionals may be assigned to the service team. The method further includes assigning the service team to a contract, updating service obligations associated with the contract, assigning a service professional available to perform service to the service team assigned to the contract by matching a skill of the service professional to an updated service obligation of the contract, storing and executing the team and service professional assignments using the service alignment system. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240552 | NETWORK-BASED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - The invention relates to a network-based information technology solution development and management system and method. In the system and method according to an embodiment of the invention, when a customer requests the development of information technology solutions, a server computer provides information on analysts to a customer computer and allows the customer to contract with a specific analyst. Then, the analyst receives requirements for the development of the solutions from the customer to perform the planning of the solutions, the analysis of the requirements, and the design of the solutions, and then the server computer places an order for each unit program to developers. Subsequently, when the developers who have assigned the unit programs develop the unit programs and deliver the developed unit programs to the server computer, the server computer tests the unit programs to accept or return the unit programs. Then, the server computer provides information the account and payment of the developers having delivered the unit programs to a financial institution computer and allows the financial institution computer to pay development costs to the developers. Subsequently, the server computer performs an integrated test on the unit programs corresponding to each project that are delivered by the developers and delivers the tested unit programs to the customers. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240553 | Workflow management system - A workflow management system for dynamically structuring a workflow model when executing a workflow is disclosed. Task information including at least a task name and detailed information is acquired from a working task when a search request of a human resource or a task is made, skill profile information including at least a skill name is input when the search request is made, a similar existing task is searched for based on the task information, related person information of a searched task is acquired, a consistency is checked with the skill profile information with respect to the searched related person information, the human resource having the skill indicated in the skill profile information is searched for, ranking points for each human resource or each task are calculated based on outputs of the check part and the skill search part, and the ranking points prioritized by higher points are presented. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240554 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING IDENTIFICATION AND LOCATION INFORMATION OF CERTAIN ITEMS - A system and method for recording the identification and location of items in furtherance of maintaining public works infrastructure includes a portable computing device in communication with a server unit. A user selects designated icons visually representing a variety of items needing attention by a local public works department, such as discarded appliances, brush piles, downed power lines, or code violations. The portable computing device stores the type and location of these items electronically for transfer to the server unit, where work orders may be issued to appropriate employees to later address the items in a coordinated manner rather than merely addressing these items as they are randomly encountered during a normal public works route. | 09-24-2009 |
20090248480 | CONTROLLED SYNCHRONIZATION BETWEEN A GROUP CALENDAR AND INDIVIDUAL WORK CALENDARS - Controlled synchronization between one type of calendar and another type of calendar is provided. A family's calendar maintained and stored with a Web-based calendar service server is synchronized with a work calendar(s) of one (or more) of the family's members and vice versa. A user is allowed to define rules for synchronizing appointments between work and family calendars that, by default, automatically produce results consistent with user expectations. Calendar information is filtered based on the synchronization rules for controlling which appointments need to be synced. In an aspect, users can establish a rule to automatically synchronize new work appointments to the user's family calendar if the new work appointment falls outside of the user's normal working hours. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248481 | System and Method for Collecting Revenue - A system comprises an expected bad debt generator for generating probabilities of bad debt based on payer, types of services and or products rendered, and account information; a contract modeling engine for generating contractual adjustment factors based on contracts between payer and service providers, a gross net conversion generator for generating gross net conversion factors based on payer and account information; a priority calculating engine for prioritizing accounts and batches of accounts; a collector assignment engine for assigning the accounts to one or more collectors based on a predetermined collector assignment algorithm; an account batching engine for grouping accounts into batches for the purpose of best utilizing payer contacts; and a worklist generator for generating a worklist for each collector, the worklist identifying a prioritization order of one or more payers for the collector to contact to collect debt, the prioritization order being based on a predetermined prioritization algorithm. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248482 | WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A network clearinghouse may be provided that brings together organizations (subjects) requiring outsourcing of a service and service providers (operators). The clearinghouse manages the bidding and awarding of contracts, by collecting and authorizing requests for proposals (RFPs), sending bid invitations to operators that meet the requirements of the subject, sending a notification that the contract has been awarded, and collecting payment from the subject and paying the operator. | 10-01-2009 |
20090254403 | Line maintenance manager - A computer implemented method of managing execution of line maintenance for an aircraft includes creating an electronic scheduled bill of work comprising a plurality of planned tasks, creating an electronic work-in-progress bill of work comprising the scheduled bill of work and a plurality of unplanned tasks, electronically validating performance for each of the tasks in the work-in-progress bill of work, and creating an electronic maintenance release for the aircraft. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254404 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ROUTING A TASK TO AN EMPLOYEE BASED ON PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL STATE - A method, system, computer program product, and computer program storage device for determining an assignment of a task to a consultant is disclosed. The method, system, computer program product, and computer program storage device determine the assignment based not only on availability and skill set, but also based on an estimated impact on the emotional state and the physical state of consultants. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254405 | SIMULTANEOUS VEHICLE ROUTING, VEHICLE SCHEDULING, AND CREW SCHEDULING - A method for generating a transportation plan. A set of transportation requests are identified. An initial transportation plan having a set of vehicle routes, a set of vehicle schedules, and a set of crew schedules that satisfy the set of transportation requests is created. A set of vehicle routes, a set of vehicle schedules, and a set of crew schedules are simultaneously modified repeatedly using a policy to generate a new transportation plan until an objective is met. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254406 | WORKSPACE VISUALIZATION - A system for visually representing one or more projects in a workspace is provided. The system includes a display; and a processor operable to identify one or more project characteristics and determine a hierarchy of the one or more projects as a function of the one or more project characteristics. The processor being operable to visually represent the one or more projects as an interactive representation on the display as a function of the hierarchy. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254407 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EVENT COORDINATION AND ASSET CONTROL - Event coordination systems and methods are disclosed. The event coordination system can include an input module that can receive information identifying multiple projects. The event coordination system can also include a controller that can generate a geocoded representation of the information identifying the projects. A project status attribute of at least one of the projects can be identified, and the geocoded representation can include an indication of the project status attribute. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254408 | FACILITIES MONITORING SYSTEM WITH TELEPHONE INTERFACE AND AUTOMATIC PROBLEM VERIFICATION - A building management system includes a telephony interface, by which a caller can enter information about a problem, thereby eliminating the need for a human operator. The building management system may also include components that enable the system to verify the condition reported by the caller. The building management system may also include a capability for storing sensor and other data automatically gathered from the building at the time the caller reports the problem. This “snapshot” can be used later by a service representative to diagnose the problem. Such a snapshot is particularly valuable when diagnosing a transient problem. In addition, the snapshot can be provided to a service bureau that is to handle the problem, thus giving the service bureau information relevant to the problem, without giving the service bureau access to all data collected by the building management system. | 10-08-2009 |
20090259512 | MEDIA DEVICE ACCESS CONTROL MECHANISM - Invention embodiments are concerned with the problem of controlling access to a media storage device in response to, e.g., employees leaving or changing jobs. More specifically, embodiments provide a method of controlling access to a media storage device storing a plurality of media objects. Thus embodiments of the invention solve the afore-mentioned problem by providing a mechanism for updating the list of recipients based on data received from a user identification system after the media storage device has been dispatched. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259513 | Shipment Management Systems and Methods - A computer implemented system and method for managing and tracking cargo shipments through a supply chain. The system includes a core domain and a party domain. In the core domain, electronic representations of one or more core processes may be generated and maintained that includes a sequence of events and/or milestones representing real world actions associated with the shipping chain. In the party domain, electronic representations of one or more party processes may be generated and maintained that represent a sequence of various events and/or milestones that a party to the shipping chain must undertake. The core domain may generate and communicate events representative of actions that have been or should be undertaken by the parties. The events may be communicated to the party domain where the events can trigger or realize milestones indicating to the party it should undertake various real world actions relating to the shipping chain. | 10-15-2009 |
20090259514 | IDEA PAGE SYSTEM AND METHOD - Idea Page systems, methods, user interfaces and related components are provided herein. | 10-15-2009 |
20090265206 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING A CHAOTIC EVENT - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing a chaotic event. A management location is determined for managing a chaotic event in response to receiving an indication of the chaotic event. Resources necessary for managing the chaotic event are identified. The availability of the necessary resources is determined to form available resources. The available resources are optimized based on requirements and constraints to form optimized resources. The availability and cost of the optimized resources are verified. The chaotic event is managed from the management location using the optimized resources. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265207 | Property Management System and Method for Operating the Same - A method for operating a property management system is disclosed. The method includes the steps of identifying one or more maintenance needs of one or more real property units; and utilizing a communication device for creating one or more virtual work orders related to the one or more maintenance needs, uploading one or more maintenance need images associated with the one or more virtual work orders, and uploading one or more serviced task images associated with the one or more virtual work orders. A system is also disclosed. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265208 | METHOD FOR OUTSOURCING TECHNOLOGY BASED SERVICES - A computer implemented method of defining the outsourcing of technology based services, the method including the steps of: defining a plurality of technology based services that are to be provided by one or more service providers to a customer; defining a plurality of activities associated with the services; displaying the services and activities on a graphical user interface; detecting a selection of one of the activities; and displaying further information on the interface based on the selected activity, wherein the further information provides a guide on how to define the outsourcing of the selected activity. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265209 | System and Method for Governance, Risk, and Compliance Management - A method for governance, risk, and compliance management may include at a user interface, enabling a user to define a project template including a list of related controls, one or more control templates, and a testing project configuration (“TPC”) file for each control of a plurality of controls. The user may initiate a testing project by selecting the project template. The method may further include, in response to selection of the project template, at the one or more processors, automatically generating a list of tasks to be performed to test the related controls and automatically outputting the list of tasks. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265210 | Systems for Store Associate Management in a Store - Described herein is a system for managing at least one store associate in the operation of a store through wireless electronic communication through a communication network between a manager and at least one store associate. The manager uses a manager's communication device and the at least one store associate uses an associate's communication device to communicate through the communication network. The store associate is provided a list of orders to perform and the manager receives data on the manager's communication device pertaining to the performance of the list of orders created on the associate's communication device, wherein the manager uses said data to evaluate the job performance of the at least one store associate. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265211 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING FRAUD - A system and method for detecting fraud when facilitating a payment transaction over a global wide area network. The method comprises receiving a sale information, receiving a payment information from a buyer, and analyzing a transaction information for fraud. If the analyzing indicates fraud, an enhanced transaction information is communicated to a human for fraud analysis. In one embodiment, the method comprises performing rule-based analyses to determine whether the transaction appears to be fraudulent. Rule-based analyses may include suspect data rules and velocity rules. Velocity rules generally determine whether there has been excessive activity that may lead to a conclusion that the transaction may be fraudulent. Suspect data rules are used to determine whether the billing, shipping, selling addresses, telephone numbers, and account numbers, and other data are in a syntactically correct format and whether they exist. In one embodiment, the method further comprises performing simple screening of the transaction information. In one embodiment, the method further comprises seeking approval from a third party such as a financial institution based on the payment information. The method may be implemented as part of a system that includes personal computers, server computers, and other personal computing devices, some of which may communicate over the Internet, and others which may communicate via dedicated communication lines. | 10-22-2009 |
20090271242 | Calendar-driven Business Intelligence - Techniques for aiding individuals in managing work activities. In one set of embodiments, information about work activities for an individual is received from a plurality of different business applications. The work activities relate to business transactions facilitated by the plurality of different business applications. Calendar entries are then generated for each work activity based on the received information, and presented in a calendar of the individual. In various embodiments, the calendar entries are generated automatically (i.e., without human intervention). By focusing on the time sequence in which work activities should be addressed, embodiments of the present invention enable individuals to quickly and efficiently prioritize and carry out their pending work activities, thereby improving the operational efficiency of an enterprise. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271243 | System and method of providing product quality and safety - In a particular embodiment, a portable, hand-held device to manage product quality and safety includes a processor and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory includes instructions executable by the processor to collect data related to a particular location and to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) including a plurality of user-selectable elements accessible by a user. The plurality of user-selectable elements includes a first user-selectable element to initiate playback of a training video, a second user-selectable element to receive user input associated with the particular location, and a third user-selectable element to display data indicating actions to be taken by the user in response to the collected data. The device further includes a display interface responsive to the processor and adapted to display the GUI. | 10-29-2009 |
20090276277 | Optimized Appointment Scheduling Method - An appointment scheduling method wherein available time slots for an appointment are ranked according to the result of a balancing of importance factors adhered by an enterprise to weights associated with the available time slots such as efficiency of use of resources, urgency of examination, financial impact etc. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276278 | Method for Processing a Linked List of Time Segments - An appointment scheduling method and associated user interface wherein an overview of appointments of a patient, an overview of the agendas of involved resources and details on an instantiated appointment are displayed on a single screen permitting verification and confirmation of an instantiated appointment by the user. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276279 | COMPUTER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERIM TRANSACTION DIAGNOSIS FOR SELECTIVE REMEDIATION AND CUSTOMER LOYALTY ENHANCEMENT - A customer feedback acquisition and processing system includes a data acquisition processor for receiving first and second customer feedback responses. The first customer feedback response is received by the data acquisition processor after notice of a claim is received and before the claim is resolved. The second customer feedback response is received by the data acquisition processor after it receives the first customer feedback response. The data acquisition processor may operate to classify the first customer feedback response in one of two categories. The two categories may be an attention-needed category and an attention-not-needed category. The system may also include a workflow router in communication with the data acquisition processor. The system may further include a supervisor terminal in communication with the workflow router. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276280 | Using Alerts to Bring Attention to In-Store Information - A method is provided that uses alerts to bring in-store information that is of interest to the attention of team members working in a retail store. To send an alert to a team member logged in to a device data, data from a source is evaluated against business rules. An event is generated when a piece of data satisfies the business rules. The event indicates that the piece of data is of interest. A task is activated for the event and assigned to the team member acting in a role associated with the source of the event. An alert is sent to the device that the team member is logged in to indicating that the team member has been assigned the task. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276281 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR EFFECTIVE TASK MANAGEMENT - A method for effective employee assignment including determining a number of employees needed to perform each of a plurality of tasks, determining a skill flexibility index (SFI) of each employee, determining a job quality index (JQI) of each employee, determining a minimum acceptable (min. JQI) for each task, and for each task, in an order from highest min. JQI to lowest min. JQI, assigning each employee to the task having a JQI higher than or equivalent to the min. JQI in an order from each employee with a lower SFI and a higher JQI to an employee with a higher SFI and a lower JQI until the number of employees needed to perform the task is assigned or there are no more available employees to assign to the task having a JQI higher than or equivalent to the min. JQI of the task. A corresponding system and computer program product. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276282 | APPOINTMENT REMINDER AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING - A service package includes a brochure that includes general information related to a service provided for a client by a service provider. An appointment notifier may be inserted into the brochure. A client-specific insert may also be inserted into the brochure. The appointment notifier may include a reminder packet with information related to the date and time of day of a future service appointment between the client and the service provider and a gift card for use by the client. The client-specific insert may include client-specific information relating to the service provided for the client by the service provider. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276283 | SCREENING ELECTRONIC SERVICE REQUESTS - A facility for screening service requests for requesting assistance is described. The facility receives from a user a service request that requests assistance with solving a problem associated with a system accessible to the user and includes information related to the system. The facility searches a collection of system status information for at least one entry that corresponds with the received information related to the system. Where a corresponding entry is found, the facility provides to the user an indication of the correspondence and an opportunity to cancel the service request. | 11-05-2009 |
20090281865 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO MANAGE A BUSINESS PROCESS - A system for managing a business process is provided. The system, in one example embodiment, includes a monitor, a collector, and a task pattern generator. The monitor may be configured to monitor ad-hoc events related to a task. Ad-hoc events may be associated with end-user task-management activities, such as, for example, events associated with a to-do item generated by an e-mail client module. The collector may be configured to collect data associated with the ad-hoc events related to task. The task pattern generator may be configured to generate a task pattern based on the collected data. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281866 | WORKFLOW CONTROL APPARATUS, WORKFLOW CONTROL METHOD, AND WORKFLOW CONTROL PROGRAM EMBODIED ON COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - In order to facilitate generation of a workflow and setting of a parameter by an operator, a server includes a job generating portion which generates a job including two or more processes selected from among a plurality of processes, a workflow generating portion which generates a workflow by assigning each of the two or more processes to at least one operator capable of processing the process with reference to skill data indicating for each of the processes at least one operator capable of processing the process, a setting screen output portion which outputs a setting screen for allowing an operator to input a parameter for each of the two or more processes included in the workflow, a parameter accepting portion which accepts the parameter input by the operator in accordance with the setting screen, and a setting portion which sets the accepted parameter. | 11-12-2009 |
20090287526 | DYNAMIC WORK ALLOCATION SYSTEM FOR TRANSACTION PROCESSING - A dynamic work allocation system and method is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes dynamically classifying jobs into job lists according to a predetermined classifying process by a collecting engine, a controlling engine, and a monitoring engine, dynamically prioritizing the jobs within each job list of the jobs lists into an ordered job list according to a predetermined prioritizing process by the collecting engine, the controlling engine, the monitoring engine, a diagnosing engine, a learning engine, and a predicting engine, and dynamically mapping the jobs in the ordered job list to agents according to a predetermined mapping process by the collecting engine, the controlling engine, the monitoring engine, the diagnosing engine, the learning engine, and the predicting engine. The method may include dynamically collecting of a job of the jobs and/or information associated with the job of the jobs by the collecting engine and the controlling engine. | 11-19-2009 |
20090287527 | Device for communicating orders for transportation, vehicle-base communication device, communication system and method - A communication system is disclosed for transportation orders. It at least one embodiment, it includes a central communication device, with a memory for recording order specifications, with a transceiver unit for receiving vehicle information and with an assignment unit which is embodied for assigning orders to vehicles on the basis of the vehicle information and the order specifications, with an order which can be assigned to one or more vehicles, able to be sent via the transceiver unit to the vehicle or the vehicles and further including at least one vehicle-based communication device, with a transceiver unit for transmission of vehicle information and for receiving transportation orders, with the communication device being connected or able to be connected to each communication device for communicating communication orders via a respective communication link. | 11-19-2009 |
20090287528 | DYNAMIC SELECTION OF WORK FLOWS BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS TO FACILITATE DATA ENTRY - A system and method for selecting a work flow to direct a user to an appropriate form and facilitate the entry of data. The system identifies one or more environmental conditions that are associated with the data that is to be entered. Environmental conditions may include the size of the display on which the form will be displayed, the user that will be utilizing the form, the location, date and/or time that the form will be displayed, and other conditions. Based on the identified environmental conditions, the system selects a work flow that will efficiently direct the user to an appropriate form or series of forms for data entry. The system may select a work flow from a plurality of template work flows. The system may monitor paths taken by users within a work flow and seek to optimize the work flow based on the monitored paths. | 11-19-2009 |
20090287529 | GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE SYSTEM AND METHOD - A computer-implemented data processing system comprises account management logic, workflow logic, and interface logic. The account management logic is configured to manage financial accounts associated with a plurality of users. The workflow logic is configured to identify workflow items to be acted upon by users in connection with financial transactions relating to the financial accounts. The interface logic cooperates with the workflow logic to generate a plurality of display screens to be displayed by wireless handheld mobile devices. The display screens comprise a home page screen that is provided to the user upon login and that includes a link to a workflow screen where the user may act upon one or more of the workflow items. | 11-19-2009 |
20090287530 | PLAN EXECUTION CONTROL APPARATUS, PLAN EXECUTION CONTROL METHOD, AND PLAN EXECUTION CONTROL PROGRAM - The invention provides a plan execution control apparatus, a plan execution control method and a plan execution control program capable of giving instructions for sensitively and efficiently maintaining even installations located in a wide range. The plan execution control apparatus includes a linkage reliability calculating section for calculating a target reliability of a single or a plurality of mutually related installations, a damaged state transition control section that provides a damaged state transition structure of the installations, a maintenance time limit calculating section for calculating a time limit related to the maintenance work to meet the target level of reliability of each key point and section, the constraint control section for recognizing and recording the constraints related to traveling of maintenance personnel, the traveling workload and the acceptable workload, and the itinerary maintenance determining section for calculating the itinerary schedule indicating the assignment to the object to be maintained. | 11-19-2009 |
20090287531 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANAGING SCHEDULE IN PORTABLE TERMINAL - An apparatus and method for managing a schedule in a portable terminal are provided. The method includes displaying a user interface including a whiteboard on a standby screen, receiving schedule data from a user through coordinates at which the standby screen is touched, and displaying the received schedule data on the whiteboard. | 11-19-2009 |
20090287532 | PROVIDING AN ELECTRONIC MARKETPLACE TO FACILITATE HUMAN PERFORMANCE OF PROGRAMMATICALLY SUBMITTED TASKS - A method, system, and computer-readable medium is described for facilitating interactions between task requesters who have tasks that are available to be performed and task performers who are available to perform tasks. In some situations, the tasks to be performed are human performance tasks that use cognitive and other mental skills of human task performers, such as to employ judgment, perception and/or reasoning skills of the human task performers. In addition, in some situations the available tasks are submitted by human task requesters via application programs that programmatically invoke one or more application program interfaces of an electronic marketplace in order to request that the tasks be performed and to receive corresponding results of task performance in a programmatic manner, so that an ensemble of unrelated human agents can interact with the electronic marketplace to collectively perform a wide variety and large number of tasks. | 11-19-2009 |
20090292578 | Articulation Workload Metrics - A method for determining an allocation of a workload includes identifying an employee in an organization having the workload, associating the employee with an articulation workload metric, and determining the allocation of the workload to the employee according to the articulation workload metric. | 11-26-2009 |
20090292579 | Technical Support Routing Among Members Of A Technical Support Group - Computer-implemented methods, apparatus and products for technical support routing among members of a technical support group, including maintaining, by a configuration manager, a system configuration history of a user's computer system, the system configuration history including historical records of changes in configuration of the user's computer system; receiving, by a technical support module, a support request identifying a current error that occurred during operation of the user's computer system including receiving information describing the error and the system configuration history of the user's computer system; and routing, by the technical support module automatically without human intervention, the support request to one or more particular members of the technical support group in dependence upon the information describing the error and the system configuration history. | 11-26-2009 |
20090292580 | AMBIENT PROJECT MANAGEMENT - A computer-implemented method of ambient ad hoc project management can include defining a project and associating a project decay function with the project, wherein the project decay function regulates a rate at which project health declines. Responsive to detecting a project event, one or more parameters of the project decay function can be determined from the project event. Project health can be calculated according to the project decay function using the parameter(s). An indication of the project health can be output. | 11-26-2009 |
20090292581 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER-ACCESSIBLE MEDIUM FOR MAKING WORKER DISTRIBUTION PLAN ON THE BASIS OF UPDATED SKILL ASSESSMENT DATA - According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, system, method and computer accessible medium can be provided for making a worker distribution plan on the basis of updated skill assessment data. For example, a computer can be configured, programmed and/or structured to obtain a record data table collected and stored by a server. Further, such computer can update skill assessment data of each worker by updating work efficiency data determined from the average working hours per work according to the work record data included in the acquired record data table. In addition, the computer can select the workers to be assigned to projects for each predetermined period according to preferable and/or necessary worker data calculated from the predicted value of the workload for each predetermined period and the updated skill assessment data. | 11-26-2009 |
20090299805 | Server-based systems and methods for processing fuel orders - Systems and methods for handling fuel orders. A system and method can include using a plurality of data interfaces, wherein a first data interface is operable to receive fuel order data from order senders. A database operating on a server is used for storing the fuel order data. Semantic fuel order business rules accessible through a server arc used for constructing groups of orders that comprise shifts so that drivers can fulfill orders specified in the stored fuel order data. A second data interface is operable to send fuel order data generated from the server database to a fuel vehicle operator's communication device. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299806 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEMAND AND/OR SKILL HEDGING - A risk management method and system determine distribution of skills, composition of skills and resources to achieve said distribution, a set of actions to achieve said composition, a portfolio of service and/or product offerings, a composition of staffing plans to achieve said portfolio, and a set of demand conditioning actions to achieve said composition, in order to hedge against uncertainty based on demand information, risk information, product and/or service revenue and information, and skill cost and information, while meeting business objectives. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299807 | SCHEDULING OPPORTUNITY PREVIEWER - Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for previewing and managing scheduling opportunities. A scheduling opportunity is received. A context of one or more surrounding appointments to the scheduling opportunity is retrieved. The scheduling opportunity is displayed with the context of the surrounding appointments, such as in a mini-calendar format. When the appointment is a recurrent appointment, the scheduling opportunity for the recurrent appointment is displayed with a context of the surrounding appointments. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299808 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT - In one example embodiment, a system and method is shown that includes receiving a plurality of appropriation amounts and corresponding requested amounts associated with a project. The system and method also includes tabulating the plurality of received appropriation amounts and requested amount data in a budget table. Further, initiating an approval request for a requested amount may also be implemented. In an additional embodiment, the system and method include sending the approval request to one or more approvers using an email system. Further, the system and method includes receiving an approval response from the approvers using the email system. Moreover, the system and method includes updating the budget table to indicate the status of the approval request. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299809 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO ALLOW AN END USER TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN A SUB WORKFLOW - A first party, such as a service provider maintains a workflow, and defines at least one access point therein. The first party obtains, from a second party, such as an end user, a specification of at least one sub workflow, for insertion at the access point. The first party runs the workflow. The first party obtains, from the second party, an indication of identity of the second party. During the processing of the workflow, the first party executes the sub workflow, when the access point is reached, based on the indication of identity of the second party. The processing of the workflow thus produces a customized result for the second party. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299810 | COMBINING TASKS AND EVENTS - A software application (“smarttime system”) for combining tasks and events is described. The software application provides a user interface for viewing and sorting tasks dynamically, taking into consideration multiple possible prioritization factors in one view; In various embodiments, the smarttime system integrates tasks and events from conventional databases into a common calendar (“smarttime calendar”) to provide a user interface for easily managing tasks and events. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299811 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TASK MANAGEMENT - An method for managing a sales process via a graphical user interface (GUI) generated by a computer and displayed on a computer display is described. The method includes the step of defining a sales process, the sales process including a first task assigned to first assignee and a second task. The method further includes, at the GUI, displaying a prompt for an identifier of a second assignee upon receipt of an indication that the first task has been completed. The method yet further includes receiving the identifier of the second assignee and assigning the second assignee to the second task. The assignment of the second assignee to the second task is displayed on the computer display, stored in a computer memory device, or displayed on the computer display and stored in a computer memory device. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299812 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING EXPERT CONTENT - Systems and methods for managing consultation requests to communities of experts comprising receiving consultation requests, receiving responses to consultation requests, and compensating experts for their responses with fractional ownership in a value-added investment vehicle based at least in part on the value of those responses. | 12-03-2009 |
20090307042 | On-the-Spot Labour Market Providing Support System - A market is provided where spot employment of a labor provider on the site can be offered in real time by using a location information system such as a mobile phone with a GPS function. A spot labor market provision support system ( | 12-10-2009 |
20090307043 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PATTERN BASED SCHEDULING - Disclosed is a method and system for receiving a scheduling input parameter for an event, analyzing the scheduling input parameter to determine a schedule pattern and generating a list of schedules for the event based on the schedule pattern. The list of schedules includes a recurring schedule and a non-recurring schedule for the event. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307044 | System and method for consolidation of calendar appointments - A system and method for dynamically consolidating an appointment schedule. The system includes a client computer, a calendar server, and a server calendar management agent (CMA). The client computer displays a calendar user interface to show a first candidate appointment. The calendar server facilitates a scheduling consolidation session. The server CMA searches for a second candidate appointment for consolidation with the first candidate appointment based on at least one consolidation parameter. The server CMA also identifies a consolidated appointment for at least the first and second candidate appointments. The consolidated appointment combines the first and second candidate appointments according to the consolidation parameter. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307045 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZATION OF MEETINGS BASED ON SUBJECT/PARTICIPANT RELATIONSHIPS - In some embodiments, a method for determining meeting participants in an electronic calendar comprises identifying, based on user input, a first set of participants to invite to a meeting scheduled in the electronic calendar, wherein the meeting is associated with a topic. The method can also comprise identifying a second set of participants based on the topic associated with the meeting. The method can include determining a union of the first and second sets of participants and generating, for this union, calendar entries in the electronic calendar. The method can also include presenting the calendar entries in the electronic calendar. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307046 | Contracting method and apparatus for services - An electronic contracting method and apparatus for the purchase of pre-funded future services to equalize the bargaining positions of the parties and then deliver payment in accordance with the negotiated service contract terms. | 12-10-2009 |
20090313074 | ENHANCED VIEWING/UPDATING OF CALENDAR ENTRIES BASED UPON RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN A VIEWER AND A CALENDAR OWNER AND A RELATIVE IMPORTANCE VALUE OF THE CALENDAR ENTRIES - A calendar of a calendar owner can be identified. The calendar can include at least one calendar entry. Each calendar entry can be associated with access restrictions specific to the entry and/or a type associated with the entry. An attempt from a non-owner to access the calendar of the owner can be received. A relationship between the non-owner and the owner can be determined, which is used to grant access privileges. A non-owner can be permitted to access/change the owner's calendar entries based upon comparisons of the granted privileges and the access restrictions. For example, when certain approved people view busy-time scheduled in a user's calendar, any non-important booked time can be shown as time availably for scheduling events with the user. When an approved person schedules a previously book time slot, and an owner agrees to this change, then existing appointments are automatically rescheduled/adjusted to avoid conflicts. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313076 | ARRANGING REMOTE ENGAGEMENTS - A request is received from a consumer for an electronic, real-time communication with a medical service provider; the availability of the medical service provider is assessed; if the medical service provider is not immediately available, a first scheduling option including waiting in queue and a second scheduling option including an appointment with the medical service provider are provided; a choice among the first scheduling option and the second scheduling option is received from the consumer; and the electronic, real-time communication between the consumer and the medical service provider is arranged, based at least in part on the scheduling option chosen by the consumer. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313077 | Consumer initiated, service provider direct dispatching system - A customer originated and directed dispatching system to provide direct coordination of requested service to service providers without the need for intermediary dispatching assistance. A database stores records each documenting needed services and customer and service provider profiles. Processing circuitry (which may be one or several networked computers) performs a dispatching process which reviews these records, locates records indicating a need for immediate service, locates the customer, identifies potential service responders, carries out an auction for the requested service and collects a list of potential service provides with their bids and profiles. The processing circuitry also performs a monitoring process which monitors service provider's activities by reviewing the records, and automatically obtained service provider's activity information, and records customer and service provider performance ratings to the database. Communications circuitry enables direct communication between the service provider and the customer as well as updates of the service provider's activity and review customer and service provider performance records. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313078 | Hybrid human/computer image processing method - There is provided a hybrid human/computing arrangement which advantageously involves humans in the process of scrutinizing video image frames and processing said video image frames to detect and characterize objects of interest while ignoring other features of said image frame. The invention overcomes the problems of missed and false detections by humans. Said features of interest may comprise equipment and installations found on or in the vicinity of roads including road signs of the type commonly used for traffic control, warning, and informational display. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313079 | MANAGING ACCESS RIGHTS USING PROJECTS - Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to managing access rights. In aspects, projects may be created from templates. The projects indicate one or more roles and one or more resources. The roles indicate access rights of entities associated with the roles. The projects may include events at which access rights change. Using the projects and independent role information, effective access rights to various resources may be determined for one or more entities. These effective access rights may be exported to one or more access control components to control access to the resources. The project and role information may also be used for auditing. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313080 | ONLINE INSTALLATION SCHEDULING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CABLE SERVICES - A system and method for creating, scheduling, and managing time slots for installation appointments. Embodiments of the present invention permit a trading partner to offer a customer the ability to schedule installation of cable services on-line. A cable operator maintains an inventory of time slots. One or more time slots from the time slot inventory are offered to a customer based on ordering information received from the customer. A customer selects a time slot from the one or more offered time slots. A cable operator then assigns an installation appointment to the customer within the time slot selected by the customer. A cable operator may also determine the status of the inventory of time slots (e.g., time slots allocated, time slots consumed, and time slots available) for a system, a location, or a trading partner. | 12-17-2009 |
20090319327 | ACTION IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM - [Problems] The present invention relates to a behavior improvement system for ascertaining behavior reform by helping a person in question take notice of his or her behavior in regard to the behavior modification from various sides. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319328 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERSONAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT USING SENSORY INFORMATION - In order to manage personal information, a schedule information collector to receive items relating to a schedule of a user's and to distinguish the received items to generate first schedule data; a schedule data processor to add sensory information corresponding to the respective items of the first schedule data to generate second schedule data; and a schedule notifier to notify the sensory information of the second schedule data, in which time when the second schedule data is notified to the user is arrived, to the user. | 12-24-2009 |
20090327017 | Teacher assignment based on teacher preference attributes - A system for scheduling a teacher for teaching one or more students during one or more learning sessions comprises an online learning system having one or more nodes that creates one or more online learning sessions. A scheduling node schedules one or more teachers for teaching one or more online learning sessions. A database stores one or more teacher schedules for one or more learning sessions. The same or another database stores one or more teacher preference attributes. A processing node selects a teacher to teach a student during a learning session based on the one ore more teacher preference attributes and the one or more teacher schedules. The scheduling node schedules the teacher for the learning session prior to the learning session. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327018 | AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR AIDING IN FORECLOSURE SALES - An automated foreclosure sale system [ | 12-31-2009 |
20090327019 | MEETING SCHEDULING SYSTEM - A method, programmed medium and system are provided in which a user has an option to prioritize meetings and individuals who have access to the user's calendar. The disclosed exemplary embodiments provide for prioritizing meetings and allowing a certain set of favorite people see the availability based on priority. Users are enabled to designate specific individuals and corresponding priority levels for the designated individuals who have access to the user's calendar. A high priority user is enabled to schedule a meeting on other users' calendars based on the priority level of the scheduling user. The system automatically determines the priority level of the scheduling user and displays calendars of other invited users by displaying only other scheduled meetings which have a higher priority level thereby enabling automatic priority level scheduling for all users of the calendar system. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327020 | Intelligent task Deactivation In Project Scheduling Application - A project management application is provided in which an active or not active task state for each task may be displayed in a user interface. The active or not active task state would indicate whether the task is inactive or active. If the state of a task is active, the project management application may treat the active task as a normal task in the project plan. If the state of a task is inactive, the project management application may treat the inactive task as having no effect and may ignore the inactive task for scheduling purposes in the project plan. The project management application may maintain and display information of the inactive tasks in the project plan. The project management application may display the inactive tasks in a different style from the active tasks in the user interface. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327021 | System and method for managing legal obligations for data - Systems and methods for managing legal obligations for data are provided. In exemplary embodiments, an information portal is established which provides a visual interface of legal obligations and workflow required to be administered by IT personnel. At least one legal obligation may be determined. Based on the legal obligation, workflow for performing the legal obligations is generated for IT personnel. The workflow may comprise instructions to personnel responsible for data management of one or more affected systems containing the data. The instructions are then provided via the information portal. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327022 | Solicitation Management-Computerized Method to automate Solicitations Processing and Tracking. - A method and apparatus for automating the solicitation process for solicitors and organizations. The web based system would facilitate the tracking and management of solicitation information including donation requests, statuses and donor information to help automate the process. Organizations can provide their solicitors and committee members tools to allow them to manage the solicitation process without consuming organization resources in facilitating the solicitation process. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327023 | SYSTEM FOR MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF AN ENTERPRISE - A system for management of an enterprise, including a quality system module provided for storing quality parameters derived from at least one quality system certification standard, and an interface operable by a user for retrieving data based on at least one of the quality parameters in response to a request from the user. Another system includes an operating procedure module storing detailed procedures for carrying out at least one task, and an interface operable by a user for retrieving data related to the detailed procedures. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327024 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF A FIELD SERVICE OPERATION - Methods, apparatus and systems for computer-aided determination of quality assessment for locate and marking operations. In one example, a quality assessment decision is solely under the discretion of a human reviewer, albeit facilitated in some respects by computer-aided display of information, and electronic record keeping and communication functions associated with the quality assessment result(s). In another example, information related to a locate and marking operation is electronically analyzed such that a quality assessment is not based solely on human discretion, but rather based at least in part on some predetermined criteria and/or metrics that facilitate an automated determination of quality assessment. | 12-31-2009 |
20100004972 | Resource Management - The invention provides a computer-implemented warehouse order processing method, whereby a warehouse order specifies work which is to be executed by a resource at a warehouse, a resource representing a physical entity which is able to execute work; during creation of a warehouse order, performing a step of determining a number of parameters relevant for execution of the respective warehouse order, and storing the determined parameters in a data base; during selection of a warehouse order for execution by a resource, performing a step of analyzing relevant population of warehouse orders for execution by the requesting resource, on the basis of the determined parameters, whether the selected resource is able to execute the warehouse order, and upon execution of a warehouse order by a resource, updating the data base comprising, the parameters for the warehouse orders. | 01-07-2010 |
20100004973 | Human resource networking system and method thereof - A Human Resource Networking System, which is a novel Method establishing a business system for locating, identifying, promoting and assisting in the employing of career project workers in the non-career workforce, includes a Relational Database comprising an Industry Credit Inductive Lineage Construct Matrix containing People Elements, Places Elements, Projects Elements, and Things Elements derived from People Information, Places Information, Project Elements, and Things Elements; a plurality of Credit Constructs each of which is formed by associating two or more of the People Elements, the Places Elements, the Projects Elements, and the Things Elements and stored in the Industry Credit Inductive Lineage Construct Matrix of the Relational Database; and a Display Device for outputting Credit Bytes generated by combining the Credit Constructs upon query. | 01-07-2010 |
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 |
20100010860 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SOCIAL NETWORK ROUTING FOR REQUEST MATCHING IN ENTERPRISE ENVIRONMENTS - A plurality of requests for service are obtained, each of the requests specifying a description of work, at least one constraint, and at least one objective function. Each request is routed to a corresponding first target resource, according to a routing table, in a manner to satisfy the at least one constraint and the at least one objective function. Tracking is carried out to determine whether the first target resource accepts a given request, rejects the given request, or passes on the given request to a second resource. The routing table is updated based on the tracking. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010861 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A VIRTUAL COLLECTIONS CALL CENTER SYSTEM - Methods and systems for operating a virtual collections call center system are described. A system may include a database server, a telephony server, an auto dialer system, a Web server, and call agent computer systems, each geographically separated from the database server, the telephony server, the auto dialer system, the Web server and other call agent computer systems. The database server may store debtor records, each including a debtor telephone number. The telephony server may retrieve a debtor record from the database server. The auto dialer system may initiate a communication session with a debtor based on the debtor telephone number of the retrieved debtor record, establish a connection with the call agent after the debtor has accepted the communication session, and alert the telephony server that the communication session has been established. The Web server may initiate a Web session with the call agent computer system. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010862 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF A FIELD SERVICE OPERATION BASED ON GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION - Methods, apparatus and systems for computer-aided determination of quality assessment for locate and marking operations based on geographic information. In one example, information related to a locate and marking operation is electronically analyzed such that a quality assessment is based at least in part on first geographic information indicating at least one first location of a field-service technician following issuance of an instruction to perform the locate and marking operation, and second geographic information indicating at least one second location at which the location and marking operation was requested to be performed in the instruction. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010863 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF A FIELD SERVICE OPERATION BASED ON MULTIPLE SCORING CATEGORIES - Methods, apparatus and systems for computer-aided determination of quality assessment for locate and marking operations based on multiple scoring or grading categories. In one example, information related to a locate and marking operation is electronically analyzed such that a quality assessment is based at least in part on a plurality of quality assessment criteria, wherein each criterion has at least two scoring categories each associated with a scoring value or grade and having an expected data value or range of expected data values. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010864 | CONTACT PRIORITY SCHEDULE COORDINATOR - Systems of the present invention provide for coordinating schedules by assigning a priority level to a user and scheduling an event using an electronic calendar. An exemplary system may comprise a profile manager used to download information to a client side application on an electronic calendar to recommend a matching time slot common to available ranges of time slots provided by a first user and a second user. | 01-14-2010 |
20100017251 | Method and Apparatus for Describing and Profiling Employee Schedules - A method and apparatus are provided for identifying activities within a work schedule. The methods includes the steps of identifying an agent, defining at least one schedule profile associated with a single workday of the agent and identifying any occurrences within the work schedule that match the defined schedule profile. | 01-21-2010 |
20100017252 | WORK PACKET ENABLED ACTIVE PROJECT SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE - A method, system, and computer-readable medium for maintaining a project schedule of projects being executed within a software factory are presented. A project management tool receives alerts from the software factory as completion statuses, of software packets being used within the software factory, change. These alerts enable a consolidated and coordinated updating of the project schedule. | 01-21-2010 |
20100017253 | PROFILING SERVICE PROVIDER COMPANIES AND TECHNICIANS - Described herein is technology for, among other things, an electronic services marketplace. The technology involves creating and populating user accounts associated with service provider companies, where the user accounts include service provider company profiles. The technology further involves creating and populating technician profiles corresponding to the technicians of the service provider companies and associating the service provider company profiles with the corresponding technician profiles. The technology further involves receiving a request for services from a buyer, determining whether any of the technicians are able to perform the requested services, assigning the request for service to a particular technician that is able to perform the requested services, and routing payment for the requested service to a financial account associated with the service provider company associated with the particular technician. | 01-21-2010 |
20100017254 | ELECTRONIC SELECT PROVIDER NETWORK - Described herein is technology for, among other things, an electronic services marketplace. The technology involves establishing a first tier of service providers, establishing a second tier of service providers, routing a service order to the first tier of service providers, and routing the service order to the second tier of service providers if the service order is not accepted by one of the first tier service providers. | 01-21-2010 |
20100017255 | Fee estimation tool - A system for generating proposals, managing projects and reporting is disclosed. The present invention allows the user to perform several important functions. First, the software aids the user in estimating costs for a proposal, based on the number of personnel who are anticipated to the employed in the proposed project. Based on this, the program will allow the user to calculate fees, based on hourly billable rates. Additionally, the program can track utilization of all individuals, departments and contractors to determine excessive idle time or overload situations. The software can also be used to enter and track all costs for the project, including billable hours, contractors, materials, etc. The software allows the user to save past proposals and projects for historical and analytical purposes. A database is created from which the user is able to review past proposals, specifically similar ones, in order to better prepare current and future proposals. | 01-21-2010 |
20100017256 | PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHOD AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A method of managing a hierarchically structured project on a computer. The method defines each of subprojects composing the hierarchical structure, define each structure of the works composing each subproject, stores information about each work of the subproject, collects information about the corresponding works among the subprojects selected by the user as a compound work, and displays the information about the work on the compound-work basis. | 01-21-2010 |
20100017257 | Notification System and Method - A dispatching system adjusts resources to meet real-time changes in demand. When a customer requests service, a work assignment is generated and sent to an employee. When a customer cancels the requested service, a cancelation code is sent to the employee. The cancelation code informs the employee that the work assignment has been canceled. | 01-21-2010 |
20100023368 | DYNAMIC REQUEST WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM - A system includes a workflow assignment server including a web server to allow a user device to communicate with the system over a network. The system also includes an application server, a data store, a request form engine, and a workflow engine. The application servers include one or more processors to manage inputs from the user device. The data stores include request templates and one or more sets of data to configure a request form. The request form engine assembles a request form based on the request templates and the one or more sets of data, the assembling being initiated by a signal from one of the one or more application servers. The workflow engine receives a completed request form from one of the application servers and automatically assign one or more approvers for the request. | 01-28-2010 |
20100023369 | TURBOCHARGER FLEET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A system of monitoring the performance characteristics of a turbocharged engine and forecasting a performance parameter based on measured data include sensor components for measuring various performance parameters such as pressures and temperatures. The measured data may be received by electronic components that forward the data through networking components to computing components. The data may be stored in a database. Methods for forecasting turbocharger performance and indicating turbocharger malfunctions include retrieving measured data, performing calculations to correct at least a portion of the measured data, retrieving input from a user, performing regression analysis to determine a forecasting model used to forecast future values, and determining a time when the future values reach a user-specified level. | 01-28-2010 |
20100023370 | Systems and Methods for Assignment of Sales Leads - The invention provides systems and methods for processing sales leads. Illustratively, the invention provides a method of assigning sales leads in a network environment, the sales leads relating to persons interested in effecting a purchase, the method comprising: obtaining a lead, the lead including lead information relating to a person interested in effecting a purchase; loading the lead into a lead processing portion; determining if the lead is auto-assignable; assigning the lead to a sales agent; and outputting the lead information over the network environment to a lead distribution portion, so as to be accessible to the sales agent. | 01-28-2010 |
20100030609 | INTELLIGENT SYSTEM AND FUZZY LOGIC BASED METHOD TO DETERMINE PROJECT RISK - A method, service, and product for changing project length based on fuzzy logic techniques where a subject matter expert assigns a pre-determined risk rating to each of a set of tasks. A fuzzy engine assigns a human grammar to each of the pre-determined risk ratings for each of the set of tasks, the human grammar being defined by a numeric range and assigned to the risk rating for each value falling within the numeric range. The fuzzy engine determines which rules from a set of rules apply to the task with the assigned human grammar, the set of rules being preprogrammed into the fuzzy engine, which then evaluates the tasks with the assigned human grammar using the determined rules. The fuzzy engine thereafter creates an adjusted-time allocation for each task and creates an adjusted-task-length for the set of tasks based from all of the created adjusted time allocations. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030610 | Method and System for Controlling and Managing an Organization - A system and a method for generating computer displays of data and information for management and real-time control of an organization utilizing critical performance indicators of performance states in all operational activities. The data and information are displayed in networked computer screens using algorithms to efficiently handle all the myriad elements constituting the day-to-day operation of an organization. The CEO can observe on his screen any selected data from all the operating units. The CEO is immediately informed of a bottleneck in operation for his attention. Every senior manager of a department continuously receives the relevant actual performance data of his department, presenting the results of executed activities. This information is displayed in selectable operating periods. Managers are also able to view the displays on screens of other departments and review data giving them information on their performance as much as it relates to their operating unit within an organization. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030611 | System and apparatus to renovate and market mobile home after chattel mortgage default - A system facilitate the granting of a chattel mortgage and encourages the renovation and marketing of a mobile home after default on a chattel mortgage. A mortgage company grants a chattel mortgage on the mobile home including a monthly payment comprising a renovation fee. The mortgage company pays the renovation fee to a renovation company that renovates the mobile home after default of the chattel mortgage. The renovation company utilizes a renovation procedure that minimizes repair costs. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030612 | MOBILE TERMINAL CAPABLE OF MANAGING SCHEDULE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE MOBILE TERMINAL - A mobile terminal capable of managing schedule and a method of controlling the mobile terminal are provided. In order to register a new scheduled event to the mobile terminal, a schedule place corresponding to the new scheduled event may be displayed on a schedule map. Thereafter, a route between the schedule place and other routes may be established in consideration of a current location of the mobile terminal and traffic information. The clarity, color and/or shape of objects displayed on the schedule map may be changed in consideration of the current location of the mobile terminal or the traffic information. Therefore, a user may easily obtain various schedule information, current location information and traffic condition information from the schedule map. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030613 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GRAPHIC DESIGN AND MEDIA REQUEST AND FULFILLMENT - A method and system for purchasing a package containing art which includes selecting a package that includes a custom graphic design element from a group of available packages, purchasing the package selected, submitting specifications for the custom graphic design element, queuing the custom art for creation, utilizing the specifications to create the custom art, and storing the custom art in a digital asset management repository. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030614 | Systems and Methods for Facilitating an Analysis of a Business Project - Systems and methods for analyzing projects in a business entity including multiple groups and multiple levels of decision making authority are provided. Project identification data that identifies a particular project is received. A project categorization of the project is performed to categorize the project based on one or more of the size, general risks, and complexity of the project. An anti-corruption risk assessment of the project is performed to categorize an anti-corruption risk associated with the project. A group-specific risk assessment of the project is performed to categorize a risk associated with the project relevant to one of the multiple groups of the business entity. A limit of authority escalation level is automatically determined based at least on the results of (a) the project categorization, (b) the anti-corruption risk assessment, and (c) the group-specific risk assessment, wherein the limit of authority escalation level indicates a particular level of decision making authority of the business entity required to approve the project. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030615 | Computer-implemented method and system for collecting and communicating inspection information for a mechanism - A method for collecting and communicating inspection information for a vehicle is provided. The method comprises electrically transmitting repair order information from an original electronic repair order to initiate a repair on the vehicle. The repair order information designates a technician to perform the repair. The method further comprises electronically receiving a notification to indicate that the technician received the repair order information and electronically generating an electronic inspection form including a questionnaire for the technician to input inspection information in response to the notification. The method further comprises electronically receiving into the electronic inspection form the inspection information and determining that the electronic inspection form is complete based on whether at least one of the electronic inspection form has been generated and the inspection information is received. | 02-04-2010 |
20100036706 | QUEUE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - A method and apparatus for rostering staff in a service region such as a supermarket ( | 02-11-2010 |
20100036707 | MOBILE STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANAGING THE USE OF SAME - A mobile storage system including: a trailer adapted for towing by a vehicle; and a storage compartment removably mounted on the trailer, said compartment including a base, a roof, a front wall, a rear wall and a pair of side-walls; and doors disposed on at least the rear wall and at least one of the side walls, wherein the doors are adjustable between at least opened and closed positions; and a ramp positionable adjacent the storage compartment in order to provide for wheeled access into the storage compartment via at least one of the doors. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036708 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SCHEDULE SETTING IN A PORTABLE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - An apparatus and method for schedule setting in a portable communication system are provided. The apparatus includes an event manager for performing a process to set a schedule by appointing a duration of a day intended to perform schedule setting by a touch, or a process to set a schedule by a touch input defining a predefined menu input for the schedule setting. | 02-11-2010 |
20100042460 | SYSTEM FOR OBTAINING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM MULTIPLE RECOMMENDERS - A personalization network service enables developers to develop recommenders that can be made available to content site operators for providing recommendations to end users. The personalization network service may also be capable of optimizing the use and selection of the recommenders for different end users, groups or segments of end users, content sites, and the like. | 02-18-2010 |
20100042461 | GROUPING SERVICE ORDERS IN AN ELECTRONIC SERVICES MARKETPLACE - Described herein is technology for, among other things, grouping service orders in an electronic services marketplace. The technology involves receiving first and second service orders, comparing the first and second service orders, determining whether a relationship exists between certain criteria of the first and second service orders, and routing the first and second service orders together to a service provider that is to perform the services associated with the first and second service orders, when there is a relationship between the certain criteria of the first and second service orders. | 02-18-2010 |
20100042462 | SERVICES FOR SPONTANEOUS COLLABORATION - Servicing and/or providing spontaneous collaboration between a shopper and consultants concerning a shopping goal includes deriving information about the shopper's physical or logical proximity to a particular product category, combined with the current contents of his or her shopping cart is used to determine one or more shopping goals; as well as information about each potential consultant, including physical proximity, willingness to consult, areas of expertise and recent experience is used to rank each consultant in terms of relevance to one or more shopping goal. | 02-18-2010 |
20100042463 | Method and Apparatus for Supporting Delivery, Sale and Billing of Perishable and Time-Sensitive Goods Such as Newspapers, Periodicals and Direct Marketing and Promotional Materials - Systems and methods provide for tracking, controlling, optimizing, and otherwise managing the delivery of perishable and time-sensitive goods such as newspapers, periodicals and promotional materials to consumers, both subscribers and non-subscribers, and to retail outlets. One exemplary arrangement includes a web server, a database server, and handheld computers. A database including at least route delivery information may be created and at least portions of the database may be communicated to respective handheld devices for display. Time-sensitive goods such as newspapers or periodicals may be delivered based at least in part on the information displayed on the handheld devices, which are also used to collect information during said delivery. The collected information is communicated to the database for billing, reporting and analysis. Features include intelligent advanced shuffle handling and tracking, web-based planning tools, sequencing of distribution outlets along a trip or route, delivery without employing paper lists, trip management/tracking, intermittent or continual connectivity and/or data reporting, time stamping/time-based tracking, and retail manager signature input as part of data collection. Support for ASP, service-oriented business models may be provided. | 02-18-2010 |
20100049573 | AUTOMATED SECURITY PROVISIONING FOR OUTSOURCED OPERATIONS - A framework for provisioning security in an enterprise application. In an embodiment, a set of in-house roles and a set of outsourced roles are defined for a business function in the application. When a business unit is selected to perform the business function in-house, data roles specific to that business unit/business function association are created based on the set of in-house roles. When a business unit is selected to perform the business function in an outsourced capacity, data roles specific to that outsourcing relationship are created based on the set of outsourced roles. The data roles may then be associated with one or more users in the selected business unit. Using this framework, the appropriate security roles and privileges for performing a business function in an outsourced and/or in-house context may be explicitly defined within the application system. In addition, the roles and privileges may be provisioned in an automated manner. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049574 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING MANUFACTURING WORKFORCE - A method and system for optimizing the manufacturing workforce and reducing workforce boredom in an assembly plant is provided. A master database contains all the plant workers along with all of the assembly tasks required to be performed at the assembly plant for a predetermined period, a repetitive threshold value for each worker, and a burden value for each assembly task. Each worker is assigned to a particular assembly task based upon the attributes of the worker and the assembly task requirements. A first schedule is generated by matching assembly tasks to a worker. The first schedule is then used to generate a second schedule such that workers do not exceed a repetitive value threshold or a burden value threshold. Thus the method and system generates schedules such that workers are given a variety of assembly tasks and therefore are not bored by performing the same task repetitively. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049575 | Supply Chain Management - An interface to a transactional system of a trading partner provides electronic communications to at least one participant in a supply chain for a product or service provided by the trading partner. The interface provides the electronic communications in a common format used by an interface to the at least one participant's transactional system. The electronic communications include at least automated messages providing a current progress of the supply chain. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049576 | DISPATCH AND SERVICE SUPPORT SYSTEM - A service support system includes a service request interface, a dispatch system interface, a service assignment module, and a request verification module. The service request interface is configured to communicate with a service request system. The dispatch system interface is configured to communicate with a dispatch system. The service assignment module is configured to assign a service request to a technician from a pool of available technicians based at least in part on a historical technician performance statistic. The service request is received via the service request interface. The service assignment module notifies the technician of the service request via the dispatch system interface. The request verification module is configured to acquire the service request through at least one of the service request interface and a service order provisioning and billing system. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049577 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A PROJECT TASK - The invention relates to a system and method for monitoring and controlling the performance of a task, such as for example, the construction of a building. The specific modules required to complete the task are identified and, in turn, the functions required to complete each module are identified. The performance of each function, the time taken to perform the function and other features are monitored. Typically the next function in each module cannot be performed until the previous function in that module has been accepted. An efficient and structured performance of the task is therefore achieved. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049578 | Method and apparatus for managing food products in quick serve restaurants - A product management system for quick serve restaurants that displays to the staff what to cook on a main control unit | 02-25-2010 |
20100049579 | DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A control method for controlling a data processing apparatus capable of communicating with a management apparatus that manages a starting date and time and an ending date and time of a conference to be held in a conference room and a presence/absence of a participant attending the conference in the conference room includes storing electronic data managed in association with the conference in a storage unit, and invalidating the electronic data stored in the storage unit based on the starting date and time of the conference and the presence/absence of the participant in the conference room or the ending date and time of the conference and a presence/absence of a person in the conference room, which are managed by the management apparatus. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049580 | SERVICES FOR SPONTANEOUS COLLABORATION - Servicing and/or providing spontaneous collaboration between a shopper and consultants concerning a shopping goal includes deriving information about the shopper's physical or logical proximity to a particular product category, combined with the current contents of his or her shopping cart is used to determine one or more shopping goals; as well as information about each potential consultant, including physical proximity, willingness to consult, areas of expertise and recent experience is used to rank each consultant in terms of relevance to one or more shopping goal. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049581 | SERVICES FOR SPONTANEOUS COLLABORATION - An apparatus for providing spontaneous collaboration between a shopper and consultants concerning a shopping goal derives information about the shopper's physical or logical proximity to a particular product category, combined with the current contents of his or her shopping cart is used to determine one or more shopping goals; as well as information about each potential consultant, including physical proximity, willingness to consult, areas of expertise and recent experience is used to rank each consultant in terms of relevance to one or more shopping goal. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049582 | METHOD AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR EVENT MONITORING - An event management method, program product and system for monitoring the status of a purchase order involves receiving purchase order information from a user, obtaining timeline information corresponding to the purchase order, receiving information from one or more sources on the status of the purchase order, using the received information to monitor progress of the purchase order against the timeline information, and providing a notification to the user upon identification of a missed date in the timeline information. Remedial measures are suggested or taken by the event management system. | 02-25-2010 |
20100057518 | Constraint Programming with Efficient Ordering of Variables - A method for resource management includes associating respective variables with resource consumers, and identifying resources as values applicable to the variables. A group of the variables are identified as preferred variables. An assignment of the values to the variables that satisfies constraints applying to the allocation of the resources is found by repeatedly performing the steps of choosing a variable from the group, instantiating the chosen variable with a value, removing the chosen variable from the group, and pruning the domains of the other variables by propagation of the constraints. The resources are assigned to the resource consumers responsively to the assignment of the values to the variables. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057519 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSIGNING SERVICE REQUESTS WITH DUE DATE DEPENDENT PENALTIES - A system and method for deciding assignments for service requests includes determining a best policy, within a class of index-based policies, based upon historic data for handling previous requests. If a service request is waiting to be handled, an index for service requests is determined based upon the best policy and service requests are assigned to agents based upon the index. Service requests are preempted if a waiting service has a higher index than other service requests. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057520 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STANDARDIZING AND MANAGING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS - A process for managing information technology (IT) products within an organization may include defining categories of IT products being utilized by an organization. A management structure may be assigned to each IT product category, where the management structure identifies at least one individual having responsibility for each respective IT product category. An inventory list of IT products being used by the organization may be created. The IT products may be mapped to the IT product categories and management structure. A disposition status from among a plurality of potential disposition statuses may be assigned to each of the IT products. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057521 | CONTACT CENTER SIZING AND BROADCASTING BASED ON PROBABILITIES - A contact center or enterprise communication system is provided. The system includes a first contact associated with a first task offer; one or more resources operable to accept the first task offer; and a contact center or enterprise communication system operable to determine a broadcast group of the one or more resources as a function of an acceptance factor for one or more of the resources. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057522 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A COLLABORATIVE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GOVERNANCE - A system and method for a situational solution for collaborative information technology governance. The system comprises a situational environment information technology governance (SEIG) tool configured to facilitate one or more processes including: an entry process; a selection process; an authentication process; and a communication process. The method comprises entering a situation using the SEIG tool and describing the situation. The method further comprises choosing one or more applicable teams or subject matter experts and communicating with the one or more applicable teams and the subject matter experts using a collaborative technology. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057523 | METHOD FOR OPTIMIZATION OF THE DETERMINATION OF THE ACTUAL PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS FOR CREATION OF A DUTY ROSTER FOR A HOTEL, A GUESTHOUSE, AND/OR A RESTAURANT - Method for optimization of the determination of the actual personnel requirement for creation of a service plan for a hotel, a guesthouse and/or a restaurant with the aid of a data processing system having a memory, a processor, at least one input unit, at least one interface to a reservation program and a budget planning program as well as a common user interface, with the method comprising the following steps: a) storage of employee data, including individual employee characteristics, b) storage of department-specific requirements and/or event-dependent requirements, c) immediate entry of those absent, d) inclusion of data relating to current occupancy via the interface to a reservation program and to a budget planning program, e) determination of the actual or current personnel requirement, or the personnel required for a time period which can be defined, on the basis of the required employee hours per department, with the aid of department-specific formulae based on the data from the method steps a) to d) and f) display of a report on the common user interface. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057524 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING REAL ESTATE INFORMATION USING A COMPUTER NETWORK, SUCH AS THE INTERNET - The present invention provides methods and systems for providing real-estate information using a computer network, such as the Internet. A buyer information web page showing relevant buyer list information in an easy-to-read, summary format is created and displayed to a real estate agent. Buyer information provided includes summaries of various aspects of information needed by a real estate agent to effectively represent and assist a buyer. Examples of information provided include a potential buyer name, a new activity summary summarizing newly-listed properties and other activity meeting the buyer's profile, a new views summary summarizing any views of detailed property information by the buyer using an online property data search and information system provided by the agent, and a new tags summary summarizing any properties that the buyer or the agent finds of particular interest. Moreover, a comparative market analysis (CMA) list web page showing relevant CMA information in an easy-to-read, summary format is also created and displayed to the real estate agent. | 03-04-2010 |
20100063859 | Method and system for research and development management in an enterprise - A method and system for capturing research decision flow in a Research and Development (R&D) activity are provided. The method includes defining an objective of the R&D activity and determining one or more requirements for fulfilling the objective of the R&D activity. Further, the method includes identifying a set of risks associated with failure to satisfy the one or more requirements. Furthermore, the method also includes developing a task plan to satisfy the one or more requirements and mitigate one or more risks of the set of risks. Furthermore, the method also includes linking the objective, the one or more requirements, the set of risks and the task plan, to generate a linked information record. | 03-11-2010 |
20100063860 | Method for managing a business process related to a document publishing project - Management of the processes involved with document publishing involves identifying tasks associated with the processing of information that is to form the publication and assigning worker resources to such tasks. Time to complete the tasks are estimated and schedules are developed. Actual work time is measured. Reports are generated and a planning tool is provided. | 03-11-2010 |
20100070327 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELF-UPDATING INTELLIGENT PROCEDURE DURATION ESTIMATION FOR PATIENT SCHEDULING - Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for self-updating procedure duration estimation for patient scheduling. A scheduling system for scheduling procedures in a clinical environment includes historical procedure data including stored duration values for a procedure. The scheduling system also includes a user interface providing scheduling and procedure duration information to a user for scheduling the procedure for a patient. The scheduling system further includes a scheduling engine estimating one or more duration values for the procedure for scheduling the procedure for a patient. The scheduling engine establishes a default duration value for a procedure and updating the default duration value based on the historical procedure duration data. The scheduling engine provides a plurality of procedure durations including the updated default duration value to the user for selection via the user interface. The scheduling engine schedules a procedure using a user selected value for procedure duration. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070328 | Managing Project Schedule Data Using Project Task State Data - A project management system manages project schedule data using project task state data. The project task state data indicates the current state of project tasks and is used to determine which project tasks are to be included in a member schedule editor, member schedule reports and inspection reports. The project management system also provides support for various inspection functionality. This includes, for example, identifying and naming inspection material for use in inspection meeting forms and inspection meeting documents. The inspection functionality also includes generating an inspection index and an inspection statistics report. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070329 | Architectural Design for Opportunity Management Application Software - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing ad-hoc goods movement. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include, for example, a lead processing process component that handles the potential interests of a business partner and the interactions with the business partner over a certain timeframe; an opportunity processing process component that handles the development, processing, and monitoring of opportunities; a customer quote processing process component that handles the processing of quotes to customers offering the delivery of goods according to specific terms; and a sales order processing process component that handles the processing of customers' requests to seller for delivery of goods, on a specific date, for a specific quantity, and for a specific price. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070330 | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN FOR CUSTOMER RETURNS HANDLING APPLICATION SOFTWARE - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing customer returns handling. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include an Accounting process component, a Customer Return Processing process component, a Sales Order Processing process component, a Customer Invoice Processing process component, a Due Item Processing process component, a Balance of Foreign Payment Management process component, a Payment Processing process component, a Supply and Demand Matching process component, an Inventory Processing process component, a Site Logistics Processing process component, and an Inbound Delivery Processing process component. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070331 | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN FOR SERVICE REQUEST AND ORDER MANAGEMENT APPLICATION SOFTWARE - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing service request and order management. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include an Outbound Delivery process component, a Site Logistics Processing process component, an Inventory Processing process component, a Customer Requirement Processing process component, a Supply and Demand Matching process component, a Logistics Execution Control process component, a Service Request Processing process component, a Service Order Processing process component, and a Service Confirmation Processing process component. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070332 | METHOD FOR EVALUATING PROJECT - The present invention provides a method, system and computer program product for evaluating a project. The project includes one or more tasks. A plurality of stakeholders is assigned to each task. The stakeholders include a task owner and one or more external stakeholders. Each task is performed by the corresponding task owner. A plurality of ratings is assigned to each task by the corresponding task owner and the corresponding external stakeholders, based on one or more evaluation criteria. An evaluation index indicating the quality of the project is determined based on the ratings. | 03-18-2010 |
20100076807 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A method and apparatus for controlling an electronic device is provided, the electronic device having a processing unit interconnecting a memory and a display module, the processing unit configured to control the display module. The method comprises receiving, at the processing unit, first data representative of a meeting request. The method further comprises retrieving, at the processing unit, second data representative of an existing schedule, from the memory. The method further comprises generating at the processing unit a proposed schedule by merging the first data with the second data. The method further comprises, via the processing unit, controlling the display module to generate a representation of the proposed schedule on the display module. | 03-25-2010 |
20100076808 | Method and System for Automated Center Workflow - Described herein are systems and methods for automating workflow of assigning jobs and tracking the process. The exemplary method comprises receiving job data for a plurality of jobs, assigning a current job to one of a plurality of users based on a business rule, sending the current job to the one of the users, and receiving further data for the current job. Additional exemplary methods comprise marking the current job complete when the further data is an indication that the job has been successfully completed. Further exemplary methods comprise sending the current job to a problem resolver when the further data is an indication that the job includes a problem. The exemplary system comprises a job tracking tool receiving job data for a plurality of jobs and assigning a current job to one of a plurality of users based on a business rule, a messaging system receiving the current job from the job tracking tool and forwarding the job to the user; and a work order system receiving the job via the messaging system if the user determines that the job data for the job is correct. | 03-25-2010 |
20100076809 | ASSET OPTIMIZATION REPORTING IN A PROCESS PLANT - A process control system uses an asset optimization reporter to collect status information of dissimilar types pertaining to the assets of a process plant from various data sources of the plant including, for example, data tools, data collectors, and data generators. This status information is used to generate reports that may be displayed to various users, including maintenance persons, process control persons and business persons. The status information may be used as the basis for further types of status information and/or be categorized in based on an assessment of relative consequence, where each category has a spectrum of status quality values between a good status quality and a relatively worse status quality. The reports are generally displayed via a user interface routine that enables users to view the status information as a graphical representation having a leg of a normalized spectrum of values for each category arranged in order of the relative consequence, the relative status quality value being identified at a point on the respective leg. | 03-25-2010 |
20100076810 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AN ONLINE RESERVATION SYSTEM FOR SERVICES SELECTABLE FROM MULTIPLE CATEGORIES - The present invention teaches an online reservation system providing services of multiple categories of service providers. A user may enter the online reservation system by clicking on a button either embedded in a directory services search result for a particular service provider or located on a particular service provider's website. Alternatively, a user may search for service providers through the online reservation system by entering criteria such as category of service, pricing, rating, location, or time and day of availability of the service. Both users and service providers receive electronic confirmation and reminders for the booked appointments. Service providers may integrate all of their appointments with a calendar maintained by the online reservation system. The system automatically collects client data and may provide accounting services. | 03-25-2010 |
20100082396 | Event Synchronized Reporting in Process Control Systems - Methods, systems, and computer-executable instructions for event synchronized reporting in an process control system are disclosed. Events may be synchronized by a synchronization parameter, whose instances of occurrence may be non-contiguous in time. Examples of synchronization parameters may include a work shift, a work group, an individual's on-duty time, a logged-on period of an individual, the execution times of a process control entity, a batch run type, and a procedure or sub-unit of a batch run. Instances of occurrence of the synchronization parameter may be recorded into a process control event database. Event synchronized reports may contain at least one synchronization value based on both the instances of occurrence of the synchronization parameter as well as historical process control data. Data from various historian databases may be accessed from process control system tools and integrated into a single report. | 04-01-2010 |
20100088143 | CALENDAR EVENT SCHEDULING - The described implementations relate to calendar event scheduling. One system includes a storage component configured to store scheduling constraints relating to at least one user. The system also includes a declarative calendar component configured to automatically schedule declarative calendar events for the at least one user based upon the scheduling constraints. | 04-08-2010 |
20100088144 | SCHEDULING SESSIONS OF MULTI-SPEAKER EVENTS - A method of scheduling events includes receiving event data specifying one or more sessions for an event, an event duration that encompasses a plurality of time slots, a respective duration for each session, a respective start time for the event and zero or more of the sessions, and information describing a plurality of attendees; generating a first list of each possible set of time slots within which each session can be scheduled based upon the respective start times; generating a second list by removing each possible set of time slots for each session that is less than the duration specified for the session; individually performing a scheduling process for each session that comprises allocating a respective set of time slots for the session in a schedule, removing each possible set of time slots for the session that is not equivalent to the set of time slots allocated, and removing each possible set of time slots for each other session that includes at least one time slot allocated for the session; and sending a respective electronic message presenting the schedule to each attendee. | 04-08-2010 |
20100088145 | METHOD AND COMPUTER FOR CREATING COMMUNICATOR'S SCHEDULE - A computer (server | 04-08-2010 |
20100088146 | Core Area Territory Planning for Optimizing Driver Familiarity and Route Flexibility - Route planning methods for use by a package delivery service provider are disclosed that satisfy a stochastic daily demand while taking advantage of drivers' route familiarity over time. A model for estimating the value of driver familiarity is disclosed along with both an empirical and a mathematical model for estimating the value of route consistency, along with a Core Area Route Design which involves the concepts of combinatorial optimization, meta-heuristic algorithms, tabu search heuristics, network formulation modeling, and multi-stage graph modeling. In one embodiment, a service territory is divided into unassigned cells associated with a grid segment involving prior driver delivery stops, and a driver from a pool of unassigned drivers is assigned to a route based on examining each driver's grid segment visiting frequency limit with respect to a minimum limit so as to optimize driver selection based on of each driver's familiarity with the route. | 04-08-2010 |
20100088147 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FILTERING EXCEPTIONS GENERATED BY FORECASTING AND REPLENISHMENT ENGINE - A system and method for storing, filtering, selecting and manipulating business exceptions generated by forecasting and replenishment processes and systems. When an exception is generated, it will be associated with attributes corresponding to those business objects and business areas to which the exception relates. Exceptions may also be associated with administrative attributes such as status, priority and generation date, as well as information identifying the specific business process that generated the exception. Generated forecasting and replenishment exceptions may be directed to a transitory dialog message. Alternatively, forecasting and replenishment exceptions may be logged or stored in a database for future review and treatment. Within an exceptions monitor or workbench tool, a business replenishment specialist may browse, search, select, review, filter, rearrange, edit, forward and/or respond to generated exceptions. Exceptions may be filtered tacitly according to a user profile associated with the business replenishment specialist. Alternatively, exceptions may be filtered according to explicitly supplied selection criteria. | 04-08-2010 |
20100094678 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING DELAY NOTIFICATIONS - The disclosed embodiments present a system and method for providing delay notifications to attendees/virtual receptionists associated with an identified delayed calendar appointment. In addition, the disclosed embodiments provide automatic rescheduling of a delayed calendar appointment. Further, the disclosed embodiments provide advance tracking delay notifications by monitoring a user's current location in relation to a location of a scheduled calendar appointment. | 04-15-2010 |
20100094679 | ESTABLISHING AND MANAGING MENTOR-PROTEGE RELATIONSHIPS - Methods, systems and computer readable medium for establishing a relationship between a mentor and a protégé in a workplace. The relationship is established after executing a query of a database to find matches between attributes of a requesting prospective protégé and attributes of a number of candidate mentors, where the database stores attributes of each candidate mentor. The requesting prospective protégé and the candidate mentors are both employed in the workplace, and the matches are determined in accordance with a policy of the workplace. Based on results of the query, an invitation is made to a first candidate mentor. The invitation includes attributes of the requesting prospective protégé and a request that the first candidate mentor accept a mentor-protégé relationship with the requesting protégé. The prospective protégé is notified of an identity and selected attributes of the first candidate mentor only after the first candidate mentor accepts the request. | 04-15-2010 |
20100094680 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING WEB-BASED MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS - A centralized web-based system and method for managing appointments having a user interface that interacts with one or more users to display one or more items based on user input, a management module connected to the user interface and configured to receive data related to scheduling an appointment, determine one or more possible appointments based on the data, present the one or more possible appointments, receive a user selection from the one or more possible appointments, and schedule the appointment based on the user selection, and one or more databases configured to store appointment information, wherein the one or more databases are connected to the management module and wherein the data comprises a date and time slot and at least one of a facility, a service, and a servicer. | 04-15-2010 |
20100100412 | WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT IN A GLOBAL SUPPORT ORGANIZATION - Customer support involves multiple levels of support, where customer support personnel at higher levels have more experience and a higher cost associated with their services. A random assignment of support personnel to a problem, at lower levels, can lead to multiple call transfers, a customer being put “on hold”, ineffective resource utilization, and high service costs being billed to customers. Functionality can be implemented to assign a support person to resolve the customer's problem based on a multi-dimensional dynamic social network database of resources (e.g., personnel experience, success rate, skill set, social network, etc.) which allows for efficient assignment of support personnel to a problem. Routing a customer call to the most appropriate support person at a given level before determining support personnel at higher levels can ensure optimization in terms of return on investment and resource utilization. Optimally selecting and assigning support personnel can also ensure customer satisfaction. | 04-22-2010 |
20100100413 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRIORITIZING MEETING ATTENDEES - A system for prioritizing meeting attendees based on a scheduling user's perspective in an event scheduling system. The system provides a user interface for a scheduling user that enables them to prioritize individual prospective attendees, or groups of prospective attendees, in a way allows for easier evaluation by the scheduling user of a greater number of potential event times for a desired event, in situations where it may not be possible to establish an acceptable event time across all prospective attendees. The scheduling user can indicate a number N of priority levels, and the disclosed system operates to supply prospective event times relevant to each priority. Accordingly, where a scheduling user has assigned prospective attendees to priorities | 04-22-2010 |
20100106549 | KAIZEN NEWSPAPER - Systems, computer program products, and methods are disclosed for tracking an improvement event. An embodiment includes an event interface configured to receive a plurality of entries related to each of a plurality of improvement events. The plurality of entries includes a project identifier for the improvement event, a creation date, an objective, an action related to reaching the objective, and a first deadline related to the improvement event. A database interface is configured to store the plurality of entries in an event database. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106550 | ACTIVITY POST AND SEARCH SYSTEM AND METHOD - An activity assignment system is provided which establishes a ‘win-win’ environment benefiting both an employer as well as an employee. Generally, the innovation promotes professional development by providing mechanisms to promote volunteer opportunities within business units of an organization. By enabling employees to bid on intra- and inter-unit opportunities, these mechanisms promote cross-training and personal development. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106551 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESS MANAGEMENT - Process management involves identifying a thread in response to an electronic messaging operation of a process. The thread includes data that collectively describes states and relationships of interrelated tasks of the process. A state of the thread is generated in response to the electronic messaging operation. The state of the thread represents a state of the process. A user interface rendering of the thread is facilitated in response to the electronic message operation. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106552 | ON-DEMAND ACCESS TO TECHNICAL SKILLS - A method, system, and computer program product for providing a user with intelligent access to a skilled consultant. In response to receiving a user input describing an issue about which consultation is desired, the method includes mapping the user input to one or more selected problem domains. Based on a list of skill(s) for consulting in the selected problem domain, the selected problem domain is mapped to a consultant set of one or more consultants associated with the skill(s). The consultant set is filtered to determine whether consultant(s) in the consultant set are available to consult utilizing communication via a data processing system (DPS). A consultation request is sent to available consultant(s) in the consultant set. In response to receiving, from an available consultant, an acceptance of the consultation request, the consulting information is communicated between the available consultant and the user in substantially real time via the DPS. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106553 | COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND AGENDA MANAGING METHOD THEREOF - A communication device and method for managing agendas includes setting options for each of the agenda, generating the agendas, and retrieving contact information from a contact option of each of the agendas. The communication device and the method further includes determining one or more contacts corresponding to the agendas according to the retrieved contact information, and generating an agenda contact group comprising the determined one or more contacts. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106554 | Office management solution - A software method and utility for business practice management based on a prescribed workflow with defined interactions between the users of the system, the clients of the business practice, and information relating to the clients or assets of the business practice. The system facilitates management of assets and human resources, including employees, client accounts, inventory, and records using a modular approach. | 04-29-2010 |
20100114641 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING WORK REQUESTS - The disclosure is directed to a method and system for processing work requests, preferably prototype operations work requests (POWR). In one of the embodiments the method is an automated method to be performed in a computing environment for processing a work request. The method comprises the steps of receiving the work request, inputting the work request into an electronic database, creating electronic work request instructions, linking the electronic work request instructions to multiple networked computers, transmitting between the networked computers electronic notifications relating to the work request instructions, and providing service reports filtered on specific data of interest relating to history and completion of the work request. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114642 | OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT SOLUTION FOR MEDIA PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION - A method for managing tasks and user operations on media using a model of resources management dealing with the complexity of situation which occur in a production/distributions system is provided. The method is based on a workplace infrastructure, a task-oriented user interface and a work package management system. The method optimizes operations in media production/distribution environment through a workflow-based user interface that handles Work packages, Workplaces, Tasks, Assets and Contents. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114643 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVED SCHEDULING OF PERFORMANCES IN A DIGITAL CINEMA SYSTEM - The presentation start times of digital cinema presentations can be controlled by a method initiated by first matching a delay condition to at least one of a set of rules specifying presentation start time adjustments for the digital cinema presentations for particular delay conditions. The presentation start times in the digital cinema system then undergo an adjustment in accordance with the at least one rule matching the delay condition. The digital cinema presentations are then played out at the adjusted presentation start times. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114644 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SCHEDULING CONTACT CENTER AGENTS - Systems and methods for scheduling workforces are provided. In this regard, a representative method includes: generating a forecast requirement related to a volume of work to be handled by a first workforce and a second workforce, wherein the second workforce is remote from the first workforce; generating work schedules for personnel of the second workforce based on the forecast requirement and skills of the personnel of the second workforce; receiving information corresponding to the work schedules and the skills of the personnel of the second workforce that share work with the first workforce, wherein the work schedules comprise activities; correlating the skills contained in the information with skills that are to be used for scheduling personnel of the first workforce; correlating the activities contained in the information with activities that are to be used for scheduling the personnel of the first workforce; and generating work schedules for the personnel of the first workforce based, at least in part, on a correlation between the skills of the personnel of the second workforce and the first workforce and a correlation between the activities of the personnel of the second workforce and the first workforce. | 05-06-2010 |
20100114645 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATIC SCHEDULING OF A WORKFORCE - Systems and methods are disclosed for scheduling overtime and time-off for a workforce. In one embodiment, a method of workforce scheduling to handle an expected workload comprises, in an instruction execution system, receiving a first workforce schedule describing existing assignments of a plurality of workers to a plurality of shifts, each of the shifts being associated with a time range and a day; in response to a variance in the expected workload, selecting a modification to the first workforce schedule required to handle the variance in the expected workload during the day; and producing a second workforce schedule that modifies the length of at least one of the plurality of shifts to accommodate the modification to the first workforce schedule. | 05-06-2010 |
20100121672 | System and method for identifying and managing customer needs - The system monitors the activity of customers, agents, and industry-experts in a network for new topics relevant to a business and the interests in those topics. A determination is made automatically if there is enough interest to warrant adding a skill. If there is not enough interest, the system continues to monitor for topics and interests. If there is enough interest, the system automatically projects a resource needed for a skill. The system monitors internal resources and the network to determine if the resource needed for the skill exists in an internal resource. If the resource needed for the skill exists in an internal resource, the internal resource is reallocated. If the resource needed for the skill does exist in the internal resource, the system monitors the network for an external resource that has the skill. | 05-13-2010 |
20100121673 | MESSAGE NOTIFICATION METHOD, WORK MANAGEMENT DEVICE, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - A work management device having a plurality of notification devices of which corresponding notification manners are different from each other and managing jobs performed by a plurality of workers notifies a message to part or all of the plurality of workers. When the work management device has changed job information stored in advance in a storage device of the work management device, the work management device calculates an importance of a change of the job information for each of the plurality of workers, selects one or more from the plurality of notification devices according to the calculated importances, and notifies each of the pertinent workers of a message relating to the change of the job information by the use of the selected notification device. | 05-13-2010 |
20100121674 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING SCHEDULE CONSIDERING ATTENDANTS' CONTEXT IN MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL - An apparatus and a method for generating a schedule considering attendants' context in a mobile communication terminal are provided. The method includes obtaining location information of attendants, determining a travel time for each attendant to travel to a location of a schedule to be generated using the obtained location information, displaying the determined travel time on a time table in the form of a time limit. | 05-13-2010 |
20100125482 | Contractor Assessment - A contractor assessment system assists clients in identifying the best contractors for a large-scale construction project, including information on past performances (lagging indicators), strengths, and weaknesses (leading indicators). For example, clients can include owners, real estate developers, contractors, and insurance carriers. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125483 | Method and Apparatus to Facilitate Using a Highest Level of a Hierarchical Task Model To Facilitate Correlating End User Input With a Corresponding Meaning - One receives input ( | 05-20-2010 |
20100131326 | IDENTIFYING A SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE SHARED SERVICES PROJECT - An approach that identifies a service oriented architecture (SOA) shared services project is provided. In one embodiment, there is a project identification tool, including an opportunity component configured to identify a SOA shared services opportunity. A project component is configured to identify a potential SOA shared services project based on the SOA shared services opportunity. | 05-27-2010 |
20100131327 | COLLABORATIVE METHOD AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION SYSTEM FOR A TRUST-BASED BUSINESS COMMUNITY - A collaborative method and its implementation system for a trust-based business community, enables a business person, who behaves as a function of a corporation, to invite his/her business partners to form a trust-based business community. Through this method and system, the business person can create, conduct and commit/abort a collaborative activity with their business partners to achieve a business objective. This method and system are also defined as a participation mechanism, which effectively addresses the mixed situations of competition and collaboration. Based on legal-binding invitation and principle of good faith, the system can support the establishment of such a TBC, thus providing a good collaboration platform for the companies to do business effectively and efficiently in today's business world. The key application of this method and system is for Collaborative Sourcing and Product Development, which helps a buyer to source and develop products with multiple suppliers in a single process, wherein some suppliers may be competitive to each others and some are collaborative to each others. | 05-27-2010 |
20100131328 | Method and System of Promoting Alternate Dispute Resolution - A method and system of performing an alternate dispute resolution procedure by: providing an alternate dispute entity that is a scheduling service, facilitator and provider of mediation and/or arbitration services. An inviter asks the entity to initiate a mediation or arbitration procedure with an opposing party who has not been informed by the inviter of his/her decision to mediate or arbitrate. The entity extends an invitation to mediate or arbitrator to the opposing party. If the invitee accepts the invitation, the entity selects a mediator from a pool of mediators; and conducts the mediation via webcam on the entities website or at a location selected by said inviter and invitee. | 05-27-2010 |
20100138268 | PROGRESS MANAGEMENT PLATFORM - A device receives milestone information and dependency information associated with a project, generates a milestone flow chart based on the milestone information and the dependency information, and represents one or more milestones, in the milestone flow chart, with one or more nodes. The device also represents one or more dependencies among the one or more milestones with one or more directed arcs provided between corresponding nodes of the one or more nodes, and calculates a critical path associated with the one or more milestones. The device further represents the critical path with bolded directed arcs provided between corresponding nodes of the one or more nodes, and provides the milestone flow chart, including the representations of the one or more milestones, the one or more dependencies, and the critical path, for display. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138269 | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN FOR SELLING PROJECT-BASED SERVICES APPLICATION SOFTWARE - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing the selling of project-based services are disclosed. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include a Project Processing process component that supports the management of projects, a Supplier Invoice Processing process component that manages supplier invoices, an Accounting process component that records relevant business transactions, a Customer Invoice Processing process component that manages customer invoices, and a Goods and Service Acknowledgement process component that receives a confirmation from an employee of goods received or services rendered. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138270 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISTRIBUTING REMOTE TECHNICAL SUPPORT VIA A CENTRALIZED SERVICE - The solution described herein provides an innovative use of remote services technology integrated with service personnel onsite at the point of service, such as a consumer repair outlet, to provide a pool of technical support resources to service a widely distributed resource need, such as support and repair resource needs of a chain of consumer outlets or an aggregated group of single proprietor consumer outlets. With this solution, qualified technical resources are provided from a central location to service a widely distributed retail environment. This is on-demand online remote support service is called or referred to as “support from a spigot.” The distribution method enables the delivery of higher quality, more reliable and overall lower cost services. Instead of requiring dedicated technical resources at each location, lower skilled labor may be deployed at the location to enable the remote technical support services process. | 06-03-2010 |
20100145759 | Computer system and method for statewide or other jurisdiction registering and monitoring of vehicle locations - A computer system and a method as a part of the registration and/or inspection system of a state or other jurisdiction results in the assignment of a vehicle identification code to each vehicle and notification to the registrant to take the vehicle to an inspection/installation facility wherein a GPS receiver and transmitter are either installed, updated or checked for operability on a regular basis, such as yearly. Each registered vehicle in a state or other jurisdiction, as a result of the regular registration process or as the result of a temporary registration process when the vehicle enters the state temporarily, has a GPS receiver and transmitter transmit in real time location data of the vehicle via a wireless communication system such a WiFi, cellular, satellite or other system to an electronic storage subsystem which stores for each vehicle identification code the location data and time in real time and maintains it for a predetermined period of time, such as twelve months. This data may be accessed by authorized users for various purposes including law enforcement, emergency responses and/or roadway planning studies and the like. The data may also be used in settlement of negligence or criminal complaints. An alarm detection system detects either the loss of signal or a tampering signal transmitted to the state computer system. | 06-10-2010 |
20100145760 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO PROCESS NETWORK ACCESS SERVICE ORDERS - Methods and apparatus to process network access service orders are disclosed herein. An example apparatus to enable an entity to automatically process a network access service order associated with a subscriber includes a database to store information related to a plurality of access providers, the information including estimated periods of time for respective ones of the access providers to process access service requests (ASRs); and a service order coordinator to schedule creation and conveyance of a first ASR based on an estimated due date of a second ASR and at least one of the estimated periods of time in the database | 06-10-2010 |
20100145761 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ALTERNATIVE SIMULATION OF LOGISTICS INFRASTRUCTURE - A future amount is created through demand estimation by rectifying data administrated in a logistics infrastructure through a system and a method for alternative simulation of a logistics infrastructure. In addition, an infrastructure load by a future year amount is analyzed and an alternative is selected through the load analysis. | 06-10-2010 |
20100153163 | Services registry and method for enabling determination of the quality of a service therein - A services registry and method for enabling determination of the quality of a service provided therein are presented. The registry includes a service-oriented architecture (SOA) repository that takes as input information from a plurality of data sources that map to a plurality of rating dimensions. The registry further includes a rating calculation engine that receives service characteristics for a service and calculates, based on category weightings and rating rules that are customizable by an organization, a service quality rating for provision to service consumers that takes into account the plurality of rating dimensions. The rating calculation engine recalculates the service quality rating over time as the service is being used and goes through lifecycle stages. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153164 | BUSINESS MODELING AND ALGORITHMS FOR RESOLVING BUSINESS DAYS AND HOURS ON A CALENDAR - A system and method for business calendar event modeling comprises receiving a plurality of events from a computerized calendar user wherein each event is classified as an OnTime, OffTime or OtherTime event. Wherein, an OnTime event is defined as a calendar period where the calendar user is available, an OffTime event is defined as a calendar period where the calendar user is unavailable; and an OtherTime event is defined as a calendar period unrelated to the calendar user's availability. Then, calculating the calendar user's net OnTime, wherein net OnTime is a sum of periods of a day wherein an OnTime event period does not overlap with an OffTime event period. Also, calculating user available days wherein a user available day is a day having net OnTime. Calculating the number of user available days, hours and minutes before an event. And, finally alerting a user to an event at a predetermined number of days, hours or minutes before the event; or escalating an incomplete event at a predetermined number of days, hours or minutes after the event. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153165 | System and Method for Dispatching Field Technicians Based on Locations of Virtual Warehouses - A method is disclosed for determining a technician to dispatch to a customer site requiring a service call. A first plurality of technicians assigned to a customer site requiring a service call is determined. A location of each of the technicians is also determined. A first plurality of distances is determined between each of the technicians and a plurality of locations at which is disposed equipment needed for the service call. A second plurality of distances is determined between each of the technicians and a plurality of service vehicles at which is disposed the equipment needed for the service call. One of the technicians is dispatched to the customer site based on the location of each of the technicians, on the first plurality of distances, and on the second plurality of distances. A system for implementing the method is also disclosed. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153166 | BUSINESS PROCESS WORKFLOW FLATTENING - A graphical user interface is provided for the performance of process steps for one or more role-based activities for a business process. The business process is made up of a plurality of process steps, at least a portion of which require sequential completion by users having different roles. A user having two or more roles that is accessing the graphical user interface to perform a first process step can be presented with a graphical user interface element. The graphical user interface element, when activated, causes input fields corresponding to an input set to be completed by the user for an additional process step subsequent to both the first process step and a next process step subsequent to the first process step to be displayed. The first process step is associated with a first role, and the additional process step is associated with a second role. First user-generated input is received that selects the graphical user interface element. Second user-generated input is received that provides values for the input fields to generate input sets for the additional processing step. Thereafter, completion of the business process using the generated input sets is initiated. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153167 | INCORPORATING WORKFLOW PROCESS MODIFICATIONS - Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed that operate to create and access electronic content comprising document files that comprise workflow definitions having information about a plurality of activities in the workflow process chain, including prior activities, the current activity, and subsequent activities. Such documents also contain instructions as part of the workflow definition which, when executed, cause modifications to the workflow definition to be recorded in the document file. Execution of the instructions may also result in identifying a subsequent processing entity to process the document file during subsequent activities in the workflow process chain, based on the embedded information. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153168 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CARRYING OUT AN INSPECTION OR MAINTENANCE OPERATION WITH COMPLIANCE TRACKING USING A HANDHELD DEVICE - The present invention is a system and method for inspections and compliance verification of industrial equipment using a handheld device. An inspector first segments an inspected component into logical inspection points. The inspector then scans a unique machine-readable tag, such as an RFID tag, with a handheld device at each logical inspection point. The inspector then takes a media sample, such as a digital photograph, of the physical component referred to by each corresponding logical inspection point. Then the inspector associates the media samples with the corresponding scan of the unique machine-readable tag. For each of the actions the inspector carries out on the handheld device, a timestamp is added that represents evidence of a date and a time of physical visitation to the associated logical inspection point. The inspector may then annotate the media samples in such ways that substantiate inspector statements of problems with inspected components found during inspection. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153169 | Participatory Method and System for Application and Project Management - Provided herein are a methods and a system for implementing a participatory mechanism for selecting of applications, overseeing implementation and progress of projects, monitoring and evaluation of completed projects. The method provides a mechanism for managing projects which involve flexible and hard to quantify outcomes. The method provides a mechanism for managing long-term projects of variable length that require long-term monitoring. The method provides a mechanism for managing projects where human input is essential. The method provides a mechanism to handle a large number of applications for a large number of projects. The method provides a rational method for managing a large number of projects with a large diversity (e.g., hard to replicate projects). | 06-17-2010 |
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 |
20100153171 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FURLOUGH, LEAVE, CLOSURE, SABBATICAL, HOLIDAY, OR VACATION GEO-LOCATION SERVICE - An interaction center system allows an enterprise to manage employees based on geo-location information, other characteristics of the employee, and/or company policies. The interaction center system is able to receive geo-location information about a person. The interaction center system can then identify the person and determine a status associated with the person. An exemplary status is any status for the employee while working with the enterprise or not working with the enterprise. For example, the status may be that the employee is on a furlough, is on vacation, is on leave, has been fired, is subject to a lay-off, is on sabbatical, is observing a religious holiday, or some other status associated with the employee. After determining the person and the status associated with the person, the interaction center system may determine an event rule or grammar that affects this person and deals with the status. | 06-17-2010 |
20100161370 | PASS THROUGH FOR IMPROVED RESPONSE TIME - Method and systems of improving the response of public safety personnel to or evacuation from a desired location are provided. In addition to path information obtained through traditional sources, information is used to determine the optimal route for emergency personnel to an emergency situation and for aiding emergency personnel to route people from the situation. The information may also be used to automatically prioritize vehicles and personnel to optimize response time. Further, the information may also be used to in situations in which it is advantageous for the vehicle or personnel to be tactically positioned in nearby locations rather than at the incident scene. Although the descriptions below will primarily focus on routes to a particular location, similar methods can be used for evacuations from the location. The optimal route may use historical information stored in a database local or remote to the dispatcher and/or real-time information updated during the emergency situation. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161371 | Governance Enactment - Software systems and methods for governance are presented supporting governance solution specification and enactment including assessing, defining, implementing deployment, and executing of the governance solution. For example, a software system for governance includes a governance solution model component operative to provide at least one definition and at least one semantic of at least one governance entity and a relationship of the at least one governance entity to an operational model of an organization, a governance solution editor operative to specifying a governance solution by forming a governance specification, a governance solution bundle operative to provide packaging of the governance specification into a package that can be deployed and enacted, a governance solution enactment component operative to deploy the governance solution into an organizational context, a process enactment tool operative to provide at least one configuration point, and a governance lifecycle component operative to provide a view into a state of the governance solution. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161372 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COORDINATING DATA RECORDS ACROSS A PLURALITY OF COMPUTING DEVICES - The present specification provides a method and system for coordinating data across a plurality of computing devices. In one embodiment, each computing device includes a database and personal information management application. The database maintains records that are used by the personal information management application. The personal information management application is configured to access other computing devices in order to coordinate data therebetween. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161373 | Extending Constraint Satisfaction Problem Solving - A computer-implemented method for resource management includes storing in a memory a set of resource consumers, resources for allocation to the resource consumers, and initial binary constraints applying to the allocation of the resources. Respective variables are associated with the resource consumers, and the resources are identified as values applicable to the variables. A non-binary scoring criterion is applied to generate scores on a graded scale for proposed assignments of one or more of the resources to respective ones of the resource consumers. One or more additional binary constraints are defined based on the graded scale of the scores. An assignment is found of the values to the variables that satisfies the initial and additional binary constraints using a constraint satisfaction problem (CSP) solver running on a processor that is coupled to the memory. The resources are assigned to the resource consumers responsively to the assignment of the values to the variables. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161374 | Real-Time Quality Data and Feedback for Field Inspection Systems and Methods - A system, method and computer-readable medium for providing real-time quality data to a system that may be continuously updated and reviewed to maintain and control quality performance of the business. Quality information is imported into a database. The quality information imported to the database is analyzed and correlated to generate quality performance analytics. System information is provided to the database. Real-time root cause analysis is performed using the generated quality performance analytics and system information to identify root causes of system performance issues. The quality performance analytics is presented to users. | 06-24-2010 |
20100169143 | System and method for managing numerous facets of a work relationship - A system and method of managing numerous facets of work relationships. In a preferred form, the system provides end-to-end integration of the contract resourcing process (“requisition to check”) for a multitude of clients and a multitude of service providers. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169144 | Business goal incentives using gaming rewards - Gaming rewards are provided as an incentive for performing business goals. A business goal can be comprised of one or more tasks and a threshold for each task. When one or more participants perform tasks which satisfies the corresponding thresholds, a corresponding gaming reward is awarded to the participants. A business goal may require a single participant to satisfy a single task threshold, multiple participants to satisfy a threshold for one or more tasks, or a single participant to satisfy one or more thresholds for several tasks. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169145 | MANAGING CALENDARING EVENTS - An indication of a meeting being scheduled between a plurality of attendees is received. A first one of the attendees is designated an owner of the meeting. Ownership privileges for the meeting are associated with at least a second one of the meeting attendees. The ownership privileges associated with at least a second one of the meeting attendees are associated based upon, at least in part, a social network defined for the owner of the meeting. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169146 | AUTOMATED SCHEDULING OF TO-DO ITEMS WITHIN A CALENDAR - A computer-implemented method of task scheduling can include receiving an input from a user, wherein the input specifies a task comprising a due date and determining whether the task includes supplemental scheduling information. When the task does not include supplemental scheduling information, a first calendar event corresponding to the task can be created and stored within memory within a calendar of the user scheduled on the date. When the task does specify supplemental scheduling information, at least a first calendar event corresponding to the task can be created and stored, within memory, within a calendar of the user scheduled according to the date and the supplemental scheduling information. Calendar events created for a task that conflict with other calendar events can be dynamically rescheduled. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169147 | Location-based queuing - Queuing to a mobile agents is accomplished by assigning each mobile agents to one of a plurality of location zones based on information received from a tracking system, and maintaining a plurality of location-specific queues of requests, each location-specific queue having one or more of the location zones associated therewith, and each location-specific queue being serviced only by those mobile agents whose assigned location zone matches a location zone of that location-specific queue. On receiving a location-based request for the services of a mobile agent, an optimum queue is selected for the request from among the plurality of location-specific queues based at least in part on a comparison between the request location and a location zone associated with the optimum queue, subject to a servicing constraint that a queue can only be selected as the optimum queue if at least one agent is currently servicing the queue. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169148 | INTERACTION SOLUTIONS FOR CUSTOMER SUPPORT - The present invention provides a system, architecture and process to support new interaction paradigms in customer support. Specifically, the approach of the present invention will unify through a new process and innovative system architecture the two basic methods of in house support and online support. To accomplish this unification, the present invention enables customers to work together as peers in problem resolution by exploiting the customer expertise (they work with the products on a daily basis and often have deep understanding what works/does not work). Among other things, the present invention provides: incentives for customers to participate in this new support; a rating infrastructure in which multiple good ratings helps to become “THE EXPERT” by increasing the score; incentives upon receipt of good ratings and or certain score levels; a problem routing mechanism; Master Data Management (MDM) for insights in customers and products. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169149 | MOTIVATING EQUITABLE BEHAVIOR IN CALENDAR EVENTS - An event scheduling request is received, and a disruption factor is associated with each of a plurality of invitees. The disruption factor is based upon, at least in part, an event parameter and at least one invitee attribute. An event is scheduled based upon, at least in part, the disruption factors associated with each of the plurality of invitees. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169150 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASSIGNING STAFF AS A SERVICE IN A SERVICE NETWORK WITHIN A COMPONENT BUSINESS MODEL ARCHITECTURE - A method and system are provided for using a component business model (CBM) architecture to provide a staff assignment service to an enterprise. A staff assignment scenario is described in terms of process steps, and staffing resources and respective commercialization mechanisms required to implement the staff assignment scenario are described in terms of business components in a CBM architecture of the enterprise, the applicable business components forming a staffing service network. For each business component in the staffing service network, functionalities supporting the scenario are identified, and collaborative links among the business components are established, sufficient to enable the service functionalities within the staffing service network to operate so as to assign staff to a project of the enterprise. The staff assignment service is adapted dynamically by repetition of this technique as new scenarios are developed. | 07-01-2010 |
20100169151 | ALARMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING MALICIOUS ACCESS TO BANK ACCOUNTS - An alarm system and method include setting an alarm password corresponding to the bank account and setting a restricted amount of the bank account, acquiring account information of the bank account if the alarm password is received, and sending the alarm message including the account information to a receiving device of one or more emergency dispatchers. The alarm system and method further include displaying the restricted amount on an account interface provided by a bank server if the account balance is greater than the restricted amount, or displaying the account balance on the account interface if the account balance is less than the restricted amount. | 07-01-2010 |
20100174577 | Automated Task Delegation Based on Skills - The automated task delegation and project management system tracks user profiles and project profiles, which include information about the interests and skills each user in the system possess as well as the skills that are required by each project in the system and the characteristics of each project. This information can then be utilized to correlate user interests and skills with the available projects. Similarly, these user profiles can be utilized to identify mentors for new users in the system based on the skill sets and project involvement of other users and potential mentors in the system and the interests and skill sets of the new users. | 07-08-2010 |
20100174578 | Interface for Project and Task Submission for Automated Delegation - The automated task delegation and project management system tracks user profiles and project profiles, which include information about the interests and skills each user in the system possesses as well as the skills that are required by each project in the system and the characteristics of each project. This information can then be utilized to correlate user interests and skills with the available projects. Project data can be collected from the submitter to enable the automated matching. The user interface facilitates the collection and storage of the project profile data including tasks, files, resources, and tags. | 07-08-2010 |
20100174579 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND COMPLETION - In general, in one aspect, a system for planning and executing projects, facilitates creating a project model comprising tasks and dependencies, determining the complexity of the tasks, and modifying the tasks to maintain complexity within predetermined bounds. The system can facilitate designating one or more tasks to be redundant tasks, and undertaking the redundant tasks with redundant resources. In some embodiments, the system includes a module for evaluating task criticality and designating redundant tasks based on the task complexity and criticality. | 07-08-2010 |
20100174580 | METHOD FOR INTERDEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION OF SOFTWARE-ASSISTED ACTIVITY, IN PARTICULAR IN A HOSPITAL - In a hospital, a virtual team can be formed on an interdepartmental basis, with individual roles of treating physicians being defined based on a scheme appropriate to a treatment situation and specific physicians being allocated to the roles such that just-in-time planning of a patient's treatment can be carried out. In at least one embodiment, the sequential execution of tasks appropriate to the individual departments is monitored by a central data processing device. | 07-08-2010 |
20100174581 | WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT PROGRAM EMBODIED ON A COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM - In order to provide the information for allowing smooth execution of a plurality of processes defined by a workflow, a workflow management apparatus includes a workflow accepting portion to accept and store a workflow, an identification information obtaining portion to obtain identification information for identifying a worker, an execution workflow extracting portion to extract from the workflows an execution workflow which assigns a target process that is to be the object of execution to the worker of the obtained identification information, a schedule obtaining portion to obtain a schedule of a worker assigned to a post-process that comes later in sequential order than the target process defined by the execution workflow, a deadline deciding portion to decide on a deadline for the execution of the target process based on the obtained schedule, and a notifying portion to notify the decided deadline to the worker to whom the target process is assigned. | 07-08-2010 |
20100179851 | METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR GENERATING ENTERPRISE PLANS USING ITERATIVE DISAGGREGATION - A computing system can execute components for receiving plan inputs that define a timeframe for an enterprise plan. One or more buckets, or time divisions, are created for the timeframe. Experts are defined for each bucket such that the experts create a plan for a time duration that is less than the timeframe. The experts each solve for a plan and then the results are aggregated to generate the enterprise plan. In embodiments, the generated enterprise plan is for a single day of the timeframe. To create a plan for a next day, the timeframe is altered and the process reiterated. | 07-15-2010 |
20100179852 | EMR Template for Workflow Management and Workflow Information Capture - A new and useful EMR template functionality for workflow management and workflow information capture is provided. The EMR template functionality is configured with the following characteristics; (a) user configurable workflow specific structured language options, (b) the ability to be kept open to changes and new inputs across the process to which the template refers, (c) the ability to enable selection of a user or user group as a responsible actor in the workflow, (d) the capability to distinguish the template from all other templates (without described workflow functionality) associated with the EMR, and (e) workflow specific searchable data fields. Thus, the template can be configured not only to provide patient medical information, but also to capture workflow information (e.g. insurance authorization, procedure scheduling, etc.), which enables the EMR to track a patient process over time, with regard, e.g. to the state of the workflow ordered for the patient, and thereby gives a medical office or other treatment environment an effective management tool to manage the medical office or other treatment environment's function and to provide effective patient care. | 07-15-2010 |
20100179853 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROJECT AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - A resource management system having a server; a portable computing device in communication with the server having a computer readable medium; and, computer readable instructions in the compute readable medium for receiving attendance information, receiving inventory information, transmitting the attendance information and the inventory information to the server so that the server, having server computer readable instructions embodied in a server computer readable medium, can generate payroll, generate purchase order for transmission to materials suppliers, determine whether material consumption and/or cost has hit a predetermined threshold and notify a user when the predetermined thresholds have been reached. | 07-15-2010 |
20100179854 | Scheduling System and Method - A system for scheduling an appointment between a client and a provider including a monitoring and validation component that includes a transaction database, a validation engine and at least one transaction monitoring rule, and an Internet-based scheduling component the populates the transaction database, wherein the validation engine is configured to apply the transaction monitoring rules to the transaction database to identify the presence of exceptional transactions in the transaction database. | 07-15-2010 |
20100185482 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A SUPPLY CHAIN - The present document describes a method, a processor platform and a processor readable medium for controlling a supply chain for moving goods by agents according to orders. The method is for controlling globally and/or individually, and for optimizing based on live events, in real-time, in a single or multi company environment, simultaneously many well known business activities such as customer relationship management (CRM), pickup calls phone services, scheduling, monitoring of picking up and delivery of parcels and operations status, of transfer, of terminal, of interleaving and of deliveries, human resource management, pricing, maintenance, engine monitoring, device monitoring and invoicing, offering thus integrated solutions to each segment of the market of goods transportation in a single system. The method comprises: updating a knowledge base populated with statuses of the goods; statuses of the agents; rules for establishing expected behaviors of the goods and of the agents; and the orders. The method further comprises: determining, based on the knowledge base, instructions to be executed by the agents for moving the goods to achieve the orders, each one of the instructions having an expected completion duration; sending the instructions to the agents; receiving the instructions for execution by the agents; upon completion an instruction by an agent or when an event affects an instruction executed by an agent, the same agent sending the status of a good or its own status to the knowledge base; and returning to the updating a knowledge base, wherein each elapsed time between each agent sending the status of a good or its own status to the knowledge base and the same agent receiving an instruction is smaller that the expected completion duration of the same instruction. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185483 | SCALE WITH KIOSK ORDERING INTERFACE SYSTEM AND METHOD - A food product scale is adapted to interface with an electronic product ordering system, such as a kiosk ordering system, enabling store personnel to more readily identify, process and complete such orders. | 07-22-2010 |
20100191565 | System and Method for Complying With TMSA Guidelines - A system and method for complying with business procedures and tracking, for auditing purposes that the procedures are completed is disclosed. Specifically, the system is useful for tracking compliance with the Tanker Management and Self Assessment (TMSA) guidelines of the OCIMF, which deals with assessment of management and safety procedures for oil tankers. The system and method utilize both shore-based and ship-based computers which are synchronized when the ship-based computers are able to connect to the internet. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191566 | Appointment Scheduling System - The instant invention relates to an appointment scheduling system that allows inviters to define various activities for appointments and to invite invitees to select said appointments. The system utilizes multiple visual user interfaces to allow inviters, invitees and other users to interact with the appointment scheduling system. The system allows for inviter selection of time windows in which appointments may be allowed as well as for the customization of these properties in terms of how often and until when these defined time windows will recur. The system also utilizes various techniques to associate invitees with particular appointment activities received by the invitee through email and/or other correspondence means. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191567 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ANALYZING RHETORICAL CONTENT - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server, having a controller to deconstruct a document into a plurality of combinations of rhetorical and structural elements associated with at least one rhetorical topic library, and apply a project management procedure to the plurality of combinations of rhetorical and structural elements associated with the rhetorical topic library. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191568 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANAGING TASK INFORMATION OF A PLANT - An apparatus for managing task information of a plant, the plant being controlled by a control system and configured to be operated in shifts. The apparatus comprises a server for automatically obtaining and storing information from a current work shift of the plant from the control system; and at least one client connected to the server and comprising a logbook application module for manipulating the obtained information. Preferably, the server is configured to automatically transmit manipulated information to identified users of a subsequent work shift. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191569 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING WEB-BASED MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS - A centralized web-based system and method for managing appointments having a user interface that interacts with one or more users to display one or more items based on user input, a management module connected to the user interface and configured to receive data related to scheduling an appointment, determine one or more possible appointments based on the data, present the one or more possible appointments, receive a user selection from the one or more possible appointments, and schedule the appointment based on the user selection, and one or more databases configured to store appointment information, wherein the one or more databases are connected to the management module and wherein the data comprises a date and time slot and at least one of a facility, a service, and a servicer. | 07-29-2010 |
20100198644 | System and method for computer-aided coordination of presentation events - A system and method for the automated scheduling, coordination, and management of meetings, briefings, and other presentations. The meeting coordination application described herein is a centralized system for meeting planning. The meeting coordination application receives data from a customer database, a human resources database, and a scheduling database. On the basis of this data, the meeting coordination application proposes or selects presenters for the meeting. The meeting coordination application selects the presenters on the basis of their personal availability and their knowledge base as compared to the topics proposed by the customer for the meeting. The meeting coordination also acts as a logistical tool for scheduling the meeting, coordinating tasks relating to reserving the meeting space, generating catering instructions, arranging and confirming transportation for meeting attendees, conducting a post-meeting survey, and collecting survey responses and other information to update a historical database describing organizational meetings. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198645 | COMPREHENSIVE COORDINATED COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for a first party providing a comprehensive coordinated communication system by enabling initiation of a communication interaction between a first party and a second party, presenting a plurality of communication channels from which one of the parties can make a selection, displaying an interface for using the selected communication channel for a communication interaction between the two parties, and creating a record of the communication interaction, wherein either of the two parties can retrieve the record. The invention can be implemented via a stand-alone computing system or such a system interconnected with other platforms or data stores by a network, such as a corporate intranet, a local area network, or the internet. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198646 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR BROADCASTING AN ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL - A mobile device of a user may provide an Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) of the user to other participants of a scheduled meeting. In providing the ETA, the mobile device may retrieve meeting information associated with the scheduled meeting, location information associated with the location of the user, and environmental condition information associated with an intended path of the user to the scheduled meeting. The mobile device may calculate the ETA to the scheduled meeting based on the meeting information, the location information, and the environmental condition information. The calculated ETA may then be transmitted to the other participants. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198647 | TECHNICAL HOTLINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM - A technical hotline resource management method and system provides a business solution for contact centers which receive contacts both through telephone-based inquiries and web-based inquiries. The disclosed method and system provides, among other things, intelligent calculation of projected resource requirements, a common schedule template for all groups engaged in providing technical assistance, simple input and maintenance screens, a readily-viewed calendar of employee schedules, detailed employee profiles (which identify employee skills), and options for scheduling different work types during given increments of time. Having such information readily available the technical hotline resource manager can thus readily review lists of available employees, groups, and technical requests and can route the inquiries efficiently and quickly. Using the disclosed method and system the resource manager is able to schedule different work types over the contact information, thus enabling employees to be assigned to various work types, including responsibility for different types of inquiries (telephone-based and web-based) as well as for training and meetings, avoiding unnecessary work beyond standard work schedules. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198648 | DYNAMIC MEETING GROUP ORGANIZER - A Dynamic Meeting Group Organizer automatically creates sub-groups from a group of responders to a meeting invitation sent by email by determining a number of subgroups and a subgroup size parameter; determining a question and a criteria associated with the question to create a survey; determining a list of invitees and a response date by which an invitee is to return a completed survey; sending a plurality of invitations with the survey attached to each invitee on the list; accumulating a plurality of responses to the questionnaire in a response file; and accessing the response file and automatically processing the plurality of responses by organizing the list of invitees into a plurality of subgroups according to each invitee's response to the question and the subgroup size parameter. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198649 | ROLE TAILORED DASHBOARDS AND SCORECARDS IN A PORTAL SOLUTION THAT INTEGRATES RETRIEVED METRICS ACROSS AN ENTERPRISE - A user can log into an organization portal. An organizational role can be determined for the user. For a decision maker, a set of metric driven portlets can be graphically presented within the organization portal. The metrics driven portlets can include at least one scorecard and at least one dashboard, each tailored for the determined organizational role. The scorecard and the dashboard can be dynamically updated based upon metrics provided by a plurality of discrete services. The discrete services can obtain the metrics from a set of geographically distributed data sources. The discrete services can be functionally independent of each other and can be responsible for federating data in a portlet and role specific manner. Online collaboration capabilities can be provided through collaboration and alerting portlets of the organization portal, and which can be tailored for the determined organizational role. The collaboration and alerting portlets provide the ability for action takers and decision makers to effectively share information. The organizational role based portal, providing users with appropriate metrics, near real time and/or cumulative data, and collaboration capabilities to trigger effective sharing of information and decision making is the overarching theme and embodiment of this invention, which enables action takers with the ability to raise awareness of potential issues to appropriate decision makers. With such awareness, decision makers can leverage scorecard metrics to determine appropriate courses of action and to communicate directives back to action takers. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198650 | Method of providing game tracking data - A method for tracking game comprising the steps of fixing tracking devices to the game, receiving data transmitted by the tracking devices, storing the data in the database, providing the web page as a user interface, registering users through the web page, issuing user credentials to authenticate users, and displaying information via the web page. The tracking devices can be configured to gather and to transmit a variety of data, such as weather or water conditions, location, species of game, and many others. Data is processed and stored according to categories of information contained therein. The user accesses the stored data by a web page, which can be configured to display certain categories of data, to provide access to certain electronic features, or to provide certain features corresponding to a user-selected membership level. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198651 | Integrated infrastructure operations management system and method - A business computing system and method for integrated management of operations and infrastructure of a business is disclosed. The system architecture contains data stored in one or more relational databases, web-based, and/or non-web based user interfaces provided by an aggregation of software, automated processes, and a transaction processing system. A standardized interface is defined for modular components to be incorporated. A specialized business process description and control language is utilized to support flexibility, configuration, and modeling of processes. Persistent messaging is utilized for inter-process communication. Various other processes and components provide automation and integration with external systems/subsystems. The purpose of this combination of applications and business processes is to provide a robust and flexible enterprise management platform for managing infrastructure (including facilities, cabling, security, furniture, etc.) and information technology (IT) services (including network, voice, platform management, printing, etc.). | 08-05-2010 |
20100198652 | System for the Management of Construction Projects - A computer-based system for managing construction repair project that includes an input device coupled to a processor, an output device coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is programmed to perform certain actions based on user input. The processor is programmed to determine material requirements for the repair project, determine the labor requirement for the repair project, and to generate a cost estimate for the repair project. The processor is also programmed to generate purchase orders for materials based on the material requirements, generate a work crew schedule base on the labor requirements, generate a project schedule that provides a timeline for work to be performed on the repair project, while regularly providing status updates to the user regarding the work performed on the repair project. | 08-05-2010 |
20100205030 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACTOR-BASED PRICING FOR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES - Embodiments of the invention are systems and methods for determining factor-based prices for products and services. In one embodiment, a method for factor-based pricing of goods and services can be provided. The method can include receiving a plurality of factors associated with a pricing decision, applying at least one rule to the plurality of factors to determine a proposed price, outputting the proposed price to at least one client device. | 08-12-2010 |
20100205031 | METHODS, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEMS FOR EXCHANGING INFORMATION BETWEEN EXCAVATORS AND OTHER ENTITIES ASSOCIATED WITH UNDERGROUND FACILITY LOCATE AND MARKING OPERATIONS - Methods, apparatus, and systems for providing information regarding a locate and/or marking operation to identify a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area. At least one notification indicating a status of the locate and/or marking operation is electronically transmitted and/or stored so as to inform at least one party associated with requesting the operation (a “requesting party,” e.g., an excavator, a property owner, a facility owner, a regulatory authority, a damage investigator, etc.) of the status of the operation. In one aspect, a requesting party may designate a preferred format, content, and/or method of receiving notifications regarding the locate and/or marking operation. In another aspect, a computer-generated GUI is provided to facilitate submission of requests, generation of “virtual white line” images to indicate one or more dig areas on a digital image of a work site, and/or selection of notifications and preferences for same. In yet another aspect, a requesting party may provide an acknowledgement of receipt (e.g., a “return receipt”) for one or more received notifications. | 08-12-2010 |
20100205032 | MARKING APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH TICKET PROCESSING SOFTWARE FOR FACILITATING MARKING OPERATIONS, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - Marking apparatus and methods, in which first ticket information relating to a locate request ticket is received, and second ticket information derived from the first ticket information is displayed on a display device of the marking apparatus. A field technician may provide some input to generate an electronic record or log of technician activity during a marking operation. In one example, a checklist may be generated (e.g., based at least in part on the first ticket information) and displayed locally to the technician as a guide to perform and verify various aspects of the operation. In another example, a set of instructions or “workflow” may be generated to guide the technician through a sequence of steps to perform the marking operation. Performance via a process guide (e.g., checklist or workflow) may be interactive in that the technician may provide input, or automated/semi-automated by analyzing various information collected by the marking apparatus with respect to the ticket information and/or other available information germane to the operation. | 08-12-2010 |
20100205033 | Method and Apparatus for Managing Workflow - A workflow process management application (WPMA) for a specific organization is created via a web application that can be implemented using a web server front end and a database back end. An administrator user operates the application by using a built-in administrative function to create objects such as users, groups, departments, locations, acuities, activities, and skills. The administrator or another suitable user can then use a built-in defining function to finalize objects and create instances of the objects corresponding to the organization. Appropriate users can use the plan function to allocate specific users to specific departments to ensure that all activities are assigned an appropriate amount of workers having the appropriate skills. When (or after) the work is performed the actual workflow data can be electronically gathered (if possible), or manually entered. Reports can then be generated to show differences between the planned workflow and the actual workflow. | 08-12-2010 |
20100211428 | Automated Customer Service Matching Methodology - Described herein is a method and apparatus for providing an automated customer service matching system. The customer service system matches customer services requests with employee profiles. The customer service system provides a graphical user interface for monitor the management of customer service requests. The customer service system also includes a process for registering employees and creating employee profiles, as well as a system for registering customers and creating or matching a customer with the customer profile. | 08-19-2010 |
20100211429 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING AND MAINTAINING ABRASIVE BLASTING MACHINES - A system and method for managing abrasive blasting may include timing duration of blast media being blown in performing abrasive blasting using an abrasive blasting machine. Time duration that an operator worked in association with the duration of the blast media being blown may be received. A blasting efficiency ratio may be computed based on the duration of the blasting media being blown and duration of that the operator worked. The blasting efficiency ratio may be displayed to a user. | 08-19-2010 |
20100211430 | MONITORING OF VEHICLE CONDITIONS UTILIZING CELLULAR BROADCASTS - This document describes, among other things, a systems and methods for monitoring vehicle conditions via cellular networks. | 08-19-2010 |
20100217645 | Engagement Interface Advertising in a Social Network - A social network advertises to its members with engagement interfaces. An engagement interface comprises a call to action and a link to perform the action within the social network from within the engagement interface. Responsive to a user selection of the link to perform the action, the engagement interface modifies one or more objects within the social network associated with the call to action according to the selection of the link to perform the action. The engagement interface may be refreshed on the user's screen to indicate to the user that the action has been performed. An engagement interface may also be presented to a user from the social network or from an external system apart from the social network. | 08-26-2010 |
20100217646 | Calendar Overlay Features - Calendar overlay features are provided. A first calendar that includes a schedule for occurrence of a first event is provided, and second calendar that includes a schedule for occurrence of a second event is provided. A unified calendar interface presents for display the scheduled first event and scheduled the second event. The unified calendar interface is configured as an overlay with the first calendar and the second calendar. | 08-26-2010 |
20100223088 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANAGING CALENDAR EVENT RECORDS - A computer-implemented method of managing calendar event records at a database includes detecting a change to a distribution list, the change associated with at least one affected list member, determining ones of the calendar event records to which the distribution list is invited, and sending a respective calendar event update message to each of the at least one affected list member for each of the ones of the calendar event records. | 09-02-2010 |
20100223089 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CREATING CALENDAR EVENT RECORDS - A computer-implemented method of creating a calendar event record includes receiving a selection of an option to schedule a meeting from an electronic mail interface for an electronic mail message and rendering a calendar event record scheduling interface and automatically populating fields for the calendar event record based on fields from the electronic mail message. | 09-02-2010 |
20100223090 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR END USER FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION MONITORING - A method is disclosed for an improved consumer oriented secure surveillance system directed to a freight hauling. The method disclosed includes that an authorized tractor driver (e.g., contractor) and/or authorized tractor and the trailer (provided by the consumer) utilize a specified authorization code. A location tracking device is attached to the trailer and stores the specified authorization code. Location information of the location tracking device and the authorized tractor driver and/or an authorized tractor are monitored by an end-user along a destination route. The consumer can control usage of unauthorized tractor driver(s) (e.g., subcontractor(s)) and/or and unauthorized tractor(s) (e.g., subcontractor's tractor(s)) for freight shipment; thus, freight integrity can be controlled, optimized, and maintained to a desired consumer confidence level. | 09-02-2010 |
20100223091 | METHOD FOR MANAGING HUMAN RESOURCES - Disclosed herein is an integrated method and system for managing human resources. Specifically, the method and system integrates several processes (e.g., a process for developing a strategy and particularly for developing a set of rules on how human resources will be managed and sourced, a process for developing a long-term strategic plan for sourcing human resources to satisfy demands, a process for developing a near-term operational plan recommending individual human resources be used to satisfy selected demands, a process for selecting and assigning individual resources to specific engagements, etc.). Thus, the method operates through a spectrum of time horizons from the strategic to real time, providing a coherent and cohesive system for matching supply to demand based on the priorities of the business as represented through the set of rules. | 09-02-2010 |
20100228588 | MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS AND APPARATUS, FOR PROVIDING IMPROVED VISIBILITY, QUALITY CONTROL AND AUDIT CAPABILITY FOR UNDERGROUND FACILITY LOCATE AND/OR MARKING OPERATIONS - A holistic approach to management and oversight of locate and marking operations is provided. Initial requests to perform such operations are improved, and such requests are intelligently assessed to appropriately allocate resources to perform operations. Technicians are effectively dispatched and may be provided with process guides to facilitate performance. A host of information regarding the performance of locate operations and their environs is acquired (e.g., via improved intelligent instrumentation employed by technicians). A quality of operations (e.g., completeness, accuracy, efficiency) is assessed, corrective actions may be taken in essentially real-time as necessary, and information regarding operations and their quality assessments is archived for auditing purposes. Relevant information is communicated to one or more parties associated with the operations; in particular, requesting parties are apprised of the status of ongoing operations, and given confirmation that operations have been performed and are completed. Requesting parties and/or other interested parties (e.g., excavators, facility owners, locate contractors, municipalities, regulators, auditors, damage investigators, insurance companies, etc.) also may be provided with detailed information regarding the performance of operations and quality assessment of same. | 09-09-2010 |
20100235213 | HUMAN TASK INTEGRATION INTO BPEL PROCESS VIA PRESENCE DRIVEN DELIVERY - An approach that provides presence driven notification to a subscriber when a business process automation chain requires manual intervention is provided. In one embodiment, there is a notification tool, including a routing component configured to transmit a message to the subscriber based on data gathered relating to subscriber presence, location and preferences. | 09-16-2010 |
20100235214 | METHOD AND COMPUTING DEVICE FOR PROCESSING A CALENDAR DATABASE STORED AT A MEMORY DEVICE - A method and computing device for processing a calendar database stored at a memory device is provided. New calendar data is created comprising at least a date upon which an event is to occur. The new calendar data is stored in association with countdown reminder flag data in the calendar database. The calendar database is processed to produce countdown reminder view data comprising the new calendar data and countdown reminder data determined by processing the new calendar data and a current date. The countdown reminder view data is enabled to control a display device to produce a countdown reminder view comprising the new calendar data and the countdown reminder data, the countdown reminder view being one of a plurality of calendar views that can be produced from the calendar database. The display device is controlling via the countdown reminder view data to produce the countdown reminder view. | 09-16-2010 |
20100235215 | METHOD AND COMPUTING DEVICE FOR UPDATING A CALENDAR DATABASE STORING EVENT DATA ASSOCIATED WITH AN EVENT, USING A WAITLIST - A method and computing device for updating a calendar database storing event data associated with an event are provided. The event data comprises identifiers of invitees to the event and a maximum number of attendees for the event. The computing device is in communication with the calendar database. Event request data is transmitted to respective invitee computing devices associated with the invitees, the event request data requesting respective responses from the invitee computing devices, each respective response comprising one of a positive response indicative that the event will be attended and a negative response indicative that the event will not be attended. Respective positive responses are received from at least a subset of the invitee computing devices. The event data is updated, based on the positive responses, to maintain a first list of identifiers of attendees. If a number of attendees equals the maximum number, and at least one subsequent positive response is received, then: the event data is updated, based on the at least one subsequent positive response, to maintain a second list of identifiers of waitlisted invitees for the event; and a waiting-list notification is transmitted, to each one of the invitee computing devices associated with the second list, the waiting list notification indicative that an invitee associated with one of the invitee computing devices associated with the second list is on a waiting list. | 09-16-2010 |
20100235216 | INTEGRATION OF PRE-MEETING AND POST-MEETING EXPERIENCE INTO A MEETING LIFECYCLE - Architecture that synchronizes meeting information (e.g., documents, agenda, action items, notes, attendees, join information, etc.) across the different stages of a meeting lifecycle. The architecture provides client-side synchronization across meeting lifecycle services that can include a scheduling server, content management server, and meeting server, as well as other lifecycle servers that may be employed. Information from the scheduling server can be written asynchronously to the other lifecycle servers, updates made to the content management server are synchronized to the other servers, and updates made to the meeting server are synchronized to the other servers. | 09-16-2010 |
20100235217 | JURY SELECTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems, methods, and related programs for of jury management or selection. | 09-16-2010 |
20100235218 | PRE-QUALIFIED OR HISTORY-BASED CUSTOMER SERVICE - System and methods are presented to receive presence information about a customer of an enterprise. The presence information can be geo-presence information, which may be provided by a geo-presence system or by a third party. Information within the geo-presence information can identify the customer. With the identity, personal information about the customer can be retrieved. The personal information can include aggregations or associations of the customer and other people, places, items, etc. From the presence and personal information, the system can inform, direct, or modify interactions with customers. The changes to the interactions can target customers that the enterprise may value more and may be more willing to engage in consumer activity. | 09-16-2010 |
20100241483 | METHOD FOR IMPROVED MANAGEMENT OF USER EVENTS SCHEDULED DURING A USER ABSENCE PERIOD - A solution for improved management of user events scheduled during a user absence period a determination module configured to determine a user absence period having a start date and an end date. A detection module configured to detect a new user event scheduled during the user absence period. A reporting module configured to report statistics on the new user events. A response module configured to automatically respond to the new user event scheduled during the user absence period, the new user event scheduled after the user absence period is defined. A definition module configured to define the user absence period having a start date and an end date. A search module configured to search two or more calendaring repositories for a scheduled user event having a start/end date during the user absence period, and a presentation module configured to present to the user the scheduled user event. | 09-23-2010 |
20100241484 | System and Method to Provide Consumables - System and method for providing consumables to machines. In one embodiment, machine data indicating a remaining quantity of a machine consumable for a machine may be received by a server. A location may be received by the server providing a location of the machine. An estimated operational duration for the machine may be determined and a supplier may be selected to provide the machine consumable based, at least in part, on the estimated operational duration. The supplier may be requested to provide the machine consumable to the machine within a time period based on the estimated operational duration. | 09-23-2010 |
20100241485 | Claims Based Factory Pattern for Creating Objects - A claims-based factory pattern is described for creating objects on an application server. The pattern extends the functionality of factories to include the operations of staking a claim to creating particular objects and re-evaluating their claim in light of other factories staking claims. A process to create an object includes checking all registered factories to see whether they are willing to stake a claim. The claims are then compared to select a factory having the highest claim. If two or more factories have the same claim, they are asked to re-evaluate the claim by providing them information regarding other factories that have also staked a claim. Once the factories have re-evaluated their claims, their number can be reduced to a single factory that will be used to create the object. Alternatively, if no factory can be singled out, the caller can be informed of the deadlock. | 09-23-2010 |
20100250320 | ENABLING SOA GOVERNANCE USING A SERVICE LIFECYCLE APPROACH - Methods, including service methods, articles of manufacture, systems, articles and programmable devices are provided for creating and using shared services through service-oriented architecture governance and a services lifecycle process. Service lifecycle steps are identified within a service-oriented architecture shared services model. Service stakeholders, decision-making touch-points and service state transition touch-points are identified in the shared services model, and service state-based lifecycle governance checkpoints within the shared services model are defined as a function of the identified service lifecycle steps, service stakeholders, decision-making touch-points and state transition touch-points. Further, integration points to existing processes are defined as a function of defined service state-based lifecycle governance checkpoints, governance fit-gap analyses are performed as a function of defined service state-based lifecycle governance checkpoints and identified service stakeholders, and services lifecycle gap touch-points are implemented as a function of the governance fit-gap analysis. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250321 | QUORUM MANAGEMENT OF APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING - A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product for managing scheduling of appointments with respect to a quorum requirement. The solution includes scheduling an appointment with each of a plurality of invitees, receiving one or more appointment management requests associated with the appointment from the invitees, the one or more appointment management requests including a change in the appointment, determining that a subset of the appointment management requests constitute a common request, determining that invitees that sent the common request satisfy the quorum constraint for the appointment, and implementing the common request in response to invitees that sent the common request satisfying the quorum constraint. The common request may include an acceptance, a cancellation notice, a cancellation request, and a re-scheduling request. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250322 | SIMPLIFIED USER INTERFACE AND METHOD FOR COMPUTERIZED TASK MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS - A system, method, and improved user interface for operating a computerized task management database, typically running on a networked server-client system such as the Internet. The system is designed to simultaneously present, on a single user interface screen, often running within a web browser, key items such as the worker (task assignee) name, and key task information items relevant to the various tasks that are assigned to this worker. Such key task information can include, for example, for each given task, the task name or distinguishing task commentary, and an instant update on the status of the task, which will usually contain at least a latest comment field that contains the most recent communication between the task worker and the task manager. The invention conserves user working memory by presenting key comments for multiple tasks on a single screen, enabling better user comprehension of complex projects. | 09-30-2010 |
20100262452 | TRACKING AND FILLING STAFFING NEEDS - Staffing needs may be processed automatically by a staffing fulfillment system that determines the requirements of a staffing position, identifies personnel qualified to fill the position and notifies the identified personnel of the staffing need. A database may store personnel profiles detailing skills, qualifications and other credentials of the individual such that the fulfillment system may automatically identify individuals that are qualified to fill a need. A response from personnel may be evaluated by the system to determine whether the individual is available and willing to fill the need. The system may then fill the need if the response is positive and notify an employer that the position or need has been filled. | 10-14-2010 |
20100262453 | Method and Apparatus for Hierarchical Inbound Shipment Order Configuration - An interactive hierarchical inbound shipment order configuration tool receives input from merchants to configure hierarchical inbound shipment orders. The tool allows merchants to configure hierarchical shipments with multiple levels including a product level, one or more container levels, and a shipment transportation level. The tool allows merchants to perform the following: include product type objects in the product level representing physical products and container objects in the container level(s) representing physical containers; create associations between the product type object(s) and container object(s) at the container level(s) each representing a number of products packaged into a number of containers; create associations between container object(s) at different container levels each representing a number of containers packaged into a number of containers; and create associations between the container object(s) and a shipment transportation object at the shipment transportation level each representing a number of containers included on a shipment transportation vehicle. | 10-14-2010 |
20100268566 | Improved Calendaring System for Managing Follow-Up Appointments - A method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing follow-up appointments in a calendaring system. In one illustrative embodiment, a follow-up appointment is created to an original appointment using a processor and responsive to receiving a user input. Information is set for the follow-up appointment created in response to receiving the user input. The follow-up appointment is associated with the original appointment in a data structure stored in a computer readable storage device to form an associated follow-up appointment. The associated follow-up appointment is then stored in the calendaring system. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268567 | AUTOMATED DIRECT MAIL PROCUREMENT SYSTEM - A machine-implemented method receives job specifications for at least one direct mail printing job from at least one user and creates at least one workflow related to the direct mail printing job. The workflow comprises at least one job activity. The method automatically transmits requests for bids on the job activities to entities for allowing the entities to bid on performing job activities within the workflow. Bids are received on the job activities from the entities and from rate cards previously established by the entities. The method identifies the lowest bids on an individual job activity-by job activity basis from the bids received from the entities and the rate cards and outputs the lowest bids to the user. The method receives an identification of a single selected entity to perform all activities within the workflow from the user and performing the workflow to output the direct-mail printing job through the selected entity. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268568 | WORKFLOW MODEL FOR COORDINATING THE RECOVERY OF IT OUTAGES BASED ON INTEGRATED RECOVERY PLANS - One aspect of the present invention provides a workflow model to effectively respond to outage events within an IT infrastructure. This workflow model enables a combination of manual and automated processing to effectively deploy a flexible, plannable, and testable recovery to outages and problems encountered within IT infrastructure settings. In one embodiment, a shared processing context is created to accompany the operations of the workflow, thereby collecting useful data in one location related to events and status information during the outage and the outage response. Within the workflow, analysis of the outage event is performed, an appropriate recovery plan is selected, the selected recovery plan is implemented, and recovery to the outage event is completed. Data collected within the processing context can be analyzed to obtain post mortem analysis and continuous service improvements. Accordingly, the improvements can be implemented within the IT infrastructure directly or within the appropriate recovery plan. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268569 | AUTOMATED ROTATION TOOL - Various embodiments provide a scheduling system structured for generating at least one posting to fill a vacant post on a schedule. In an embodiment, the scheduling system includes a scheduling database and an automated rotation tool. The scheduling database includes a personnel roster and a schedule. The schedule includes a vacant post. The scheduling database transmits the schedule and the personnel roster to the automated rotation tool. The automated rotation tool includes a computer system, and receives the personnel roster and the vacant post beginning within the vacancy window from the scheduling database, and also receives a rule, a parameter, and a vacancy window. The automated rotation tool generates a posting assigning a person from the personnel roster to the vacant post according to the rule and the parameter, and transmits the posting to the scheduling database. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268570 | GLOBAL CONCIERGE - A method for receiving, processing and managing service requests from a user is disclosed. The method includes receiving the service request from a user at a concierge service, generating an itinerary from the service request, sending the itinerary to a server in a consumer relation management system and automatically coordinating the service items of the service request among one or more concierge services. A method for automatically notifying a credit or debit card issuer about the future travel plan of a user is also disclosed. The method includes using the generated itinerary to automatically populate a security profile, and transfer the data from the security profile to an issuer, where the issuer uses these data to authorize future transactions in different locations that would normally be declined. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268571 | System and method for determining availibility of a group to communicate with a user - The method comprises defining a group having at least one member that has a knowledge of the selected subject. A personal agent is provided for each member of the group. The personal agent is configured to discover an availability of the corresponding member through selected availability policies submitted to the personal agent. A group agent is provided for the group configured to communicate with at least one personal agent in the group to report on the availability of the corresponding members of the group. An availability of at least one member of the group to communicate with a user about the selected subject over the digital communication network is determined using the group agent. The availability of the at least one member of the group is reported to enable the user to determine the availability of the group to communicate about the selected subject. | 10-21-2010 |
20100274615 | Extendable Collaborative Correction Framework - A novel and useful system and method for a collaborative correction framework that allows external applications to interface to it in a manner that will serve specific correction goals. The framework is extendable, enabling registration of additional authorized applications to the framework. These additional registered applications are then available to other applications accessing the framework. The collaborative correction system maintains profiles for both corrective tasks and users. When assigning a task to a user the collaborative correction system finds an appropriate match by comparing their respective profiles. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274616 | INCIDENT COMMUNICATION INTERFACE FOR THE KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Embodiments of the present invention include a method, system, computer program product, or a combination of the foregoing for creating a knowledge management system with an incident communication interface for production support incidents that is standardized and centralized across the channels and sub-channels in an organization. The incident communication interface system is used to track, identify, and resolve the incidents that occur throughout the organization. The incident communication interface allows business associates to initiate an incident ticket associated with an incident. The incident communication interface also communicates information related to an incident to business associates. The incident communication interface provides the business associates knowledge management system access. The incident communication interface receives user input including details related to resolving the incident and the incident details are stored in the incident report database. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274617 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REWARDING USER ACTIVITY IN LINKED SERVICES - An approach is provided for rewarding user activity in linked services. A linked services enabler initiates synchronization of information related to one or more tasks and corresponding status of completion between a first service and a second service, determines whether the user has completed the one or more tasks based on the synchronized information, and initiates providing one or more rewards to the user within the first service based on the determination. The one or more tasks are created in the first service for the user to complete in the second service. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274618 | System and Method for Real Time Support for Agents in Contact Center Environments - A real-time method and system are described for automatically extracting text from the customer-agent interaction at a contact center, analyzing the extracted text to automatically identify one or more customer issues, and performing processing by contact-center agent buddies (CABs) to generate at least one response to the customer issues. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274619 | Enhanced Calendaring Notification - One or more illustrative embodiments provide a method, system, and a computer program product for configuring groups in an electronic calendaring system. In one illustrative embodiment, a group in a distribution group is created, wherein the group comprises a number of members and the distribution group is stored in a memory. A number of notification options are set for the group in the distribution group. A number of groups from the distribution group are added to an invitee list for a calendar event, wherein each group in the number of groups is user-selected. A calendar event is sent to the number of groups. A set of conditions corresponding to the number of notification options is monitored. In response to a condition, from the set of conditions, occurring, sending a notification. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274620 | Monitoring The Progress Of A Task Set Within A Hierarchy - Systems, methods, and software applications for monitoring a flow of related tasks by supervisors of an organization are described in the present disclosure. According to one embodiment, among many, a computer readable medium is configured to store instructions that are executable by a processing device. The computer readable medium comprises logic adapted to store information that defines a hierarchy within an enterprise, the hierarchy including a tree structure where each of a plurality of supervisors is placed in a supervisory position over one or more subordinates and each supervisor is subordinate to at most one other supervisor. The computer readable medium also includes logic adapted to assign a task for each of the plurality of supervisors to perform, wherein performing the task by a first supervisor depends in part on completion of the task by each of the one or more respective subordinates. The computer readable medium also includes logic adapted to determine if one or more subordinates are causing a delay in the progress towards completion of the task within the hierarchy. Also, the computer readable medium includes logic adapted to generate a report identifying the subordinates, if any, who are causing a delay in the task completion progress. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274621 | Method and System for Integration of Systems Management with Project and Portfolio Management - A method for scheduling an information technology (IT) project includes receiving a project request at an interface and determining one or more tasks associated with the project request. The method also includes identifying one or more hardware components coupled to a network operable to perform each of the one or more tasks and retrieving a schedule for each of the identified hardware components. The method further includes selecting a hardware component to perform each of the one or more tasks scheduling each of the selected hardware components to perform each of the one or more tasks. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274622 | System and Method for Publishing collaboration - A system and method is disclosed for publishing collaboration. The method discloses: defining a publishing project requiring work product from a set of contributors; associating selectively editable project elements with the contributors; and storing the work product associated with the project elements in a project repository, which is accessible to all of the contributors. The system discloses a server configured to operate a series of modules, wherein the modules comprise: a decomposition module and a project permissions module for associating selectively editable publishing project elements with work product generated from a set of contributors; and a project repository for storing the work product associated with the project elements in a project repository, which is accessible to all of the contributors. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274623 | METHOD OF SELECTING AND MATCHING PROFESSIONALS - A method of selecting desired professionals in a system by a user which includes the process of forming a collective of repair persons on a system and allows users to sign on to the system. Once signed on to the system, users are able to search for matching repair persons based on search criteria provided by the users. With a match, the repair persons and users are notified and they proceed to schedule the project. | 10-28-2010 |
20100280871 | ATM EXCEPTION BALANCING SYSTEM - An ATM exception balancing system is disclosed. Embodiments of the invention provide a method of resolving image ATM transaction exceptions and enabling reconcilement of ATM transactions. An exception record can be created and stored for each batch of image ATM transactions wherein the credit and the debit for the batch of image ATM transactions do not match, and the exception record can be displayed to an analyst. Input can be received from the analyst indicating a resolution of an exception. Possible resolutions can include a general ledger entry, a customer adjustment, and/or an ICA/WIP entry. The system can optionally provide for reporting and performance analysis. Image ATM cash transactions, image ATM check transactions, or both, can be included. | 11-04-2010 |
20100280872 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MONITORING AND SCHEDULING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES - A system for monitoring and scheduling operations and maintenance (O&M) activities for a facility that includes a plurality of machines is described. The system includes a user computer, a memory device for storing O&M data and resource availability data for the plurality of machines, and a processor coupled to the memory device. The processor is programmed to communicate with the user computer via an electronic data communication device. The processor is programmed to receive data corresponding to at least one completed O&M activity via the user computer and to determine at least one recommended O&M activity based at least partially on the stored O&M data and the completed O&M activity data. The processor is also configured to analyze resource availability data and to schedule the recommended O&M activity based on resource availability data. | 11-04-2010 |
20100287022 | SCHEDULING AND MANAGING RESOURCES BASED ON ACT UP RANK - Disclosed are methods and systems for generating a potential act up rank of an employee based on a current rank and one or more qualifications of the employee. The method and system receiving the current rank and the one or more qualifications associated with an employee from a workforce management application. An employee hierarchy table is updated with the current rank and the one or more qualifications of the employee. A potential act up rank is determined based on the current rank and the one or more qualifications of the employee. The potential act up rank specifies eligibility of the employee to perform an act up task. The potential act up rank is updated in the employee hierarchy table. | 11-11-2010 |
20100287023 | COLLABORATIVE VIEW FOR A GROUP PARTICIPATION PLAN - When a group of users engage in activities comprising multiple tasks shared amongst the group, difficulties may arise from tracking progress, facilitating communication, reconciling tasks, etc. Accordingly, as provided herein, a collaborative view for a group participation plan may be created. A group participation plan comprising one or more tasks and one or more participant identities may be received. A commitment plan may be created by allocating the one or more tasks to respective participant identities. The commitment plan may be presented within a collaborative view. The collaborative view may show overall group progress, individual progress, and/or other information relating to the completion of allocated tasks. The collaborative view may be updated based upon task progress. Participants may view and interact with the collaborative view (e.g., a web-based user interface). For example, a participant may track individual progress, group progress, and/or other participant's progress. | 11-11-2010 |
20100287024 | PERSONAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT WITH LOCATION FUNCTIONALITY - A method is provided for prompting a user to perform PIM-related acts based on dynamic location data. The user's current location is received and a PIM item is selected from the user's PIM system. The user's current location is compared to the location of the selected PIM item. Based on the comparison, a suggested user fulfillment action for the PIM item is suggested to the user. | 11-11-2010 |
20100287025 | MOBILE RESOURCE TASK SCHEDULING - In a method for scheduling tasks for a mobile resource, task schedule data for a mobile resource is accessed. The task schedule data comprises a scheduled location of the mobile resource, and the task schedule data is planned before initiation of the task. The task schedule data and the real-time location data of the mobile resource are correlated. An alert is transmitted in real-time based on correlating the task schedule data and the real-time mobile resource location data. | 11-11-2010 |
20100293027 | WORKFLOW ENGINE FOR MEDIA PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION - A Workflow Engine comprises part of Workflow Management system and serves to automatically forward Work Orders as specific Tasks to specific Workplaces based on defined Workflows. Both the Work order and the Workflow are aggregated into a Work Package Template created by using a graphical Work package Editor based on requirements as outcome of a workflow analysis. Multiple Work Package Templates can be managed in parallel, allowing coping with the different needs in the different areas of a broadcast facility. | 11-18-2010 |
20100293028 | Method and apparatus for evaluating content - A content evaluation system having a center ( | 11-18-2010 |
20100293029 | System and Method for Automatically Scheduling Appointments - The system and method for automatically scheduling appointments includes receiving, at the appointment server system, appointment preference information from a client system associated with a user, wherein the appointment preference information includes contact details for one or more contacts of the user. In response to receiving the appointment preference information from the user, the appointment server system automatically, without human intervention, schedules a first proposed appointment based at least in part on the appointment preference information, wherein the first proposed appointment includes a first location, a first plurality of participants including the user and a first contact of the one or more contacts, and a first date that was not selected by any of the first plurality of participants. The appointment server sends an electronic message to the first plurality of participants including an invitation to the first proposed appointment. | 11-18-2010 |
20100293030 | VEHICLE-DISPATCHING METHOD AND VEHICLE-DISPATCHING SYSTEM - A vehicle-dispatching system includes a service center and a plurality of hosts disposed in respective vehicles. For equally distributing the chances of accepting a reserved vehicle service task, a vehicle-dispatching method is provided. Firstly, the service center is in communication with the hosts of respective vehicles, thereby establishing a database and a dispatching priority ranking table. When the service center receives a vehicle service request, a vehicle is selected from the database according to the dispatching priority ranking table. If the host of the selected vehicle receives the inquiry signal and consents to accept a vehicle service task, a vehicle service confirming signal is issued from the host of the selected vehicle. When the service center receives the vehicle service confirming signal from the host of the selected vehicle, the host of the selected vehicle is adjusted to a lower priority ranking in the dispatching priority ranking table. | 11-18-2010 |
20100299174 | RULES DRIVEN FILTERING OF SERVICE REQUESTS FOR SHARED PROCUREMENT SERVICES - Techniques for supporting shared procurement services in an enterprise application. According to one set of embodiments, associations between procurement service providers and procurement clients are stored, where the associations represent outsourcing relationships between these entities in the operational structure of an enterprise. The associations are then used by the application to facilitate the management of procurement-related content and the processing of procurement transactions. In one embodiment, the associations enable procurement-related content to be created/managed centrally by a procurement service provider and then made accessible to procurement clients serviced by the procurement service provider. In another embodiment, a rules-driven mechanism is provided for routing procurement requisitions from procurement clients to associated procurement service providers for processing. | 11-25-2010 |
20100299175 | ENHANCED POSTAL DATA MODELING FRAMEWORK - An enhanced postal data modeling framework, in which postal data which describes characteristics of a mail sortation process is accessed, and the postal data is mapped to production management data which describes characteristics of a model production management process in an initial state and which is capable of being processed by a production management application. The production management data is input for processing by the production management application to produce forecasted production management data which predicts characteristics of the model production management process in a subsequent state, the forecasted production management data is modeled to forecasted postal data which predicts characteristics of the mail sortation process, and at least a portion of the forecasted postal data is provided to a user. | 11-25-2010 |
20100299176 | Collaborative Financial Close Portal - Mechanisms and approaches for a collaborative financial close portal are provided. A client receives display data, which when rendered by the client, depicts a collaborative financial close portal that supports one or more workspaces. Each of the one or more workspaces may be used by a different set of users to perform activities related to a financial close process. The one or more workspaces are arranged in a hierarchical relationship. In response to receiving identification data that identifies a user of the client, additional display data is sent to the client, which when rendered, depicts a particular workspace for which the user is granted access. The depiction of the particular workspace includes depicting status information about financial close activities associated with one or more workspaces lower in the hierarchal relationship than the particular workspace. | 11-25-2010 |
20100299177 | DYNAMIC BUS DISPATCHING AND LABOR ASSIGNMENT SYSTEM - A method of dynamic bus dispatching and labor assignments based on real time vehicle and passenger data. The method includes running a transportation services module on a computer of a dispatch command center. The method includes receiving, at the computer system, current location information for a plurality of buses. The transportation services module determines a route completion time period for the vehicles and then generates a dispatch schedule for each of the vehicles based on the determined route completions. The dispatch schedules are transmitted to the buses and displayed on a monitor to the bus driver, thereby allowing real time or dynamic updating of dispatching based on collected location information. The method also includes determining and reporting a set of labor assignments for drivers of the buses based on the current location information, the route completion time periods, and break and shift information associated with each of the drivers. | 11-25-2010 |
20100299178 | Method and system for contacting a prospect or requestor immediately after a request for product information - A product information request is received via of the internet by way of a webform. The webform is parsed to extract requestor information which includes information about the product and the requestor. A database of salespeople is queried to find the most appropriate salespeople to be called based on the product request and requestor's information. These salespeople are called until one of them answers. Upon answering, the requestor's information is spoken to the salesperson by electronically converting text to speech, and the salesperson is placed on hold. Around this time, the requestor is called. The salesperson can hear the requestor being called. When the requestor answers, the salesperson's hold is removed and the salesperson and requestor can speak. | 11-25-2010 |
20100299179 | AUTOMATED AREA INSPECTION AND RECORDKEEPING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An automated inspection tour includes a sequence and location of multiple inspection points marked with a unique identifier. User performs inspection tours by proceeding to each inspection point in the sequence indicated, and operating a portable data terminal (PDT) to read each unique identifier. PDT may include a handheld mobile computer including an integrated laser barcode scan engine. RFID, or other electronic scanning devices. User must be physically located proximate the unique identifier to obtain an electronic reading. Each unique identifier is encoded with data including a location of its associated inspection point. PDT is used to perform an inspection tour of the premises for reporting and resolving hazards. The software application enables user to record location response parameters and enables user to record store conditions during an inspection tour. Inspection data is transferred continuously during a tour via wireless network communication. | 11-25-2010 |
20100299180 | Virtual Office Environment - A system and method for monitoring remote employees, having a computer for a user perform job related tasks, wherein the computer is enabled to record various data regarding the user's use of the computer; and a network to transmit the various data to a storage unit, to allow the data to be accessed by an employer. | 11-25-2010 |
20100306016 | PERSONALIZED TASK RECOMMENDATIONS - Personalized task recommendation technique embodiments are presented that involve recommending a particular task or tasks to a user which can be employed in furtherance of a desired goal based on observations of past users and how they accomplished this goal. The workflow that is recommended to a user is personalized in that it takes into account the demographic characteristics of the user and the workflow tasks they use. This involves grouping the aforementioned past users into groups whose users accomplish a particular goal using a similar workflow and exhibit similar demographic characteristics. A new user wishing assistance in completing a particular goal is then associated with the group having similar demographic and workflow choice characteristics to the new user. A workflow based on the workflows of the associated group is then recommended to the new user. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306017 | CREATING, CONFIRMING, AND MANAGING EMPLOYEE SCHEDULES - A system and method for creating, confirming and managing employee schedules comprises creating a schedule having time slots comprising shifts having employees, publishing the schedule on a network to the employees, and receiving a response of a confirmation, a request for shift change, and a null response from each employee. For each employee, if a null response is received, a reminder is sent. If request for shift change is received, an alert is sent to eligible employees using a preferred communication mode, and if one of the eligible employees responds, the shift change may be confirmed automatically or with manager approval. If approved, the employee requesting the change and the eligible employee are notified of the change; if not approved, both employees are notified of the lack of change. The schedule can be published using an employee's preferred communication mode. All steps contain implications for the system's three-step color-coding schema. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306018 | Meeting State Recall - Meeting state recall may be provided. A meeting context may be saved at the end of and/or during an event. The meeting context may comprise, for example, a hardware configuration, a software configuration, a recording of the meeting, and/or data associated with a subject of the meeting. The meeting context may be associated with an ongoing project and may be restored at a subsequent meeting associated with the ongoing project. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306019 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TASK ASSIGNMENT AND ALERT - A computerized process includes using a processor to receive data associated with a mobile location device such as a mobile phone. The data permits a determination of a location of the mobile location device. The data is used to determine if a person associated with the mobile location device is away from a particular location such as a place of business. If so, the processor automatically assigns a task of the person associated with the mobile phone to a second person. In another embodiment, the processor automatically transmits an alert to a second person as a function of the location of the mobile location device. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306020 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT WITH CONFIGURABLE STATES AND EXTENSIBILITY - A workflow management system provides a GUI configuration tool that allows end users to configure the states and state properties of workflows and workers without rewriting the program. The application also provides an interface that allows the use of extensible code to perform custom functions at particular states and at particular state transitions of a workflow. | 12-02-2010 |
20100306021 | CONTACT CENTER INTEGRATION INTO VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS - A contact center has an interface with a virtual environment implemented in a computer system. The operation of the contact center includes receiving, from the virtual environment, spatial information relating to the spatial position within the virtual environment of an inhabitant of the virtual environment, and queuing a contact relating to that inhabitant in a queuing system of the contact center. Queuing decisions are based, at least in part, on the spatial information of the inhabitant in the virtual environment. | 12-02-2010 |
20100312603 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FINANCIAL PLANNING LEAD MANAGEMENT - A method and system for financial planning lead management is provided. Customer inputs provided by a customer via a customer interface are received. The customer is presented with a financial plan based on the customer inputs. The customer inputs are communicated to a lead management tool executing on a server for assignment of the customer to a financial advisor. | 12-09-2010 |
20100312604 | TECHNICIAN CONTROL SYSTEM - Technician control, in which a control system is configured to control scheduling and dispatch operations for work orders being handled by technicians. Multiple technician devices are each associated with one or more technicians, are configured to communicate, over a network, with the control system, and also are configured to provide output in response to communications that are received from the control system and that are related to the scheduling and dispatch operations performed by the control system. A set of scheduling configuration options may be pre-defined and user input weighting at least one of the scheduling configuration options relative to other of the scheduling configuration options may be received. A scheduling application used by the control system to perform scheduling operations may be configured based on configuration data that reflects the weighting and scheduling operations may be performed using the configured scheduling application. | 12-09-2010 |
20100312605 | TECHNICIAN CONTROL SYSTEM - Technician control, in which a control system is configured to control scheduling and dispatch operations for work orders being handled by technicians. Multiple technician devices are each associated with one or more technicians, are configured to communicate, over a network, with the control system, and also are configured to provide output in response to communications that are received from the control system and that are related to the scheduling and dispatch operations performed by the control system. A set of scheduling configuration options may be pre-defined and user input weighting at least one of the scheduling configuration options relative to other of the scheduling configuration options may be received. A scheduling application used by the control system to perform scheduling operations may be configured based on configuration data that reflects the weighting and scheduling operations may be performed using the configured scheduling application. | 12-09-2010 |
20100312606 | Systems and Methods for Personnel Monitoring and Management - The systems and methods for providing an integrated means for monitoring, managing and auditing employees performance at a workplace or job site, such as monitoring the time worked by the employees, ensuring employee compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and coordinating and assigning duties to be performed by the employees. Each employee may be provided with a mobile wireless device in communication with the system to provide alerts of potential or actual violations, notifications of any change in duties or position, and notification of time clock status (i.e., time to take a break, time to clock in, etc.). | 12-09-2010 |
20100318397 | SYNCHRONIZING DELEGATION MODELS BETWEEN DISPARATE SERVERS - Architecture that provides synchronization of delegation permissions between discrete delegation models. For example, the synchronization of the delegation permissions (of a delegator and delegatee) can be performed between a delegation component of a scheduling system and a delegation component of a conferencing system such that the delegatee not only accesses the scheduling system on behalf of the delegator but also the conferencing system on behalf of the delegator. A synchronization component synchronizes the delegation permissions between the server systems (delegation components). Once synchronized, the delegatee administers the communications session, based on on-behalf-of information is validated, the delegatee can then establish the communications session. | 12-16-2010 |
20100318398 | NATURAL LANGUAGE INTERFACE FOR COLLABORATIVE EVENT SCHEDULING - A collaborative event scheduling method and system are provided which allow participants and an event initiator to interact with a scheduler in a natural language form. Participants provide a respective availability announcement, which is processed to generate a representation of the user's availability within a time window specified for the event by the initiator. This includes extracting a temporal expression from the availability announcement, normalizing, if the temporal expression is determined to be referential, identifying an availability modality for each extracted temporal expression from a set of availability modalities. The generated representation is output for establishing a suitable time for the event within the time window based on the availability announcements of the participants. | 12-16-2010 |
20100318399 | Adaptive Meeting Management - A template and/or knowledge associated with a synchronous meeting are obtained by a computing device. The computing device then adaptively manages the synchronous meeting based at least in part on the template and/or knowledge. | 12-16-2010 |
20100318400 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LINKING INTERACTIONS - Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system and method for linking interactions. The method includes grouping a plurality of customer-agent interactions into a category upon identifying one or more predetermined common characteristics in the customer-agent interactions and linking at least two of said customer-agent interactions to form a chain of interactions upon identifying a condition that matches a predetermined rule defining the chain. | 12-16-2010 |
20100318401 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING LOCATE AND/OR MARKING OPERATIONS WITH IMPROVED VISIBILITY, QUALITY CONTROL AND AUDIT CAPABILITY - First ticket information relating to one or more locate request tickets identifying a dig area is electronically received, including first image data associated with the dig area. The first image data includes one or both of: i) a marked-up digital image of a geographic area including the dig area, the marked-up digital image including at least one dig area indicator to provide an indication of the dig area; and ii) geographic information relating to the at least one dig area indicator. The dig area is inspected based at least in part on the first ticket information, and using one or more pieces of locating equipment to determine a presence or an absence of one or more underground facilities and/or physically mark the dig area with one or more physical locate marks. One or more of marking information, locate information, and landmark information is electronically added to the marked-up digital image and/or a second digital image so as to provide an updated marked-up image relating to the locate operation as performed. An electronic manifest is generated relating to the locate operation and including the updated marked-up image. | 12-16-2010 |
20100318402 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING LOCATE AND/OR MARKING OPERATIONS - First ticket information describing a locate operation to be performed is electronically received, including image information and/or geospatial metadata relating to a dig area and/or a work site. Field information relating to the locate operation as at least partially performed and/or environmental information relating to the dig area and/or the work site is electronically received and processed to provide a quality assessment of the locate operation. | 12-16-2010 |
20100324963 | TAG PRESENCE ALERTS FOR GROUPS AND MEETING - Architecture for enabling a group of contacts of a communications framework to be tagged for concurrent availability and participation in a communications session. The status of the contacts is monitored to detect availability of the contacts, and to determine when the contacts are available concurrently to participate in the communications session. A notification is sent to a tagging user of the concurrent availability of the contacts, at which time a meeting can be initiated. A context can be input that serves as a reminder as to the purpose of the communications session. The context can be presented in the notification with the availability status of the contacts. The status can be monitored by subscribing to presence information of the contacts. A contact list can be maintained to identify the contacts to be tagged and includes metadata related to each contact. | 12-23-2010 |
20100324964 | AUTOMATICALLY MONITORING WORKING HOURS FOR PROJECTS USING INSTANT MESSENGER - An automatic work monitoring system may be implemented in an instant messaging application so that employee hours can automatically be tracked and associated with projects. The work monitoring system can determine that an activity is associated with a project based on context of the activity and an employee's work profile. The work monitoring system can determine the amount of time spent on the activity and record the amount of time in a daily work record. The work monitoring system can also update the employee's presence information to indicate that the employee is working on the project to update the employee's instant messaging contacts about the employees work activity. | 12-23-2010 |
20100324965 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE TO EVALUATE AFFILIATE PERFORMANCE - An affiliate evaluation system rates the quality of affiliates' marketing efforts in electronic commerce. Such may employ information from a customer relationship management (CRM) program, tool or system, along with more traditional lead evaluation criteria, including lead evaluation by third party tools or systems. Individual leads may be assigned lead quality scores based on various criteria such as CRM criteria, and individual affiliates may be assigned affiliate quality scores based on the lead quality scores of leads generated by the affiliate. Affiliate compensation and status may be determined from these affiliate quality scores and transmitted to an affiliate network, advertiser's affiliate program software and/or individual affiliate. | 12-23-2010 |
20100324966 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCING CREDIT AND DEBT COLLECTION - A system and method for enhancing assignment of debtor accounts to a plurality of collection parties is presented. The preferred embodiment is capable of optimizing the way by which individual performance entities are assigned to collect on actionable individual debtor accounts by a creditor. An analysis solution uses algorithms to analyze gathered data and to provide a score to each collection party based upon the traits of the individual collection parties, debtor accounts, creditor, externally acquired data, and constraints upon all of the parties involved. The system and method are also capable of enhancing an individual borrower's credit score depending on the risk involved with providing credit to that particular borrower based upon the collectability upon default. | 12-23-2010 |
20100324967 | MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS AND APPARATUS, FOR DISPATCHING TICKETS, RECEIVING FIELD INFORMATION, AND PERFORMING A QUALITY ASSESSMENT FOR UNDERGROUND FACILITY LOCATE AND/OR MARKING OPERATIONS - An electronically generated locate request ticket identifying a dig area includes first image data associated with the dig area. The first image data includes one or both of: i) a marked-up image of a geographic area including the dig area, wherein the marked-up image includes at least one dig area indicator to provide an indication of the dig area; and ii) geographic information relating to the at least one dig area indicator. The locate request ticket is electronically transmitted to at least one entity associated with the locate operation. A completed locate request ticket is electronically received including second image data and/or non-image data relating to the locate operation as performed. The completed locate request ticket is electronically processed so as to provide a quality assessment of the locate operation. Information relating to the completed ticket and/or the quality assessment is electronically stored and/or transmitted so as to provide a searchable electronic record of the locate operation. | 12-23-2010 |
20100332278 | PROJECT MANAGEMENT VIA COLLABORATIVE CALENDARING - An apparatus and method for collaborative calendaring of event management that includes receiving data of a desired calendar event, receiving data of a desired objective related to the desired calendar event, and providing an indication of at least one other calendar event responsive to receiving the indication of the desired objective. The indication of the at least one other calendar event may be provided based on a template associated with the desired objective. The template may define best practices events related to the objective. | 12-30-2010 |
20100332279 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF TUITION EXPENSES - A system for tuition reimbursement includes an administrative command module. An administrator can use the command module to implement a plurality of features on the system. After system set up by the administrator, a user interface displays an electronic application form for requesting reimbursement for tuition expenses. A completed electronic application form is transmitted to a manager for approval to take the course and a human resources administrator. Data relating to a completion of an education course is received, and then this data is transmitted to the manager of an employee and the human resources administrator. Input is then received relating to an approval or a denial of payment for the reimbursement for tuition expenses. | 12-30-2010 |
20100332280 | ACTION-BASED TO-DO LIST - A method for implementing an action-based to-do list includes monitoring user actions with a personal management device which is configured to compare the user actions to a task definition file. A processor of the personal management device determines if the user actions fulfill one or more predefined conditions, within the task definition file. If a condition is fulfilled, the processor of the personal management device modifies the to-do list based on the fulfilled condition. A personal management device for implementing an action-based to-do list includes a user interface configured to allow a user to interact with a to-do list application and a processor configured to execute the to-do list application. The to-do list application, when executed, causes the processor to monitor user actions and compare the user actions to a task definition file, determine if the user actions fulfill one or more conditions within the task definition file, and if a condition is fulfilled, modify the to-do list based on the fulfilled condition. | 12-30-2010 |
20100332281 | TASK ALLOCATION MECHANISMS AND MARKETS FOR ACQUIRING AND HARNESSING SETS OF HUMAN AND COMPUTATIONAL RESOURCES FOR SENSING, EFFECTING, AND PROBLEM SOLVING - A set of projects may be defined, each project having a set of tasks to be performed. In turn, each task may be mapped to a set of task capabilities that are involved in completing the task. A set of agents and components (potentially including both human agents and automated agent, and components for sensing and effecting action in the world) may also be defined, and each agent may have a set of agent capabilities representing skills, knowledge, resources, relationships, etc., that an agent may commit to a task. The tasks of the projects may be fulfilled by identifying coalitions of agents for respective tasks, featuring a sufficient set of agent capabilities corresponding to the task capabilities. This model may be used, e.g., in a matching service, whereby projects submitted by managers may be completed through an automated matching of tasks with a set of agents subscribing to the service. | 12-30-2010 |
20100332282 | ORCHESTRATING THE ARRIVAL OF ATTENDEES TO A SCHEDULED EVENT - A method of orchestrating attendee arrival to an event includes storing a record for the event with a computerized calendar system and notifying a first attendee of the scheduled event, with the computerized calendar system, of an optimal departure time for the scheduled event from a current location of the first attendee. The first attendee is notified of the optimal departure time in response to a determined status of a second attendee in traveling to the scheduled event, and the optimal departure time includes at least one of: a specified time relative to a departure of the second attendee and a specified time relative to an anticipated arrival of the second attendee. | 12-30-2010 |
20100332283 | SOCIAL NETWORKING IN SHOPPING ENVIRONMENTS - This is directed to a system and method for providing social networking services using a portable electronic device. In some embodiments, a user may identify one or more articles of interest and transmit identifying information for the articles to mobile or other devices of the user's friends. The user's friends can review the identified articles, and provide comments for the user. For example, the user's friends can give a thumbs up/down, a star rating, a comment (e.g., text, audio or video), or any other type of comment. In some embodiments, the user can request the assistance of a salesperson using the social networking application device, for example to request recommended articles based on a particular event or need. In some embodiments, the social networking application can provide information to or from a kiosk. | 12-30-2010 |
20100332284 | Internet Package Shipping Systems and Methods - Systems and methods for shipping a package from a package sender to an intended recipient, utilizing Internet communications to place shipping orders, request on demand package pickup, maintain and utilize pre-stored profile information, view shipping history, track orders, etc. A package sender with an Internet-accessible computer accesses an Internet site and associated shipping system operated by a shipping service provider. The package sender enters information required for shipping the package, including shipping options and methods for payment, and the shipment transaction is validated. If the transaction is validated, printer indicia are communicated to the customer's computer, which is enabled to locally print a prepaid label containing special machine-readable as well as human-readable indicia. The shipping service provider acquires the package by drop-off, standard pickup or on call pickup, scans the machine readable indicia, verifies other indicia of authenticity, and processes the package in accordance with information encoded on the label. | 12-30-2010 |
20110004502 | Food Safety Management System - Disclosed are various embodiments of a food safety management system, including a web portal for management and reporting and a handheld computing device for checklist completion. A checklist of tasks to be performed in a food service establishment is obtained and displayed on a touchscreen of the handheld computing device. Confirmation is obtained on the touchscreen whether a task has been completed. An identifier at a location in the food service establishment is inputted to verify that a task has been completed. Temperature and humidity readings are obtained from one or more stationary sensors monitoring a food storage environment. Task completion data, temperature data, and humidity data are sent to a server. | 01-06-2011 |
20110004503 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING CALENDAR EVENTS WHILE PREPARING FOR TIME OUT-OF-OFFICE - In a calendar messaging method and system, a calendar application executing on a computer receives a command to activate an out-of-office status, and receives one or more selected calendar events. The method and system further include automatically updating the calendar events, wherein the updating includes at least one of canceling the calendar events, and removing the user as an invitee of the calendar events. An out-of-office message is then automatically sent to at least one recipient indicating a type of update made to one or more of the calendar events. | 01-06-2011 |
20110010218 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATING TRAVEL RELATED FEATURES - Embodiments of the disclosed invention include an apparatus, method, and computer program product for automating travel related features based on location information of a mobile device associated with a user. For example, in one embodiment, a computer executed method is disclosed for configuring an out of office auto-reply email message. The method comprises receiving an out of area message from a mobile device associated with a user; identifying a user associated with the mobile device; accessing an email account associated with the user; and configuring an out of office auto-reply email message based on configurations prespecified by the user. | 01-13-2011 |
20110010219 | Method and system for determining adherence to a workflow - An adherence system provides an entity (such as a supervisor) with the ability to define one or more acceptable agent state “rules” that are then monitored for compliance. A particular “rule” defines a sequence of user-configured or system-defined work item handling states and, optionally, a particular duration for a given state in the sequence. The rule typically also has associated therewith one or more user-configured or system-defined “actions” that should occur if the rule (which is sometimes referred to as a “policy”) is triggered. Using state information, the system monitors the various states of a particular agent against one or more rules. If the agent violates the rule (e.g., by moving in or out of a state out of sequence, by staying within a given state too long, or the like), a trigger event is initiated to indicate a potential or actual policy violation. The trigger event may then initiate a given action. | 01-13-2011 |
20110010220 | Location- and Direction-Enhanced Automatic Reminders of Appointments - An automatic appointment reminder system uses location and/or direction of travel of the reminder recipient relative to appointments to affect the time of sending of appointment reminders to the user, and thus enhances the user's ability to be on-time for appointments. | 01-13-2011 |
20110010221 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MOBILE FIELD INSPECTION - The present invention comprises a system and methods for managing janitorial, security, lighting, and temporary labor services provided to commercial, industrial, institutional, and retail facilities. The present invention comprises a system and methods for managing facility services though a mobile field inspection system. The mobile field inspection system provides a wireless network that enables a facility manager to supervise the performance of services by other employees at a particular facility. The present invention further comprises a system and methods for performing a series of quality inspections of a facility to ensure that services are performed satisfactorily. Additionally, the present invention provides a constant, proactive communication between the facilities contractor/manager and the customer purchasing the services. Further, the present system comprises a system and methods for performing services and inspections using systematically positioned barcodes for efficient tracking and reporting purposes. | 01-13-2011 |
20110015961 | Method and system for an event scheduler - The present invention relates to a computer system and method for providing an interactive method for automatically scheduling and event such as a conference or entertainment event including determining availability for each of a plurality of invitees participants and selecting a date and time for the event upon the availability of each of the plurality of invitees. The method also includes arranging the invitees into different sets of participants to best accommodate invitees having the same event, date, time, location and price preferences. selecting a mode of communication compliant with an invitees receiving device; sending the invitees an event having one or more associated parameters based upon a template; and receiving availability from the invitees for each event having parameters; matching the event to the invitees availability for the event; automatically initiating the event by calendaring or booking to preserve the position at the event for the invitee. | 01-20-2011 |
20110015962 | HIERACHAL PROVISIONING OF SERVICES - Today failure or degradation in a single item of equipment for telecommunications or cable provider can impact one customer through to thousands of customers. Usually the first indication, particularly with customer premises equipment, is a call from the customer which if not resolved by the call centre staff triggers a series of visits from technicians over a period of days to weeks. It would be beneficial instead for the notification of the issue to go from the service provider to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for resolution using their additional resources before dispatching a repair technician. OEM engagement providing improved resolution as issues known to OEM and repairs resolution would not be known to the staff of the service provider. The OEM may then directly engage a professional services organization to perform the repair operation, with spares provided from the OEM warehouses identified in their initial analysis of the issue. | 01-20-2011 |
20110015963 | Real-Time Enterprise Workforce Management - Techniques for enabling real-time enterprise workforce management over a telecom network are provided. The techniques include receiving real-time workforce information from one or more telecom networks, and using the real-time information for dynamic load optimization to enable real-time enterprise workforce management. | 01-20-2011 |
20110015964 | METHOD FOR ACTIONABLE IT SERVICE CATALOG - The method for developing an actionable IT service catalog at large organizations is disclosed. IT Service catalog helps IT organizations showcase the value of IT services they deliver to their business customers. Service catalogs are made actionable by incorporating Service Request and Service portfolio functions for the in scope services. The method focuses on articulating and documenting these services, facilitating service request and fulfillment and modeling /modifying service portfolios The method is comprising of service domains for services to move through various lifecycle stages within the IT service catalog from their point of inception to it's decommission; and domain components for each service domain to fulfill certain objectives during the services' journey through the IT Service Catalog. The proposed method is a process oriented framework to the development of IT Service Catalog at large organizations. | 01-20-2011 |
20110022439 | SYSTEM FOR MANAGING EVENTS IN A CONFIGURATION OF SOA GOVERNANCE COMPONENTS - Embodiments of the invention are associated with a configuration comprising multiple integrated SOA governance components, and are generally concerned with monitoring and managing events that can or are likely to impact on different components of the configuration. One embodiment of the invention, directed to a method, comprises the steps of detecting a particular event that occurs at a particular SOA governance component of the configuration, and routing information pertaining to the detected event to a pre-specified storage location. The method further comprises operating a monitoring mechanism to selectively monitor the information routed to the location, and to determine from the monitored information that the particular event has occurred at the particular component of the configuration. Responsive to determining that the particular event has occurred at the particular component, the monitoring mechanism is further operated to query each of the remaining SOA governance components, in order to identify each of the remaining components in which the particular event does not exist. | 01-27-2011 |
20110022440 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ALLOCATING SUPPLIERS USING GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM AND SUPPLIER CAPABILITY - A system and method for allocating suppliers to customers locate a plurality of suppliers in a geographical information system. Relative capability associated with each of the plurality of suppliers is determined. For each supplier in the plurality of suppliers, the system and method generate lines by linking said each supplier to neighboring suppliers in the plurality of suppliers, establish relative capability points on the lines between said each supplier and the neighboring suppliers, and define boundaries of a coverage region associated with said each supplier based on the relative capability points. A customer located in the coverage region is allocated to the associated supplier of the coverage region. | 01-27-2011 |
20110022441 | SCHEDULING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A scheduling method comprising: compiling non-location specific transport data comprising a plurality of travel options; receiving a user s intended appointment location; identifying the user's location; determining a local time based upon the user's location; determining a suitable travel option specific to the user's location, local time, and the intended appointment location; and communicating the suitable travel option to the user. | 01-27-2011 |
20110022442 | INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR INDUSTRIAL VEHICLES INCLUDING CYCLICAL RECURRING VEHICLE INFORMATION MESSAGE - Industrial vehicles communicate across a wireless environment and the wireless communication, data collection and/or processing capabilities of industrial vehicles are leveraged against robust software solutions to implement enterprise wide vehicle management functions, to integrate industrial vehicle data into existing enterprise workflows and/or to enable trusted third party integration into the enterprise for enhanced asset and/or workflow management. Still further, wireless communication, data collection and/or processing capabilities of industrial vehicles are leveraged with robust software solutions that aggregate and analyze data across multiple enterprises and/or promote the exchange of information between independent entities. | 01-27-2011 |
20110029349 | SYSTEM, COMPUTER-ACCESSIBLE MEDIUM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING WORKER DISTRIBUTION PLAN ON BASIS OF PRIORITY - A method for making a worker distribution plan on the basis of the priority, a computer, and a program are provided. A computer ( | 02-03-2011 |
20110029350 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CALENDARING EVENTS - A method of calendaring events including determining aggregated information of a plurality of events over a time period and correlative with individual event information stored in a calendar. The method may also include generating a calendar view of the calendar comprising the aggregated information. Further, the method may include determining statistical information of the plurality of events correlative to the individual event information comprising a parameter associated with individual events in the plurality of events, and generating a statistical view of the calendar comprising the statistical information. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029351 | Systems and Methods for Providing Compliance Functions in a Business Entity - In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a system for providing compliance functions in a business entity is provided. The system includes a computer-implemented compliance question-answer tool configured to receive compliance related questions from a plurality of users and, in response, provide compliance related advice to the users; a computer-implemented compliance knowledge database tool including a database of compliance related data and a user interface allowing the users to search the database of compliance related data; and a computer-implemented user feedback tool including a user interface allowing the users to provide compliance related feedback to the business entity. In some embodiments, the system may also include a whistleblower tool including a user interface allowing the users to report potential compliance violations and/or a compliance activity approval tool configured to document and track activities that require an approval by a compliance entity. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029352 | BROKERING SYSTEM FOR LOCATION-BASED TASKS - Brokering locations for the completion of tasks. Location information for a plurality of sellers is maintained. Buyers define tasks to be performed at particular task locations at particular times. A brokering system notifies the sellers of the defined tasks, and selects sellers near the task locations to complete the tasks. The sellers complete the tasks to produce output such as a physical or digital deliverable. Upon verifying completion of the task, the brokering system arranges the transfer of compensation between the buyers and the sellers. In some embodiments, the brokering system selects the sellers via an auction to enable the performance of various buyer-defined tasks that are location-specific. Further, location-based applications may be built on top of the brokering system. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029353 | Managing Professional Development - Systems and methods for managing professional development are provided. A client provides information indicating a current status, which may concern a professional task performed by the client and a portion of income associated with the task. The progress of the client toward a professional goal is calculated, and a recommendation concerning an appropriate next step is communicated to the client. Professional goals may include a level of income, efficiency, type of tasks performed, etc. | 02-03-2011 |
20110035250 | Ad-Hoc Engagement of Client and Service Provider - Amongst the many interactions people have are those which are unplanned such as door-to-door salespersons, charity canvassers, etc. In such situations the individual receiving the unplanned visit is disadvantaged in gaining information to make an informed decision in respect of the services offered to them. According to the invention a social networking application exploiting ad-hoc communications establishes a request for a visit with an individual allowing them to accept/decline as well as opportunity through the social networking application to retrieve information regarding the standing of the business, the individual, products as well as customer feedback. This additional information forming part of their decision making process. Businesses not part of the social networking application therefore derive reduced success in cold calling. Alternative embodiments allow for improved efficiencies in delivery/collection as well as pull based “wish” requesting from the individual rather than push advertising. | 02-10-2011 |
20110035251 | METHODS, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEMS FOR FACILITATING AND/OR VERIFYING LOCATE AND/OR MARKING OPERATIONS - First ticket information is electronically received relating to at least one locate request ticket pertaining to a locate and/or marking operation, in which a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area planned to be excavated or disturbed is detected and/or marked. A process guide for the locate and/or marking operation is executed and/or generated based at least in part on the first ticket information. | 02-10-2011 |
20110035252 | METHODS, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEMS FOR PROCESSING TECHNICIAN CHECKLISTS FOR LOCATE AND/OR MARKING OPERATIONS - Processing a checklist for a locate and/or marking operation to detect a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, wherein the checklist comprises a plurality of checklist items to be processed pursuant to the locate and/or marking operation. The checklist is displayed to a locate technician performing the locate and/or marking operation, and a status of at least one of the checklist items is determined based at least in part on at least one input received in connection with the locate and/or marking operation. An updated checklist is generated based on the status of the at least one of the checklist items. | 02-10-2011 |
20110035253 | Systems and Methods for Optimizing Enterprise Performance Relationships to Other Applications - Methods and systems enable enterprises to optimize the performance of an organization or enterprise by linking the goals and the performance of the organization or enterprise. Goals may be set for improving performance. Those goals may then be evaluated using parameters such as critical success factors, key performance indicators, and action plan steps. | 02-10-2011 |
20110040599 | TECHNIQUES FOR SCHEDULING MEETING RESOURCES IN CALENDAR SYSTEMS - Techniques for scheduling meeting resources within calendar systems are presented. Non-human resources are made available for scheduling within a calendar system. As these meeting resources are identified within the calendar system a background search is performed to determine their availability for a proposed meeting that has not yet been scheduled. The status of availability for the meeting resources are communicated within the calendar system to a meeting organizer. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040600 | E-DISCOVERY DECISION SUPPORT - Information is gathered from virtual interview responses, an enterprise map, and data repositories. A legal communications and collections component administers virtual interviews. The legal group annotates the virtual interview responses to add data obtained through follow-up interviews, etc. A search engine searches for a list of data sources for each custodian. Preservation and collection instructions are generated either manually or automatically. Custodians can be selectively added to the instructions based on the virtual interview responses. The instructions for the custodians are grouped according to the data source. The preservation and collection instructions are transmitted to the IT staff or data sources for implementation. | 02-17-2011 |
20110047000 | SHIPMENT FLOW VALIDATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - According to various embodiments, a flow validation system models distribution flows of a consignor's packages from each of one or more hubs within a carrier's shipping network. The flow validation system allows the carrier and/or the consignor to identify at least one optimal hub within the carrier's shipping network to which packages destined for a particular geographical area (e.g., three-digit ZIP code) should be shipped from their origin and from which the packages should be distributed through the carrier's general shipping network to their respective destinations. According to various embodiments, the optimal hub (or hubs) for packages destined for a particular geographical area may be identified based on the number of days expected to transport the packages from the origin to the particular geographical area via the optimal hub (least “time-in-transit”) and/or the distance (or range of distances) between the optimal hub and the particular geographical area. | 02-24-2011 |
20110047001 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING AN INSTANCE OF AN ADAPTABLE BUSINESS OBJECT - Described are methods and systems related to creating an instance of an adaptable business object for a business scenario. A scenario specific action node is received to perform the business scenario. Based upon a scenario specific action node identifier of the received scenario specific action node, an adaptable business object is identified. A dimension version associate with the identified adaptable business object is determined. Based upon a dimension code of the dimension version, metadata of the dimension version is retrieved. Business logic that is operable for creating an instance of the adaptable business object for the dimension version is identified. Based upon the identified business logic, the metadata of the dimension version and the adaptable business object are compiled to create the instance of the adaptable business object for the dimension version. | 02-24-2011 |
20110047002 | MECHANISM FOR MULTISITE SERVICE STATE DESCRIPTION - A distributed contact center is described and systems, methods, and devices for sharing state information between the various parts of the contact center are provided. Skill state information is condensed into one or several bits such that a message describing the state of multiple skills can be generated and shared with other parts of the contact center. This provides the ability to convey a large amount of state information for a particular site in a multi-site system without consuming a large amount of bandwidth or utilizing a large amount of processing capabilities. | 02-24-2011 |
20110054975 | CONTROL SUCCESSION - In one aspect, a system includes a processor configured to determine if a candidate to succeed an asset in control is available and determine if the candidate is qualified. The processor is also configured to designate the candidate as the successor if the candidate to succeed the asset in control is available and qualified. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054976 | Scheduling Recurring Calendar Events - Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for scheduling a recurring event are disclosed. When a calendar application receives an invitation from an organizer to an invite, the calendar application expands the recurring event into a plurality of occurrences, and detects any scheduling conflicts that can be caused by each of the plurality of occurrences. The calendar application notifies the invitee of the detected scheduling conflicts before the invitee makes a decision regarding the invitation. An invitee is provided an opportunity to accept only the non-conflicting occurrences of the recurring event. If the invitee chooses to accept only the non-conflicting occurrences, the invitee is given opportunities to respond to each of the conflicting occurrences separately. The organizer is notified of the invitee's responses regarding the non-conflicting occurrences and the conflicting occurrences. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054977 | CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT USING TEXT MESSAGES - A method is disclosed. The method includes, responsive to receiving a request for support, building a session profile from the request for support. The request for support is received from a mobile device. The method also includes identifying a solution by querying a database. The querying uses the session profile and the request for support. The database comprises a plurality of possible user inquiries, and a plurality of possible solutions associated with one or more of the plurality of possible user inquiries. The solution is associated with the request for support, and the solution is one of the plurality of possible solutions. The method further includes transmitting the solution to the mobile device. The transmitting includes transmitting a credential to the mobile device, verifying an eligibility of the mobile device, and transmitting the solution and program instructions executable on the mobile device. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054978 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING MARKETPLACE CALENDARING - A method and server for providing an interactive calendar functionality within an online marketplace. The server includes a network interface. The server includes a memory for storing a merchant profile information. The server includes a processor in communication with the memory and the network interface. The processor is configured to, responsive to a customer query, provide the merchant profile information to a customer over the network interface, wherein the merchant profile information includes a merchant description, a set of available services, and an appointment availability. The processor is configured to, responsive to receiving a customer proposed appointment selected from the merchant profile information, forwarding the customer proposed appointment to a requested merchant over the network interface, wherein the customer proposed appointment includes an appointment time and a requested service. The processor is configured to, responsive to receiving a merchant acceptance, transmit a confirmation of an accepted appointment information to the customer and the merchant. The processor is configured to storing the accepted appointment information in the memory. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054979 | Physical Event Management During Asset Tracking - Techniques for physical event management while tracking physical assets are disclosed. In one aspect, data identifying locations of interest in a journey of an asset is received. A position fix for the asset is received and a determination is made that the asset is within a location of interest. In another aspect, data identifying one or more milestones in a journey of the asset is received. An event notification is received from a tag coupled to the asset, and it is determined that there is a problem in the shipment of the asset. In yet another aspect, data identifying one or more actions that should be taken after events of interest in a journey of the asset is received. An event notification is received from a tag coupled to the asset, and it is determined that a particular action should be taken. | 03-03-2011 |
20110060625 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ASSIGNING OPERATORS TO PRINT PRODUCTION CELLS BASED ON RELATIONSHIPS - A system of assigning operators to cells in a document production environment may include a computing device and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for identifying a first plurality of cell operators, where each cell operator is associated with one or more skills, identifying a cell to be staffed, wherein the cell is associated with one or more functions, identifying, from the first plurality of cell operators, a subset of cell operators comprising a group of cell operators who collectively possess the skills necessary to perform the one or more functions associated with the cell, selecting, from the subset, a second plurality of cell operators based on at least one relationship amongst the second plurality of cell operators, and assigning the second plurality of cell operators to the cell. | 03-10-2011 |
20110060626 | STORM WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A storm water pollution prevention management system and method is disclosed. The method may include receiving a site map of a construction site, creating an overlay for the received site map, receiving identification of inspectable items on the construction site, placing symbols on the created overlay related to the received inspectable items, receiving one or more discrepancies related to the inspectable items, placing an identification mark on the overlay to identify each of the one or more discrepancies, and creating an inspection report identifying one or more of the one or more discrepancies and providing information concerning each of the one or more discrepancies. | 03-10-2011 |
20110066468 | DYNAMIC EVENT PLANNING THROUGH LOCATION AWARENESS - Discloses a computer-implemented apparatus for dynamic event planning for a plurality of attendees. Included is an event scheduler to schedule, update and delete events for the plurality of attendees, an event location finder invoked by the event scheduler to select at least one event location having an available timeslot for an event for the plurality of attendees, a transition requirement monitor invoked by the event scheduler to estimate a transition time from an origin location to the event location to determine if the available timeslot is feasible for the event, and a dynamic location tracker to track a location of the plurality of attendees and generate an event exception notice for the plurality of attendees if at least one attendee will be unable to attend the event at the event location at the available timeslot. Also disclosed is a computer-implemented method for dynamic event planning for a plurality of attendees and a computer program product for dynamic event planning for a plurality of attendees. | 03-17-2011 |
20110066469 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSLATION WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT ACROSS THE INTERNET - A method and system for managing the workflow of a translation agency between an administrator, multiple customers and multiple translators allows a business to systematically and consistently provide its customers with the best quality, in the shortest time, at the lowest cost, at any given time, given its current talent pool. The method computes a weighted value for each translator based on at least one of a translation quality rating, a translation speed rating, a translation cost rating, and a dependability rating. The method generates a dynamic availability for each translator using a translator's availability profile and a result to of a number of words already assigned for translation to a translator divided by a translator's translation speed. The method assigns a customer text file to a translator for translation based on a translator's weighted value and dynamic availability and a number of words in the customer text file. | 03-17-2011 |
20110066470 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING CONTEXT BASED REMOTE ADVISOR CAPABILITIES TO USERS OF WEB APPLICATIONS - A method and system for providing context based remote advisor capabilities to users of web applications is provided. The method includes request for access to a live advisor by a user accessing a web application on an electronic communication device. The method further includes determining category of access of the web application. Thereafter, the method includes sending the access request through a server infrastructure to one or more advisor applications used by one or more advisors. The one or more advisor applications are executed on one or more electronic communication devices located remote to the electronic communication device used by the user. A communication session is then established between the advisor executing an advisor application with the user wherein real-time context information of the accessed web application is communicated to the advisor application. | 03-17-2011 |
20110071879 | BIDDING WORK ASSIGNMENT ON CONFERENCE/SUBSCRIBE RTP CLEARING HOUSE - A distributed contact center and method of managing tasks within such a contact center is provided. The various sites of the distributed contact center are adapted to bid on contacts by transmitting bids to a work item distribution mechanism via RTP streams, thereby enabling the work item distribution mechanism to analyze the bids in real-time and route the contact accordingly. | 03-24-2011 |
20110071880 | Location-based Emergency Response System and Method - A system and method for identification of a responder for responding to an emergency is disclosed. A server receives user data generally in the form of an electronic transmission wherein the user data includes at least an emergency type, user identity, and location of the emergency. A user profile is then retrieved from a user database based on the user identity. One or more responders are identified to dispatch to the emergency by searching a responder profile database that includes real-time location information based upon a criteria set including, the availability of the responder as indicated in the responder profile, and the proximity of the responder to the location of the emergency. The server electronically contacts one or more responders that meet the criteria set. An acceptance is received at the server from one or more of the responders. The server then dispatches one or more of the accepting responders to the location of the emergency. In certain embodiments, the server determines if a specialized responder is required based at least upon the user profile. In other embodiments, the transmission of the user data includes an emergency code and the server determines if a specialized responder is required based upon the emergency code. | 03-24-2011 |
20110077993 | REMOTE MANAGED SERVICES IN MARKETPLACE ENVIRONMENT - Registration of a plurality of customers, each having an information technology infrastructure, with a manager of remote services is facilitated. Registration of a plurality of service partners with the manager is also facilitated. The manager detects an issue with a given one of the information technology infrastructures of a given one of the customers. Responsive to the detecting, responses from a subset of the service partners for potential selection to address the issue are facilitated. The partners in the subset are ranked based at least in part on ratings of the service partners in a rating database. A top-ranked one of the service partners is assigned to address the issue. | 03-31-2011 |
20110077994 | OPTIMIZATION OF WORKFORCE SCHEDULING AND CAPACITY PLANNING - A computer implemented method for solving a scheduling or capacity planning problem of a workforce of a service center, given an anticipated workload, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of calculating the number of workers and skills required in order to supply the adequate level of service; determining the number of workers required at a given period of time; and assigning specific workers subject to specific constraints to a specific period of time, by constructing and solving a mixed integer programming problem. The steps are implemented in either of computer hardware configured to perform said steps and computer software embodied in a non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable storage medium. Also disclosed are corresponding computer program product and data processing system. | 03-31-2011 |