08th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 47 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090048915 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WIRELESSLY ACCESSING A NETWORK - Systems and methods for wirelessly accessing a network are set forth in this disclosure. Specifically, this disclosure sets forth systems and methods for using advertising to regulate wireless access to a network. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048916 | MOBILE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXCHANGING POINT VALUE - A transaction is conducted at a merchant location using redeemed loyalty points maintained in a loyalty point account for a customer. The transactions are conducted using a mobile device at a POS terminal. In response to receiving a customer ID from the mobile device, a loyalty server provides the monetary value of loyalty points. The customer may use the mobile device to redeem those points and have the value transferred into a financial account. A payment processing system connected to the POS terminal completes the transaction using the financial account. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048917 | Customer Loyalty Program - A loyalty program is enabled by a data collection set-up. The data collection set-up collects and transmits both the loyalty data and the product barcode data to a server. The server links the product barcode to a customer's purchase profile and issues messages where appropriate. The messages may comprise a redeemable voucher that bears a unique barcode, or an error message that informs the customer and the retailer that an invalid loyalty card or voucher has been scanned. The product barcode data may be cross checked with a marketing database so that the server may enable manufacturers or other goods suppliers to provide targeted advertising. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048918 | ACQUISITION OF AVATAR REWARDS THROUGH ADVERTISEMENT EXPOSURE - The present invention relates to the acquisition of virtual and/or tangible avatar rewards through advertisement exposure. A method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: viewing advertising content within the virtual environment; and providing a reward to the avatar for viewing the advertising content. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048919 | FLEXIBLE ONLINE TRAVEL REWARD DUAL MODEL - An online travel reward exchange that in response to receipt of search criteria related to a desired travel product provides a first option for a travel product at a lowest available published price (LAPP) related to at least one desired travel product, and provides a second option to see more travel product options related to the at least one desired travel product. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048920 | Method for Improving Internet Advertising by Intermittently Mixing Advertising with Targeted Content - A system engaging users with internet advertisement areas using interesting content is presented. Areas normally devoted to internet advertisements are periodically replaced with engaging content. In one embodiment, RSS web feeds are used to obtain recent and summarized bits of engaging content to place in the advertising areas. In yet another embodiment, hybrid mixes of engaging content and advertisements are displayed. In this manner, internet viewers remain engaged with the areas on an internet web page that are normally devoted to internet advertisements. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048921 | User content in advertisements - A method, apparatus, and system of user content in advertisements are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of advertising to a user includes receiving user content from the user, sending the user content to an ad unit, processing the user content (e.g., through applying a facial recognition algorithm to an image), incorporating the user content into an advertisement and displaying the advertisement (e.g., on a website) to the user. The method may further include storing the user content in a server. The method may further include generating the advertisement based on the processing of the user content. In another embodiment, a system for advertising to a user includes a server configured to receive user content from the user, and an ad unit configured to process the user content, incorporate the user content into an advertisement, and transmit the advertisement to the user. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048922 | Systems and methods for classified advertising in an authenticated web-based social network - Exemplary systems and methods are provided for advertising on an authenticated web-based social network. Such methods include providing a screen for creation of a classified advertisement, receiving the classified advertisement from an advertising member, and displaying the classified advertisement on a user network in the authenticated web-based social network with information about a relationship between the advertising member and a member of the authenticated web-based social network viewing the classified advertisement. Exemplary systems include an advertising engine configured to generate a screen for creation of a classified advertisement, a communications module configured to receive the classified advertisement from an advertising member, a distributed database configured with a user network and relationship information, and a display module configured to display the classified advertisement on the user network with the relationship information. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048923 | ANCHOR MERCHANT PROGRAM PROXIMATE VENDOR SYSTEMS AND PRODUCTS THEREBY - A method and system for promoting customer loyalty to an anchor business within a certain geographical region from a plurality of participating merchants. The system having a server configured to store data including an identifier associated with a customer account in a customer rewards program. The server may receive the data and purchase transaction amount from a merchant terminal, verify a customer's membership in the customer rewards program, and transfer an award associated with the purchase transaction amount to the customer account. Additionally, the server may process customer's directive for redeeming the award for use at the anchor business. In another embodiment, the server may store a promotional program offering a value-bearing instrument for a participating merchant, provide the promotional program through an anchor business website, receive request code to purchase the value-bearing instrument, and transfer an award associated with the purchase of the value-bearing instrument to the customer account. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048924 | Apparatuses, Systems and Methods for Loading, Activating and Redeeming an Investment Gift Card - Embodiments of the present technology provide apparatuses, systems and methods for loading, activating, and redeeming an investment gift card. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048925 | METHOD OF RANKING KEYWORD ADVERTISEMENTS USING CLICK THROUGH RATE - Disclosed is a method of running a keyword advertisement service, which comprises providing a CTR-at-rank of a first keyword advertisement using a keyword, providing an average CTR-at-rank of a plurality of keyword advertisements, and computing an adjusted CTR of the first keyword advertisement using the CTR-at-rank and the average CTR-at-rank. The CTR-at-rank of the first keyword advertisement represents a click-through rate for the first keyword advertisement during a predetermined period. The average CTR-at-rank represents an average value of collective click-through rates of the plurality of keyword advertisements during a preselected period. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048926 | Machine-Implemented System and Method for Providing Timed Targeted Promotional Offers to Individual Payment Account Users with Feedback - A machine-implemented method includes determining when a particular promotional offer which is associated with a payment account of a particular consumer should be released to the particular consumer, and then transmitting a first message indicating the particular promotional offer to a device of the particular consumer. The first message indicates the merchant and the terms of the offer, which may include a specific time period during which the offer is valid. The method further includes detecting that the particular consumer has accepted the offer and, in response, automatically transmitting a second message to trigger a transfer of funds to an account of the consumer. The method can further include, in response to detecting that the consumer has accepted the offer, automatically and immediately transmitting a message to the consumer to confirm the transfer of funds to the account of the consumer, so as to provide feedback to the consumer. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048927 | Event Based Document Sorter and Method - Events and/or topics are studied and classified according to their temporal qualities to determine their relative state. The content of a document relating to such event/topic is analyzed to identify temporal components. These components can be compared with corresponding counterparts in other documents to identify a relative temporal order. The invention can be used in environments such as automated news aggregators, search engines, and other electronic systems which compile information having temporal qualities. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048928 | Temporal Based Online Search and Advertising - Advertising and search is performed using temporal parameters of stories, events, topics and electronic documents. The contents of a document relating to an event/topic is analyzed to identify temporal components. These components can be compared with corresponding counterparts in other documents to identify a relative temporal order, and to help drive an advertising engine or search engine. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048929 | AUTHENTICATED TRAVEL RECORD - Users can maintain an authenticated travel record by using an authentication device at all the locations they've visited around the world. The authentication device can be a wireless router that provides WiFi Internet access to the user. Authentication information is sent to a travel database, and the user's profile is updated to reflect their presence at the location. The user's travel record can be accessed by the user or the public via the Internet. The user can be given advertisements and/or new location suggestions based on their current location. Advertising revenue can be shared between the travel database and the location. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048930 | Wireless transmission and reception of information relating to an item advertised on a sign - A transmitter is coupled to a sign advertising a product such as a house or car for sale. The transmitter wirelessly broadcasts visually displayable information relating to the advertised product to one or more portable, hand-held machines. A portable machine receiving the wirelessly broadcasted information may then store and display information about the advertised product such as price, textual description of product features, product photos or pictures, and salesperson's name and contact information with minimal time and effort and maximal convenience. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048931 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING RELATED ACCOUNTS - The present application relates to a system and method for managing a plurality of accounts. A plurality of accounts is provided, with each account being associated with a customer. Account activity information associated with at least one action regarding one of the plurality of accounts is received at a first predetermined frequency. The received account activity information is analyzed, and at least one term of another account amongst the plurality of accounts is modified based upon a result of the analysis at a second predetermined frequency. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048932 | Disk Dispensing And Retrieval System And Associated Methods - A kiosk dispenses and receives recorded optical disk media using an interconnected system central server computer through an Internet Service Provider. The system central server contains databases and processing, and is connected to a credit verification system. The central databases collect inventory administration information and customer data from the kiosks including creditcard and email addresses. The central server initiates credit verification and sends receipts to customers via email. The central server maintains databases that are used for remote inventory control and administration of the kiosk network. A kiosk has the capability to identify a recorded disk for automated restocking and may also perform quality assessment of a recorded disk. A kiosk may also provide publishing-on-demand or-act as a portal for remotely served advertisement. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048933 | ADVERTISING MANAGEMENT AND SEARCHING SYSTEM THROUGH BIDIRECTIONAL SEARCHING AND MONITORING - Provided is a system for advertisement management and search through bi-directional search of advertisement objects and advertisement companies. The system includes an information storing unit for storing information on individual or seller members, seller information, goods information, advertisement or event information; a search unit for allowing the advertisement requester to search for the advertisement objects; a selecting unit for allowing the advertisement requester to select the advertisement objects corresponding to an input search condition; a confirming unit for allowing the advertisement requester; and an incentive providing unit for providing incentive to the advertisement objects. The seller activity score as the search result order criterion is effective within a predetermined period which depends on an evaluation criterion item, a business type, and a region, thereby maintaining fairness and reliability of the evaluation result. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048934 | Method and system for authorising returns - A method for authorising return of a purchase by a customer to a merchant by an interaction of a customer chip card upon which a customer transaction history is stored and a merchant POS terminal upon which predetermined data is stored, the method comprising the steps of, (a) reading at least part of the customer transaction history from the customer chip card, (b) comparing the part of the customer transaction history read from the customer chip card with the predetermined data, and (c) issuing to the merchant a message from the POS terminal based upon the outcome of the comparison. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048935 | Application program interface to manage gift cards and check authorizations - An application program interface to manage gift cards and check authorizations may be described. An apparatus may comprise a point of sale device having a processor coupled to a memory, the memory storing a point of sale host application object, a gift card service add-in object and a check service add-in object. The processor may execute the gift card service add-in object in response to application program interface commands to perform gift card service operations for the point of sale host application object. The processor may execute the check service add-in object to perform check service operations for the point of sale host application service. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048936 | Method and system for RFID transaction integrity utilizing an EEPROM - A method for purchasing goods in a cashless operation utilizing an RFID apparatus is provided. The RFID apparatus includes an EEPROM, the EEPROM being formatted to include a first group of data blocks and a second group of data blocks. Transaction data is stored in the first group of data blocks. When placing an order for goods or services, an RFID scanner scans the EEPROM. The RFID scanner reads a start block pointer value from a data block of the EEPROM. The pointer value corresponds to the address of the last written of the first group of data blocks or second group of data blocks. Data is then read from the last written group of data blocks. As the transaction is processed, the transaction data is modified in accordance with a purchase order to create modified data. The modified data is written to the second group of data blocks. Once it is determined that the writing to the second group of data blocks is successful, the pointer value stored in the EEPROM is changed to indicate the second group of data blocks. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048937 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR PURCHASE MANAGEMENT FOR CUSTOM PRODUCTS - In at least some disclosed embodiments, a method includes receiving customer information regarding a custom product from a customer; generating a quotation for the custom product based on 1) the customer information, 2) dealer information, and 3) fabricator information; selling the customer the custom product in a sale based on the quotation; and communicating the sale to the customer, a dealer, and a fabricator. The dealer and the fabricator are associated with the custom product, and all elements of the method are performed in a network-based system. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048938 | Real Estate Transaction System - A network based real estate transaction system is disclosed for assisting real estate agents and their clients with determining properties for purchase. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048939 | Method and System for Handling Media Files - The invention includes methods and systems useful in the handling of media files. Provided are methods for providing media content to a user including storing media content items in a first computer; adapting the first computer to allow the user to access the media content items from a second computer through a network; adapting the first computer to allow the user to select some or all of the media content items; adapting the first computer to allow the user to arrange the media content items in any order that the user desires; and downloading the selected and arranged media content items to the second computer. Related systems and methods are also disclosed. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048940 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND STORAGE MEDIUMS FOR PROVIDING MULTI-MEDIA CONTENT STORAGE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES - Methods, systems, and storage mediums for providing multi-media content storage and management services are provided. A method includes, from a single user interface: creating a library of content items, creating at least one other content item that includes an electronic greeting, and associating at least one component of the library with the electronic greeting to form an arrangement. The electronic greeting includes an electronic greeting card and a personalized message. The electronic greeting also includes a gift associated with a unique code. The gift includes one or more of a: music selection, movie, computer game, and video game. The gift is retrievable via electronic download upon entry of the unique code. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048941 | Gathering Information About Assets - A sequence of steps for locating information of a particular type on a particular web site is received from a first process and stored in a database of sequences of steps. Upon an identification of the particular web site as likely to provide information related to a particular subject, the sequence of steps is retrieved from the database and the sequence of steps and an identification of the subject are provided to a second process. Information relating to the particular subject from the particular website is received from the second process. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048942 | Electronic business method for the wholesale transaction of vehicles - An electronic business method for the wholesale transaction of a vehicle having the steps of: providing an electronic information database, wherein the electronic information database comprises a wholesale vehicle record and/or a dealership record; authenticating a dealership from a dealership information entry of a dealership record to verify authenticity of the dealership; providing an authenticated dealership with access to the electronic information database; permitting the authenticated dealership to input a search inquiry to generate a search of the electronic information database; generating a search result which provides the authenticated dealership with a wholesale vehicle information record and/or a dealership information record; and facilitating a wholesale vehicle transaction between the authenticated dealership and another authenticated dealership from the search result. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048943 | INTERNET BASED CUSTOMER DRIVEN PURCHASE METHOD AND APPARATUS - A system and apparatus for facilitating communication network based purchase transactions includes logic to enable a user to produce a specific purchase offer, tender payment, and to enable sellers to satisfy the purchase offer. The embodiments include a system for receiving a search request, performing a search and offering at least one product for purchase by a user, receiving a user specified product purchase offer and performing a search. If necessary, pooling a plurality of user specified product purchase offers, determining a pooled price for the at least one product presenting an offer to at least one buyer for a pooled quantity at a specified price for the at least one product to facilitate the purchase transaction. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048944 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING AN AUTO REPAIR NETWORK - An auto repair network is shown that is configured to follow specific standards of repair and guarantee work for at least a portion of the life of the vehicle, along with deductible assistance to the consumer. Consumers have access to the network of repair shops that have agreed to license and follow specific standards via a web site to select one or more licensing repair facilities that are convenient to them. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048945 | FUEL DISPENSER - A method of conducting a transaction at a fuel dispenser comprising the steps of providing a fuel dispenser having a housing, a fuel dispensing apparatus mounted within the housing, the fuel dispensing apparatus having control electronics, and at least one touch display mounted in the housing and operatively coupled to the control electronics, the touch display being configured to allow a user to make selections for conducting a transaction. The fuel dispensing apparatus control electronics is operatively connected to electronics in a store associated with the fuel dispenser. The method further comprises the steps of presenting a real-time image of an inside of the store, moving through the store by touching the at least one touch display, and selecting a product being shown in the real-time image for purchase by touching the at least one touch display. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048946 | METHOD FOR ON-LINE PARTS ORDERING - The present invention is a method of selling replacement parts for a product over a computer network including providing a plurality of product manufacturer selection options for a customer to select from, receiving a manufacturer selection of one of the product manufacturers, providing a plurality of product selections for the customer to select from, receiving a product selection of one of the products, providing a schematic illustrating a plurality of component parts of the product with associated reference identifiers, receiving a selection of at least one of the component parts, providing a description of the component part selected, including at least one name for the component part and at least one part number for the component part. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048947 | Lot/serial engine for a warehouse management system - A novel method for configuring an item specific user-definable lot or serial attribute. The method also provides for grouping one or more attributes into an time specific context. The method also provides for capturing, maintaining and querying attribute data values according to the item specific context. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048948 | APPARATUS, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD, FOR MAINTAINING AN ASSET REPOSITORY - Apparatus, and an associated method, for updating and reconciling asset repositories. A user event, generated by, or otherwise associated with, an asset is detected. The operations event identifies characteristics of the asset with which the event is associated. The information is compared with repository-stored information. If comparison indicates dissimilarity with the newly-obtained information and the repository-stored information, the contents of the asset repository are updated to indicate the updated information. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048949 | System and method for managing photographs from site audits of facilities - A system and method for managing site audit information may include a storage unit configured to store site audit information. The site audit information may include a deficiency identifier of a facility and include at least one photograph of the deficiency. A processing unit may be in communication with the storage unit, and be configured to manage the site audit information stored in the storage unit. The processing unit may further be configured to display the photograph(s) of the deficiency in response to receiving a request for information about the deficiency. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048950 | System and method for managing site audit information of facilities - A system and method for managing site audit information may include a storage unit and a data repository stored on the storage unit. The data repository may be configured to store site audit information that includes site audit information of multiple facilities. A processing unit may be in communication with the storage unit and be configured to aggregate the site audit information stored in the data repository. A user interface may be configured to display the aggregated site audit information. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048951 | Systems and Methods for Facilitating Budgeting Transactions - A financial account issuer facilitating transactions between accounts is disclosed. The invention provides sellers with an irrevocable method of receiving funds from a purchaser and for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party. The invention also includes the options of interest payments, the use of different account issuers, different financial accounts, budget transfers, spend compartmentalization, cost-splitting, adjusting credit limits, loans, gifting, intermediary facilitating the transaction, transaction tracking, rapid funds availability, confidential transfer of funds, immediate initiation of shipment by a seller, releasing funds to a seller only after approval of the goods, services, or other value, demonstrating proof of payment, and recourse against a remote seller. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048952 | Systems and Methods for Adjusting Crediting Limits to Facilitate Transactions - A financial account issuer facilitating transactions between accounts is disclosed. The invention provides sellers with an irrevocable method of receiving funds from a purchaser and for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party. The invention also includes the options of interest payments, the use of different account issuers, different financial accounts, budget transfers, spend compartmentalization, cost-splitting, adjusting credit limits, loans, gifting, intermediary facilitating the transaction, transaction tracking, rapid funds availability, confidential transfer of funds, immediate initiation of shipment by a seller, releasing funds to a seller only after approval of the goods, services, or other value, demonstrating proof of payment, and recourse against a remote seller. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048953 | METRICS SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TOKEN TRANSACTIONS - Systems and methods for monitoring token access transactions are provided. In one embodiment, the invention provides receiving transaction records for a plurality of bank card transactions, wherein the transaction records include transaction information and infrastructure information; determining whether a reportable event has occurred based on the transaction information with the transaction records; and providing an alert representing the reportable event. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048954 | Sub-accounting for an omnibus account - Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for sub-accounting for an omnibus account. A method includes, in a server, tracking summary balances of transactions for individual sub-accounts contained in an omnibus account according to transition type and transaction status. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048955 | System and method for financially distressed persons to avoid consequence of foreclosure - A novel system, method and computer program product for enabling owner/debtor's particularly, of dwellings, e.g. single or multi-family dwellings homes, condominiums, etc. (mortgagors), who are in financial distress and may be entering into a home foreclosure, to avoid the foreclosure by enabling them to purchase another real-estate property as joint or co-owner with another debtor, e.g., who may or may not be in a similar foreclosure situation. Immediate beneficial effect of such an equity purchasing arrangement for all parties is realized when brokered and transacted according to the systems and methods of the present invention. For instance, based on pool membership and an affordability factor rating, customers may be immediately extricated from the foreclosure process, advantageously matched with another borrower using calculations provided by the invention, and placed in an equity home co-ownership situation. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048956 | Insurance Premium Finance System & Method - Provided is a system and method for financing insurance policy premiums for an insured unwilling or unable to pay up front the full amount of the insurance premium(s). Critical system and methodology components include eliminating the traditional premium finance company from the process, and establishing a contractual, operational, and financially beneficial relationship between insurance agents and lending institutions (e.g. banks, financial institutions, a lender, or credit unions) identified as premium finance funding companies (PFFCs). The provision of capital, the funding of the policy, and the profit distribution (profit generated from the financing process) are a function of the respective participation of the agent and the PFFC. Servicing of the policy can also be negotiated between the parties. Tools exist (software and otherwise) to assist the PFFC in monitoring agent activities and the management of its capital investments/funding dollars of both the agent and the PFFC. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048957 | Method and system for financial counseling - Financial institutions providing counseling to costumers have to spend a significant amount of time gathering data from their clients and analyzing that data before offering appropriate financial advice to their customers. Some Debt Management Programs allow costumers to enroll using online systems without appropriate education or counseling. The present invention allows a costumer to obtain financial counseling automatically. A Credit Report Data Integration system, furthermore, streamlines the process by allowing the system to obtain data, with consent of the customer, from the credit bureaus to determine the financial needs of the client. The system allows the counselor to concentrate on counseling the client, instead of dealing with data entry and analysis. Furthermore, the client has the opportunity, if desired, to receive counseling from the system without having to actually meet a counselor. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048958 | METHOD OF EVALUATING THE PERFORMANCE OF A FAMILY OF TARGET DATE FUNDS - A method of evaluating the performance of a family of target date funds. A model of the family is constructed using realized rates of return (“returns”) for an evaluation period for each of the funds. The returns for each fund are assigned to the periods of the model corresponding to the periods during which the return was realized by the fund. An estimate of the wealth generated by the family may be determined as a function of the returns assigned to the model and a pattern of contributions. A benchmark portfolio may be selected and used to construct a model of the benchmark portfolio having the same number of periods as the model of the family. The model of the benchmark and the pattern of contributions may be used to determine wealth generated by the benchmark portfolio, which may be compared to the estimate of wealth generated by the family. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048959 | SHARE MAP DISPLAY APPARATUS, SHARE MAP DISPLAY SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM FOR THE SAME - Information on the handling records and occupancy status such as of a company carrying financial products in the financial capital market is converted into image data the contents of which can be visually sensibly grasped. A display region forming section ( | 2009-02-19 |
20090048960 | BIPARTITE MATCHING MARKET FOR UTILIZATION WITH ADVERTISEMENT PLACEMENT EXCHANGE SYSTEM - Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a bipartite matching exchange methodology. The method comprising receiving at least one buy bid from at least one buying party, receiving at least one sell bid from at least one selling party, and matching the at least one sell bid with the at least one buy bid thereby yielding at least one matched buy bid and at least one matched sell bid wherein the resulting allocation of the at least one matched buy bid and the at least one matched sell bid maximize a surplus of an exchange. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048961 | System and method for transferring longevity risk - A system and method for transferring longevity risk is disclosed. According to an example of the disclosure, a trading system receives an order to trade a financial instrument in which counterparties agree to exchange, for a predetermined period of time, a difference between an expected and actual cash flow stream associated with one or more assets or liabilities affected by mortality-based longevity risk, wherein the predetermined period of time includes one or more calculation periods that each last less than a term of the one or more assets or liabilities, receives updated mortality information underlying the longevity risk, and calculates the difference to be exchanged for each of the one or more calculation periods. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048962 | Interactive Security Brokerage System - The present invention provides an interactive browser based system providing market information regarding municipal bonds which allows users to search for, identify, analyze, compare, auction and/or purchase municipal bonds. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048963 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING TRANSACTIONS WITH INTEREST - A financial account issuer facilitating transactions between accounts is disclosed. The invention provides sellers with an irrevocable method of receiving funds from a purchaser and for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party. The invention also includes the options of interest payments, the use of different account issuers, different financial accounts, budget transfers, spend compartmentalization, cost-splitting, adjusting credit limits, loans, gifting, intermediary facilitating the transaction, transaction tracking, rapid funds availability, confidential transfer of funds, immediate initiation of shipment by a seller, releasing funds to a seller only after approval of the goods, services, or other value, demonstrating proof of payment, and recourse against a remote seller. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048964 | Trading of Derivative Secured Index Participation Notes - Techniques are described for securitizing, administrating and trading various index shares securitized by derivative, cash-settled instruments on the underlying index. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048965 | Method and System for Identifying Teaser Surfers with Time Series Credit History - Initially the amount of data is checked to determine whether a sufficient history is present for the method. Credit card accounts are classified as new, relatively new, and old cards, i.e. opened within six months, within twelve months, and over twelve months ago. The balances for each of the three categories are calculated for each month. The average balance percentages of cards opened within six months and twelve months for the last twenty-four months is calculated and teaser surfers are defined as either having average percentages within the last twenty-four months for all credit cards opened within six and twelve months are greater than predefined percentages. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048966 | Systems and Methods for Adjusting Loan Amounts to Facilitate Transactions - A financial account issuer facilitating transactions between accounts is disclosed. The invention provides sellers with an irrevocable method of receiving funds from a purchaser and for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party. The invention also includes the options of interest payments, the use of different account issuers, different financial accounts, budget transfers, spend compartmentalization, cost-splitting, adjusting credit limits, loans, gifting, intermediary facilitating the transaction, transaction tracking, rapid funds availability, confidential transfer of funds, immediate initiation of shipment by a seller, releasing funds to a seller only after approval of the goods, services, or other value, demonstrating proof of payment, and recourse against a remote seller. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048967 | WIDE AREA NETWORK PERSON-TO-PERSON PAYMENT - According to the invention, transferring money using a computer network is disclosed. In one step, information is saved on credit received for a first user ( | 2009-02-19 |
20090048968 | Systems and Methods for Facilitating Transactions with Different Account Issuers - A financial account issuer facilitating transactions between accounts is disclosed. The invention provides sellers with an irrevocable method of receiving funds from a purchaser and for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party. The invention also includes the options of interest payments, the use of different account issuers, different financial accounts, budget transfers, spend compartmentalization, cost-splitting, adjusting credit limits, loans, gifting, intermediary facilitating the transaction, transaction tracking, rapid funds availability, confidential transfer of funds, immediate initiation of shipment by a seller, releasing funds to a seller only after approval of the goods, services, or other value, demonstrating proof of payment, and recourse against a remote seller. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048969 | Systems and Methods for Facilitating Transactions Between Different Financial Accounts - A financial account issuer facilitating transactions between accounts is disclosed. The invention provides sellers with an irrevocable method of receiving funds from a purchaser and for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party. The invention also includes the options of interest payments, the use of different account issuers, different financial accounts, budget transfers, spend compartmentalization, cost-splitting, adjusting credit limits, loans, gifting, intermediary facilitating the transaction, transaction tracking, rapid funds availability, confidential transfer of funds, immediate initiation of shipment by a seller, releasing funds to a seller only after approval of the goods, services, or other value, demonstrating proof of payment, and recourse against a remote seller. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048970 | Approval and Issuance of a Financial Card - A method comprising issuing, at a virtual credit card issuer, a virtual credit card to an entity and debiting a monetary amount from a credit card account associated with a credit card issued by a financial institution that has extended credit to the entity. The method also comprises crediting the monetary amount to a virtual credit card account associated with the virtual credit card. The virtual credit card issuer would receive a request for payment directly from a merchant who accepted a credit card number of the virtual credit card as a form of payment from the entity. The request for payment when a monetary amount specified by the request for payment is less than or equal to the monetary amount credited to the virtual credit card account associated with the virtual credit card would be honored. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048971 | Payment Card with Dynamic Account Number - A payment card comprises a processor, a trigger source coupled to the processor, and a display for outputting at least a portion of a dynamic account number under control of the processor responsive to the trigger source. The dynamic account number is determined based at least in part on a seed stored in the payment card and an output of the trigger source. In an illustrative embodiment, the dynamic account number is generated utilizing a time-based or event-based one-time password algorithm. For example, in a time-based embodiment, the trigger source may comprise a time of day clock, with the dynamic account number being determined based at least in part on the seed and a current value of the time of day clock. In an event-based embodiment, the trigger source may comprise an event counter, with the dynamic account number being determined based at least in part on the seed and a current value of the event counter. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048972 | System and Method for an Emergency Reserve During a Covered Event Using Actuarial Data - A system and method for providing emergency conditional credit to a customer of a financial institution. The system includes a customer site and a financial institution. The financial institution determines actuarial data using past history of customers incurring specified events, the actuarial data useable to predict future specified events, determines a cost for offering an emergency reserve (ER) product using the actuarial data, determines a qualification standard for the ER product, and offers the ER product to a person at the customer site. An emergency reserve protection (ERP) feature that provides protection that cancels any ER balance on a monthly basis during a covered event may also be offered to customers. One or more vendor sites may be used to handle some of the processing or managing of the ER and ERP product offerings. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048973 | System for making funds available for gaming - A system for making funds available for gaming which includes a terminal which is configured to read customer information from a card. The terminal includes an input/output unit configured to allow the customer to select a quasi-cash transaction and to generate an order authorizing the quasi-cash transaction. The system also includes a station which is configured to retrieve the order and information verifying the identity of the customer and, when the identity of the customer is verified, is configured to, at the customer's option (1) obtain an electronic endorsement from the customer and place the electronic endorsement in an electronic image or (2) print out a hard copy of a check for endorsement by the customer. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048974 | WIDE AREA NETWORK PERSON-TO-PERSON PAYMENT - According to the invention, transferring money using a computer network is disclosed. In one step, information is saved on credit received for a first user ( | 2009-02-19 |
20090048975 | Method Of Billing A Purchase Made Over A Computer Network - A method of effecting a sale over a computer network in which it is determined whether a user passes fraud control before effecting a sale over a computer network. Information associated with a method of payment, such as credit card information, debit card information, checking account information, a telephone service account, a cable television account, a utility service account, or an Internet service provider account, is requested from the user after the user passes the fraud control. Information associated with the method of payment is received from the user in real time. Method-of-payment information is communicated to a payment authorization database, which can be located locally or remotely. The method-of-payment information includes the received information associated with the method of payment. Payment authorization information associated with the method of payment is received from the payment authorization database. A sale transaction is completed when the payment authorization information is affirmative. Sale charge information associated with the sale effected over the computer network is transmitted to the payment authorization database when the sale transaction is complete. The sale charge information includes information for charging the method of payment an amount representing a charge for the sale. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048976 | Protecting Stored Data From Traffic Analysis - A method including: reading a portion of stored data from a storage medium, decrypting the portion of stored data, then if changes are requested, making the changes to the portion of stored data to produce changed data, encrypting the changed data, and writing the encrypted changed data to the storage medium. An apparatus that performs the method is also included. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048977 | USER PROFILE GENERATION ARCHITECTURE FOR TARGETED CONTENT DISTRIBUTION USING EXTERNAL PROCESSES - A targeting-message profile may be obtained by a wireless access terminal (W-AT) by receiving a rule for establishing a user profile, synthesizing at least one profile attribute based on user behavior, and determining a need for further information based on the at least one profile attribute. Then, the W-AT may request the further information from an apparatus external to the W-AT, such as a server containing census information, receive the further information from the apparatus, and generate the profile based on the profile attributes and the further information. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048978 | Systems and methods for secure transaction management and electronic rights protection - The present invention provides systems and methods for electronic commerce including secure transaction management and electronic rights protection. Electronic appliances such as computers employed in accordance with the present invention help to ensure that information is accessed and used only in authorized ways, and maintain the integrity, availability, and/or confidentiality of the information. Secure subsystems used with such electronic appliances provide a distributed virtual distribution environment (VDE) that may enforce a secure chain of handling and control, for example, to control and/or meter or otherwise monitor use of electronically stored or disseminated information. Such a virtual distribution environment may be used to protect rights of various participants in electronic commerce and other electronic or electronic-facilitated transactions. Secure distributed and other operating system environments and architectures, employing, for example, secure semiconductor processing arrangements that may establish secure, protected environments at each node. These techniques may be used to support an end-to-end electronic information distribution capability that may be used, for example, utilizing the “electronic highway.” | 2009-02-19 |
20090048979 | TOKEN BASED NEW DIGITAL CASH PROTOCOLS - Digital cash token protocols employ two pairs of private and public keys. Each public key is certified separately and the protocols do not use any blind signature schemes. As a result, the digital cash token protocols provide strong protection of user privacy by using two certified public keys instead of a blind signature. One pair of certified keys consists of one master user private key and one master user public key. A second pair of certified keys consists of one pseudonym user private key and one pseudonym user public key. The use of a master key pair and a pseudonym key pair circumvents the need for blind signatures. As a result, the proposed protocols do not require blind signatures and do not add additional overhead and security requirements necessitated by conventional blind signature schemes. The protocols use public key protocols and digital signatures and symmetric key protocols, which may be readily implemented in standard information security based systems based on cryptographic constructs. In addition, the protocols may be deployed in mobile, off-line, and on-line settings. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048980 | Method for maximizing a negotiation result - The present invention generally relates to a system and method for maximizing a negotiation result in which certain conditions and criteria must be met before commencing negotiations. The present invention also provides a seller with evaluation tools to assess the buyer's needs and to determine whether the seller is in a strong position to negotiate a favorable deal once the conditions and criteria are met. In one embodiment, the evaluation tools include a method for calculating the impact of a price discount on the seller's commission. The method of the present invention can be implemented on computer software or through an Internet website. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048981 | SiteWare a 3D (x,y,z dimensions) 4D (time;past(s), present future(s)) & 5D (Business Rules) infrastructure business intelligence and configuration management solution managing all enterprise physical and logical assets characteristics and relationships - SiteWare™ is a 3D (C | 2009-02-19 |
20090048982 | Method of computing a settlement price - A computer assisted method of operating a venue of an exchange comprises the steps of providing a market for trading of a product, acquiring a measure of trading volume of the product, and developing a measure of open interest in the product. A relationship is calculated between the measure of trading volume and the measure of open interest. A settlement price is computed in accordance with the relationship, and the settlement price is published. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048983 | USER INTERFACE FOR TREND PREDICTING IN A TRADING MARKET - Changes in trading trends are indicated. An indicator, such as a bar, is displayed adjacent to the trend line. The indicator persists the trend to a greater extent than the trend line. As the trend line changes, the indicator more gradually changes or does not change. The difference in values, such as slope of the indicator relative to the trend line, indicates the change in trend. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048984 | Method and Device for Calculating a Forward Price for Using Links in a Network - The invention relates to a method for calculating in a network that comprises links a distribution of forward prices for using the links in the network. The method comprises the following steps:
| 2009-02-19 |
20090048985 | NAV and IIV Pricing for Actively Managed Exchange Traded Funds - An ETF pricing mechanism for use in managed Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) or other collective investment vehicle (CIV) that retains the confidentiality of the vehicle's assets. The method of pricing may comprise: selecting a security price for each portfolio security, wherein each selected security price is associated with a time offset within a pricing interval, and wherein the time offsets are not identical for all of the selected security prices; generating a plurality of partial price components based on the selected security prices; determining a intra-day indicative value (IIV) of a CIV share in response to the plurality of partial price components; and, publishing the determined IIV. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048986 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING AND REDUCING COSTS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACTIONS IN REAL TIME - A method and system for identifying and reducing costs of information technology actions in real time. Initiation of an information technology (IT) action by a user is detected. An actual cost to perform the IT action is determined in real time prior to a completion of the IT action. A target cost (e.g., average cost) to perform the IT action is obtained. The actual cost is determined to be greater than the target cost. Recommended actions for reducing the actual cost are obtained. A notification is presented to the user in real time and prior to the completion of the IT action. The notification includes a description or a link to a description of the recommended actions. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048987 | System and Method for Optimizing the Loading of Shipping Containers - A system and method for optimizing the loading of a shipping container, optimizing freight costs, communicating ordering and shipping constraints to a customer, and continuously updating shipping costs while an order is being built by a customer. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048988 | CUSTOMER INCENTIVE SYSTEM BASED ON AN EXTERNAL LOTTERY DRAWING - A method of providing customer incentives to a business wherein a buyer of real and/or personal property negotiates the price of the property with the seller, and upon reaching a satisfactory price, the seller shall provide the buyer with a series of numbers prior to transferring title in the property. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048989 | METHOD OF CAPITAL CREATION FOR TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS - A capital creation process for a qualified (i.e., tax-exempt) organization to raise funds for capital improvements, subsequently eliminating the obligation to ever repay the debt. The tax-exempt bonds are offered to selected investors in a pool that meets certain parameters that may include age, wealth and affiliation with the tax-exempt organization issuing the bonds. The investor establishes an individual charitable remainder trust with the purchased tax-exempt bonds as the asset. The qualified organization is named as the irrevocable residual beneficiary of the trust. The investor receives an annuity equal to the bond interest income from the charitable remainder trust for life. Upon the death of the investor, the bonds are returned to the organization, which can then extinguish the liability on its financial statements. The investor in the tax-exempt bonds is able to deduct from his individual income tax return, an amount under applicable tax laws for the contribution of the tax-exempt bonds to the charitable remainder trust. The investor establishes an irrevocable life insurance trust with a gift of the tax saving resulting from the income tax deduction, and names his heirs or others as beneficiaries. The trustee purchases a life insurance policy, in at least an amount equal to the purchase price of the tax exempt bonds, with the tax savings resulting from the tax deduction and places the asset in the life insurance trust to replace the amount of wealth contributed originally to the charitable remainder trust. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048990 | Temporal Document Trainer and Method - An electronic document sorter is trained to classify documents based on their temporal qualities. The invention can be used in environments such as automated news aggregators, search engines and other electronic systems which compile information having temporal qualities. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048991 | Apparatus and Method for Processing Information, Recording Medium and Computer Program - An information processing apparatus includes a target problem acquisition unit for acquiring a target problem, a generation unit for generating a plurality of solution candidates to the target problem to solve the target problem, and a contribution ratio calculating unit for calculating a contribution ratio of each solution candidate to the target problem if the target problem is solved using all the plurality of solution candidates to the target problem acquired by the target problem acquisition unit. The generation unit generates a solution candidate to the target problem in a next generation in accordance with a genetic algorithm that uses an evaluation value that is calculated using at least the contribution ratio of each solution candidate to the target problem determined by the contribution ratio calculating unit. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048992 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING THE REPETITIVE RECEPTION OF A MEDIA ITEM RECOMMENDATION - A system and method for reducing the repetitive reception of a media item recommendation in a media item recommendation system are disclosed. A media item recommendation is received from a recommender. The media item recommendation is designated to be sent to an intended recipient. Before the media item recommendation is sent to the intended recipient, a record of activity of the media item is reviewed and a determination is made as to whether to send the media item recommendation to the intended recipient based on the record of activity. In this manner, it can be determined if the media item recommendation is unduly repetitive and, if so, not sent to the intended recipient. This reduces the continuous feed-back loop of the same media item recommendation. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048993 | IMPLEMENTATION OF OPERATING SYSTEM SECURING | 2009-02-19 |
20090048994 | Portable Rule Specification System and Method for Monitoring Information Events - A system and method for monitoring information events is configurable by user definable rule specifications. The rule specifications can be included in portable sharable rulebooks. The rulebooks are transportable and may be shared between users, workspaces and computer systems. Each rulebook may be implemented on a single computer or aspects of a rulebook may be distributed among a plurality of computers or computer resources. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048995 | EMBEDDED REACTIVE AND PROACTIVE INTELLIGENCE - A network device may include logic configured to invoke proactive programs based on the expiration of a long time period within the network device, wherein the proactive programs collect data relating to operations of the network device, invoke reactive programs based on the detection of at least one of an event or expiration of a short time period, wherein the reactive programs collect, correlate and analyze data relating to the detected event or expiration of a short time period, determine a corrective action based on collected and analyzed data, and perform the determined corrective action within the network device. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048996 | Computerized Modeling Method and a Computer Program Product Employing a Hybrid Bayesian Decision Tree for Classification - In a computerized hybrid modeling method and a computer program product for implementing the method, two classification techniques are integrated: expert elicited Bayesian networks and decision trees induced from data. Bayesian networks are a compact representation for probabilistic models and inference. They have been used successfully for many applications involving classification. The tree-based classifiers, on the other hand, have proven their ability to perform well in real world data under uncertainty. For classification purposes, the inference algorithms to compute the exact posterior probability of a target node, given observed evidence in a Bayesian network, are usually computationally intensive or impossible in a mixed model. In those cases, either the approximate results are computed using stochastic simulation methods or the model is approximated using discretization or Gaussian mixture before applying an exact inference algorithm. For a tree-based classifier, however, once the tree is constructed, the classification process is trivial. The hybrid approach synergistically combines the strengths of the two techniques. Such an approach trades off the accuracy and computation. Significant computational savings can be achieved with a minimum classification accuracy drop. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048997 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RULE-BASED MASKING OF DATA - An approach is provided for de-personalizing data. Content from a data source is retrieved in response to a request by a user. A rule for masking data (e.g., web data) is determined, wherein the rule is specified in a profile associated with the user. A search, within the content, for data that satisfy the rule is performed. The data that satisfy the rule is masked. The content is then modified with the masked data for delivery to the user. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048998 | PROBLEM DETERMINATION RULES PROCESSING - A context-sensitive pre-evaluation analysis of a set of rules is performed based on the circumstance or the current state of a rule clause directed to an infrequently changing condition. A group of multiple-clause rules are identified which each have a clause defining an infrequently changing condition for evaluating a state of a resource. The current state of the resource is monitored. If the identified group of multiple-clause rules, which cannot evaluate as TRUE under the context of the current state the resource, the identified group of multiple-clause rules are excluded from consideration by the rules engine. The rules engine will then encounter fewer rules to evaluate for a solution. The identified group of multiple-clause rules is further analyzed in the context of the infrequently changing condition for the current resource state. State metrics that are defined by clauses of the identified multiple-clause rules, those that cannot evaluate as TRUE, are identified. Those metrics are then also excluded from consideration by the rules engine. Thus, the rules engine will encounter fewer rules and/or event states that cannot be evaluated to a solution. The context-sensitive pre-evaluation analysis of the rules is performed out-of-band as the rules engine traverses the rule. | 2009-02-19 |
20090048999 | APPLICATION PROCESSING AND DECISION SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES - The present invention relates to application processing and decisioning systems and processes. One embodiment of the invention includes a method for automating decisioning for a credit request associated with an applicant. The method includes providing a user computer interface adapted to receive information associated with an applicant, and further adapted to display and receive information associated with at least one decision rule. The method also includes receiving information associated with an applicant through the user computer interface; receiving information associated with the applicant from at least one data source; and receiving a selection of information associated with a plurality of decision rules through the user computer interface. Furthermore, the method includes receiving a selection of rule flow information associated with the plurality of decision rules through the user computer interface; generating a plurality of decision rules based at least in part on the information associated with the applicant, based at least in part on the information associated with the applicant from at least one data source, and based at least in part on the selection of information associated with a plurality of decision rules, wherein an outcome associated with the at least one decision rule can be obtained; and based in part on at least the rule flow information, displaying at least a portion of the plurality of decision rules through the user computer interface. | 2009-02-19 |
20090049000 | GRAPHICAL MODEL-DRIVEN SYSTEM FOR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT TOOLS - According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a graphical model-driven system includes a graphical knowledge pattern system coupled to a modeler interface. The graphical knowledge pattern system has a graphical knowledge pattern library for the storage of a plurality of graphical knowledge patterns that are configured to classify information according to one or more information related criteria. The modeler interface is operable to receive a request for information from the user interface and retrieve information from one or more knowledge based systems according to one or more information related criteria of a particular graphical knowledge pattern. | 2009-02-19 |
20090049001 | DETECTION OF HOSTILE INTENT FROM MOVEMENT PATTERNS - An embodiment of the present invention relates to a method comprising identifying a suspect; determining that the suspect has moved a first distance in a target zone around a target during a first time period; determining a suspect-target distance between the suspect and the target; determining a suspect-potential destination distance between the suspect and a potential destination in the target zone for the suspect; determining that the suspect has moved a second distance in the target zone during a second time period; determining a suspect zone around the suspect; determining a movement characteristic index associated with the suspect zone when the suspect has moved the second distance, and determining, by a computer, a probability of hostility of the suspect, wherein the probability of hostility is obtained from the movement characteristic index and a ratio of the suspect-target distance and the suspect-potential destination distance. | 2009-02-19 |
20090049002 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTING A TRAINING SAMPLE FROM A SAMPLE TEST - Described are a system and method for selecting a training sample from a sample set. The method comprises determining proximities between all data samples in a set of the data samples, forming edges between the data samples as a function of the proximities, computing weights for the edges as a function of the proximities, selecting a plurality of the data samples as a function of the weights to form a subset of the data samples, and storing the subset of the data samples. | 2009-02-19 |
20090049003 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING WRITE-ONCE-READ-MANY (WORM) STORAGE - Techniques for providing write-once-read-many (WORM) storage are described herein. According to one embodiment, a range of values is received to set an attribute of a file, where the received range of values is outside of an ordinary range of the attribute in accordance with a file system associated with the file. In addition, a management action is received to be associated with the received range of values of the attribute, where the management action is unrelated to an ordinary action associated with the attribute of the file in accordance with the file system. In response, the received management action is associated with the received range of values of the attribute. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. | 2009-02-19 |
20090049004 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR TYING INFORMATION TO FEATURES ASSOCIATED WITH CAPTURED MEDIA OBJECTS - An apparatus, method and computer program product are provided for tying items of information to features in an area associated with a captured media object. An information provider may associate physical coordinates and temporal information with an item of information. When a media object is captured, metadata indicating the location and direction from which, and the time at which, the media object was captured, and/or, in the instance where the media object is an image, a focal and zoom setting of the device that captured the image, may be generated and stored with the media object. When the media object is viewed, this information, as well as other metadata associated with the capturing and/or reproducing of the media object, as well as the media object itself, may be used to estimate the area corresponding to the media object and to determine item(s) of information corresponding with features in the estimated area. | 2009-02-19 |
20090049005 | Method and system for collecting and analyzing environmental data - A method and system for customizing a data logging and analysis program. The method includes connecting environmental sensors to a computer or other data collecting device and accessing a workflow customization interface that allows a user to select a customized workflow or optionally to customize a data collection program by selecting at least one action. The method also includes accessing a user interface to run a customized program. | 2009-02-19 |
20090049006 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING KNOWLEDGE - The invention provides a knowledge sharing method for supporting mobile workers before, during and after visiting a location, organisation or individual as part of their day to day activities. It achieves this through a knowledge management system which has a database for storing knowledge specific to a plurality of entities such as customers, maintenance locations, client organisation or individuals, for example. The database provides stored knowledge to a user in response to said user providing an identity of one of said plurality of entities. The retrieved knowledge being provided to the user in audio form on a voice enabled interface between the user and the system. The retrieved knowledge is provided to said user from the knowledge stored in the database specific to that entity. This knowledge may be based on information provided by other users of the knowledge management system. | 2009-02-19 |
20090049007 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR MODEL-DRIVEN MESSAGE PARSING - There is disclosed a method, apparatus and computer program for parsing a message using a message model. A message is received comprising one or more message fields. This message is stored as a reference bitstream. The message model is used to compare a message field in one or more subsequently received messages with the equivalent field in the reference bitstream. Finally, responsive to determining that a message field in said one or more subsequently received messages matches a field in the reference bitstream a predetermined number of times, storing parser outputs for the matching field for future reuse. | 2009-02-19 |
20090049008 | SYSTEM FOR EVOLVING EFFICIENT COMMUNICATION - An improved system, method, service method, and data structure that facilitates collaboration with, communication of, and access to information, particularly in an education environment is disclosed. The invention includes a database having one or more records. Each record defines a logical connection between one or more querents and one or more respondents. Each logical connection has a strength value indicating the value of the logical connection. Some embodiments of the invention include a selecting process that selects one or more of the respondents to respond to one or more queries from a querent. Alternative embodiments of the invention include processes that mine the database and/or provide services to users. | 2009-02-19 |
20090049009 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SOFTWARE OBJECT PROFILE MANAGEMENT - Disclosed is a method and system for retrieving a software object based on a query and customizing a metadata of the software object by adding a property, a property value, a search key and a search key value to the metadata. An index is created on the software object based on the search key value and the metadata and the software object is persisted. | 2009-02-19 |
20090049010 | Method and system to enable domain specific search - A method and a computer system to enable domain specific search is disclosed. The present invention enables creation and sharing of domain specific search scripts, where search intelligence relating to domain and search engines is encapsulated in a parameterized domain specific search script. The system provides a customizable knowledge base to be used to configure the parameters specific to a chosen domain. Users can parameterized search scripts and configure search scripts according to their search needs. Users can use search scripts to perform complex domain specific searches by specifying input search string and without having to worry about refining results. The system uses the parameterized search scripts and configuration information along with user input search string to build search engine independent and search engine dependent queries from one or more search engines to provide relevant results to user. | 2009-02-19 |
20090049011 | TOOL TO REPORT THE STATUS AND DRILL-DOWN OF AN APPLICATION IN AN AUTOMATED MANUFACTURING ENVIRONMENT - Disclosed are embodiments that provide near real-time monitoring of a control application in a manufacturing environment in order to detect and determine the root cause of faults within the control application. The embodiments monitor the flow of data within the control application during certain events (i.e., certain transactions, stages, process steps, etc.). By comparing a dataflow path for a near real-time event with historical dataflow path records, dataflow interruptions (i.e., fails) within the control application can be detected. By determining the location of such a dataflow interruption, the root cause of the control application fail can be determined. Additionally, the invention can generate summary reports that quantify the performance and/or the effectiveness of the control application. These summary reports can further be generated with drill downs to provide a user with direct access to the records upon which the reports were based. | 2009-02-19 |
20090049012 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR ENSURING QUERY EXECUTION PLAN STABILITY IN A DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for ensuring query execution plan stability in a database management system. The present invention binds a static database query to a new query execution plan (QEP) that produces the same result set as an original QEP bound to the static database query. Next, the present invention identifies one of the original QEP and the new QEP as a primary QEP and automatically collects execution statistics for the original QEP and the new QEP. Finally, the present invention automatically selects one of the original QEP and the new QEP as the primary QEP in response to completion of the automatic collection of execution statistics, the primary QEP selected such that the automatically selected QEP provides optimal execution performance based on performance criteria in comparison to the automatically unselected QEP, the primary QEP selected based on the execution statistics. | 2009-02-19 |
20090049013 | ENHANCED CONTROL TO USERS TO POPULATE A CACHE IN A DATABASE SYSTEM - Providing enhanced control to users to populate a cache in a database system. A user provides an explicit indication indicating the specific information (available from the data stored in a storage of the database system) to be populated in the cache, and the cache is populated with the corresponding information. The information in the cache (whether due to explicit indications or otherwise) can then be used to generate results of queries, without having to access the same information from the storage of the database system. | 2009-02-19 |
20090049014 | Systems and methods for implementation of a structured query language interface in a distributed database environment - Systems and methods for implementation of a structured query language interface in a distributed database environment are provided. Exemplary systems include a distributed database configured with items of data, a volatile cache memory configured with a subset of the items of data, a scripting language configured to extract data from the volatile cache memory, and a structured query language interface configured to receive a query over a network, to send the query to the scripting language, and to receive extracted data from the scripting language in response to the query. Further systems and methods include the scripting language configured to apply business logic rules to the extracted data before the extracted data is sent to the structured query language interface. The structured query language interface may also be configured to send some or all of the extracted data in a format to accommodate a database maintained by a third-party developer. | 2009-02-19 |