29th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 23 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090182541 | DYNAMIC RESERVOIR ENGINEERING - An example method for performing reservoir engineering includes generating a geological model of a reservoir including a geological horizon, obtaining an offset relative to the geological horizon, and positioning a wellbore equipment item in a well completion design based on the offset. The method further includes calculating an absolute position of the wellbore equipment item in the well completion design based on the offset and a location of the geological horizon in the geological model and updating the geological model to generate an updated location of the geological horizon. The method further includes updating the absolute position of the wellbore equipment item in the well completion design based on the offset and the updated location of the geological horizon and simulating a simulation case including the geological model and the well completion design after updating the absolute position of the wellbore equipment item. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182542 | Hybrid classical-quantum computer architecture for molecular modeling - A method of simulating a molecular system using a hybrid computer is provided. The hybrid computer comprises a classical computer and a quantum computer. The method uses atomic coordinates {right arrow over (R)} | 2009-07-16 |
20090182553 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING A LANGUAGE INDEPENDENT DOCUMENT ABSTRACT - A method of extracting significant phrases from one or more documents stored in a computer-readable medium. A sequence of words is read from the one or more documents and a score is determined for each word in the sequence based on the length of the word. The score for each word in the sequence is compared against a threshold score. The sequence of words is indicated to be a significant phrase if the number of words in the sequences that have a score greater than the threshold score equals or exceeds a predetermined number. A sentence containing the sequence of words is retrieved from the document, if the sequence of words is a significant phrase. An abstract of the document is searched to determine if the sentence has been previously included in the abstract. If not, the sentence is added to the abstract. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182554 | TEXT ANALYSIS METHOD - A list of reference terms can be provided. Text and the list of reference terms can be broken down into tokens. At least one candidate can be generated in the text for mapping to at least one of the reference terms. Characters of the candidate can be compared to characters of the reference term according to one or more mapping rules. A confidence value of the mapping can be generated based on the comparison of characters. Candidates can be ranked according to their confidence value. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182555 | Speech Enhancement Device and Method for the Same - A speech enhancement device and a method for the same are included. The device includes a down-converter, a speech enhancement processor, and an up-converter. The method includes steps of down-converting audio signals to generate down-converted audio signals; performing speech enhancement on the down-converted audio signals to generate speech-enhanced audio signals; and up-converting the speech enhancement audio signals to generate up-converted audio signals. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182556 | PITCH ESTIMATION AND MARKING OF A SIGNAL REPRESENTING SPEECH - Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for processing a signal representing speech. According to one embodiment, a method of processing a signal representing speech can comprise receiving a frame of the signal representing speech, classifying the frame as a voiced frame, and parsing the voiced frame into one or more regions based on occurrence of one or more events within the voiced frame. For example, the one or more events can comprise one or more glottal pulses. The one or more regions may collectively represent less than all of the voiced frame. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182557 | SOUND/VOICE PROCESSING APPARATUS, SOUND/VOICE PROCESSING METHOD, AND SOUND/VOICE PROCESSING PROGRAM - If a delay occurs in execution of sound/voice processing application software, and, as a result, MIC data is stored in a plurality of buffers, then a CPU identifies, based on a buffer list, a buffer in which newest MIC data is stored. The CPU reads the newest MIC data from the identified buffer and adjusts an output sound/voice level depending on an external sound/voice level, using the newest MIC data. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182558 | Selection of scalar quantixation (SQ) and vector quantization (VQ) for speech coding - In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a selector supports the selection of a first encoding scheme or the second encoding scheme based upon the detection or absence of the triggering characteristic in the interval of the input speech signal. The first encoding scheme has a pitch pre-processing procedure for processing the input speech signal to form a revised speech signal biased toward an ideal voiced and stationary characteristic. The pre-processing procedure allows the encoder to fully capture the benefits of a bandwidth-efficient, long-term predictive procedure for a greater amount of speech components of an input speech signal than would otherwise be possible. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the second encoding scheme entails a long-term prediction mode for encoding the pitch on a sub-frame by sub-frame basis. The long-term prediction mode is tailored to where the generally periodic component of the speech is generally not stationary or less than completely periodic and requires greater frequency of updates from the adaptive codebook to achieve a desired perceptual quality of the reproduced speech under a long-term predictive procedure. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182559 | CONTEXT SENSITIVE MULTI-STAGE SPEECH RECOGNITION - A system enables devices to recognize and process speech. The system includes a database that retains one or more lexical lists. A speech input detects a verbal utterance and generates a speech signal corresponding to the detected verbal utterance. A processor generates a phonetic representation of the speech signal that is designated a first recognition result. The processor generates variants of the phonetic representation based on context information provided by the phonetic representation. One or more of the variants of the phonetic representation selected by the processor are designated as a second recognition result. The processor matches the second recognition result with stored phonetic representations of one or more of the stored lexical lists. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182560 | USING A PHYSICAL PHENOMENON DETECTOR TO CONTROL OPERATION OF A SPEECH RECOGNITION ENGINE - A transmission device such as a cell phone or other mobile communication device includes a physical phenomenon detection device to perform a “push to talk” function by detecting the occurrence of a particular physical phenomenon and using such detection to start and stop recording an utterance for subsequent analysis by a speech recognition engine. A method of controlling operation of a speech recognition engine in response to detection of a physical phenomenon includes detecting or sensing, via a physical phenomenon detection unit, a predetermined physical phenomenon representative of an intent to invoke operation of a speech recognition engine. In response to the detection or sensing of the predetermined physical phenomenon, a signal is transmitted to a control unit in a communication device. In response to the receipt of the transmitted signal, the utterance received from a user via the communication device is recorded, and the recorded utterance is provided to a speech recognition engine for operation thereon. The user may thus effectuate operation of the speech recognition engine upon the utterance by causing the physical phenomenon to occur. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182561 | SPEECH RECOGNITION DEVICE AND METHOD THEREOF - A speech recognition device and a method thereof are adapted to recognize a Chinese word. The speech recognition device includes a lexicon model, a language model, a speech recognition module, and a parsing module. The lexicon model keeps a plurality of words. The speech recognition module performs a speech recognition processing on a voice signal conforming to a syntax structure of Chinese word description. The speech recognition processing searches words related to the Chinese word description from the lexicon model according to a feature of the Chinese word description, and produces a literal word series in digital data form by referring a syntax combination probability. The language model based on the syntax structure of Chinese word description provides the syntax combination probability according to combination relations between the searched words. The parsing module analyzes the syntax structure of the literal word series for retrieving the Chinese word. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182562 | DYNAMIC USER INTERFACE FOR AUTOMATED SPEECH RECOGNITION - Techniques are described for generating a dynamic user interface for a position-determining device that may account for a variety of input modes. In one example, a position-determining device is initiated in a first input mode (e.g., a touch screen mode) and a graphical user interface (GUI) of the device is configured to accept input via the first input mode. The position-determining device then receives an indication to switch to a second input mode (e.g., a speech input mode) and the GUI is configured to receive input via the second input mode. The position-determining device can dynamically transition between GUI configurations based on a plurality of input modes. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182583 | METHODS FOR SELLING INSURANCE USING HYBRID LIFE - An insurer sells a life insurance policy with two distinct coverage periods. Prior to accepting the offer of insurance, the insurer underwrites the insurance contract on a limited basis using information obtainable by querying a remote database. During the first coverage period, full coverage is provided and the premium rates approximate a comprehensively underwritten risk. The value of coverage provided at the end of the first coverage period may be reduced if the insured fails to satisfy various obligations. If before a contractually defined compliance period the insured undergoes medical tests and submits blood, urine, or other tissue samples to an underwriter or approved laboratory, the underwriter comprehensively underwrites the policy. If the comprehensive underwriting is satisfactory, the insurance contract is amended, modified, or replaced with a new contract effectively extending full coverage for a longer, extended coverage period, while maintaining or even reducing the premiums owed. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182584 | METHODS FOR SELLING INSURANCE USING RAPID DECISION TERM - An insurer sells a life insurance policy having a coverage period equal in length to the term of the policy. The consideration paid by the insured is relatively high compared to conditional receipt coverage, but is generally lower than that charged for standard simplified issue policies. The policy is only underwritten on a limited basis, preferably using information available in remote databases. During a predetermined time period, the insured has the option of providing medical test results or other material sufficient to enable comprehensive medical underwriting. Upon receipt of the information and material, an underwriter comprehensively underwrites the policy. If the results of the underwriting are satisfactory, the premiums are reduced significantly for the remainder of the term of the insurance policy and/or the benefit amount is increased. If the insured does not provide any additional information or materials, or if the materials provided result in unsatisfactory underwriting, the premiums remain unchanged. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182585 | METHODS FOR SELLING INSURANCE USING RAPID DECISION TERM - An insurance company sells a life insurance policy having a coverage period. The policy provides a total benefit amount which includes an all-cause benefit amount and an accidental death only benefit amount. The policy is initially underwritten on a limited basis and the ratio of the all-cause benefit to the accidental death benefit is low. The insured has the option of providing material to enable comprehensive underwriting and to enable risk classification. If the risk classification improves the policy benefits, the mix of coverage is adjusted to include a higher ratio of the all-cause benefit amount to the accidental death only benefit amount. If the insured does not provide any additional information or materials, or if the materials provided do not result in an underwritten risk classification that enables the policy provisions to be improved, the mix of coverage remains unchanged. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182586 | POINT-OF-SALE, VALUE-ADDED PAYMENT PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - A point-of-sale, value-added payment processing system and method thereof comprising, in general, a central server system connected to a data processing and storage device that utilizes a computer program adapted to host, accrue, calculate, disburse and report monthly donations earned by a participating merchant, based upon credit card processing transaction volume, thus offering a simple and easy to use turnkey solution that can integrate a complete donation funding option at the point of sale device, wherein merchants receive a point-of-sale benefit, related to payment processing transactions, in the form of a donation based upon transaction totals, wherein software tracks and reports the transaction-generated donations maintained in escrow, and wherein such informational data is readily accessible to participating merchants in order that each merchant may selectively access escrow donations for contribution to a customer's immediate need. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182587 | GPS Pathfinder Cell Phone And Method - A device and system for use in emergency management operations before and after a disaster. The device incorporates a GPS and a radio with very simplified, pre-programmed instructions which are uploaded automatically in the device's memory via wireless technology prior to the unit's first use at a disaster site. Maps of areas to be searched are uploaded into the device and the areas covered during the search are retained in the devices' memory. A unique feature enables the searcher to quickly indicate a specific need or service at a particular location during the search, which information automatically is geocoded and time/date stamped once the user saves the information inputted. Via wireless technology areas that have been searched during an operational period are downloaded to a base unit and areas to be searched the following operational period are uploaded to the portable units at the beginning of the day. Radios on the units can enable the searchers to audibly communicate with each other without cell towers. The system can be employed by cleanup teams, insurance adjusters, and any number of post incident response teams both focused on short and long term recovery operations. The entire system is designed to be self contained to operate when normal cell and Internet systems are damaged or destroyed. The system can quickly organize, sort, and edit the data collected by field users for daily and future analysis and documentation or any and all disaster operations. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182588 | Market-level inventory control system and method - A system and method for managing inventory on a market basis is disclosed. When employed by a transportation carrier, the system allows for the creation of a market group that includes a limited amount of space that is provided by any one or more of a certain group of physical routes (e.g., airline flights traveling between predetermined departure and destination points flying on selected dates). A qualifying customer or request may book one or more seats to this market group rather than to a specific physical route. The customer is guaranteed a seat on one of the physical routes, but is not informed as to the route on which travel will occur until a time closer to departure when the space allocated to the market group is mapped to the physical routes. In one embodiment, the market groups are defined using programmable business rules of a type interpreted by a rules engine. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182589 | Communicating Information in a Social Networking Website About Activities from Another Domain - A social networking website logs information about actions taken by members of the website. For a particular member of the website, the website generates socially relevant ads for the member based on the actions logged for other members on the website to whom the member is connected (i.e., the member's online friends). The advertiser associated with the social ad may compensate the social networking website for publishing the ad on the website. When presenting a member with a social ad, the website may optimize advertising revenue by selecting an ad from the received ads that will maximize the expected value of the social ad. The expected value may be computed according to a function that includes the member's affinity for the ad content and the bid amount. The technique is also applied for providing socially relevant information off the social networking website. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182590 | Market-Level Inventory Control System and Method - A system for managing inventory on a market basis is disclosed. When employed by a transportation carrier, the system allows for the creation of a market group that includes a limited amount of space that is provided by any one or more of a certain group of physical routes (e.g., airline flights traveling between predetermined departure and destination points flying on selected dates). A qualifying customer or request may book one or more seats to this market group rather than to a specific physical route. The customer is guaranteed a seat on one of the physical routes, but is not informed as to the route on which travel will occur until a time closer to departure when the space allocated to the market group is mapped to the physical routes. In one embodiment, the market groups are defined using programmable business rules of a type interpreted by a rules engine. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182591 | Method and Apparatus for Determining Optimized Resolutions for Infrastructures - An exemplary method of providing an optimized resolution to a problem in an infrastructure includes a step of determining at least one target configuration of the infrastructure wherein the target configuration is aligned with at least one template. The exemplary method also includes determining at least one resolution to the problem suitable for the at least one target configuration. The exemplary method also includes calculating at least one metric associated with at least one combination of at least one determined target configuration and at least one determined resolution. The exemplary method also includes selecting at least one combination of at least one determined transformation and at least one determined resolution based at least in part on the at least one calculated metric. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182592 | Procurement system and method over a network using a single instance multi-tenant architecture - A single instance, multi-tenant procurement system, includes an access module to provide access to a plurality of end users associated with an organization to their respective accounts, each account being customized by a super user of the organization, a search engine to execute searches for products offered by one or more suppliers, a transaction module to process and track one or more requisitions generated by the plurality of end users, a business rules module to apply business rules established between the organization and the one or more suppliers to process the requisitions, and a data repository to store data generated on the system. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182593 | AUTOMATED RISK ASSESSMENTS USING A CONTEXTUAL DATA MODEL THAT CORRELATES PHYSICAL AND LOGICAL ASSETS - An automated method, system, device, and/or computer program for performing risk assessment for an information system. A risk assessment tool can receive a scenario for which to perform a risk assessment. A contextual data model and a set of data instances for the information system can be accessed. The contextual data model can define relationships between physical and logical assets of the information system. The contextual data model and set of data instances can be analyzed in relation to the scenario. An action plan can be generated that addresses the scenario. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182594 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO MANAGE ASSETS OF HEALTHCARE FACILITY - A system to manage utilization of a plurality of types of assets by a plurality of independent entities is provided. The system comprises a controller including a processor operable to execute a plurality of program instructions generally representative of the steps of receiving a plurality of parameters from each of the plurality of independent entities; segmenting the plurality the independent entities into more than one cluster dependent on identified similarities in at least one of the plurality of parameters of the one or more of the plurality of entities; and generating a display of a comparison of the plurality of parameters of each of the independent entities relative to another in each of the plurality of clusters. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182595 | Operational Transformation for Analyzing Business Processes - An operational level process diagram depicts the execution linkage between a process, organization and technology at the operational level. Business objectives, issues, and requirements are effectively linked to technology and organization through critical process elements, thus providing a perspective that ensures an effective transformation of process, organization, and technology. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182596 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF ANALYZING CHOICES IN A VALUE NETWORK - A method and system of analyzing choices in a value network, includes applying real options analysis to one or more choices. The real options include a present cost and a call value. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182597 | Monitoring Capabilities for Mobile Electronic Devices - Improved computer-implemented techniques for providing relevant information to mobile electronic devices are disclosed. According to one aspect, usage of mobile electronic devices can be monitored and usage data can be formed. The usage data can then be used to perform an action. The action can operate to provide more relevant information, such as digital (e.g., online) information or rewards, to the user. In one embodiment, usage of mobile electronic devices can be monitored and users of such mobile electronic devices can be provided with rewards based on their usage. Another aspect pertains to monitoring locations of a mobile electronic device for a duration of time and then providing location-specific information based on the locations of the device. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182598 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PLANNING OF SERVICES WORKFORCE STAFFING USING HIRING, CONTRACTING AND CROSS-TRAINING - A method and system for workforce planning in one aspect provide an optimization model that produce, based on the availability profile and the demand profile of skill types, a workforce plan recommending a combination of actions. The combination of actions may include hiring, contracting and cross-training. The optimization model considers constraints such as minimum residence time that a resource unit needs to spend in a skill-type that it gets cross-trained into or hired into, minimum acceptable contracting duration for a contracted skill type, first order and higher orders of cross-training for a skill type, with lead-time for training, one or more system rules associated with transfer sequences, or targets on service levels and resource utilization, or combinations thereof in determining the workforce plan. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182599 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE BUNDLING AND PRICING OF WIRELESS HOTSPOTS - A method (and structure) for providing services for wireless hotspots. The services are offered to selectively include bundled hotspots as well as single hotspots. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182600 | System and Method of Real-Time Homebuilding Scheduling - The invention consists of a method of real-time tracking of production schedules and timetables for one or more homebuilding developments, comprising: a) assigning one or more mobile devices to one or more users associated with projects and lots, the mobile devices providing access to project and lot information, including: lots for completion for each project, tasks for completion for each lot, assignment of suppliers and material to specific tasks, projected and actual times for completion of tasks, contact information for suppliers and invoicing information for payment of purchase orders upon task completion; and each mobile device capable of operating independently without a continuous connection to a central system; b) tracking performance of production tasks for each project via real-time monitoring by the users; c) reporting task performance data to a central ERP system and comparing real-time performance of the production tasks to scheduled timetables for the production tasks; d) enabling modification and updating of scheduled timetables for production tasks based on performance data for the production tasks and additional real-time input from the individuals; e) coordinating compensation for production activities with the performance data, including enabling payment for completed tasks from the mobile devices via purchase orders; f) synchronizing, on a sequential basis, updates to scheduled timetables and other information between the mobile devices and the ERP system. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182601 | Alerts Realtime Delivery Broker - All messaging vendors today receive “jobs” (SMS, Voice or eMail) from their customers and attempt to deliver through their delivery infrastructure. Being that all vendors have a limited capital investment in delivery infrastructure, their customers “jobs” will deliver (first in first out) over time which can range from in minutes to hours. This model is critically flawed for the emergency alert industry which requires a large pool of capacity at a moment's notice. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182602 | HUMAN RESOURCES METHOD FOR EMPLOYEE DEMOGRAPHICS REPORTING COMPLIANCE - In one example embodiment, a human resources method for employee demographics reporting compliance includes various acts. First, a server system sends, to a client system, one or more employee demographics reporting criteria. Next, the server system receives, from the client system, an indication that one or more employee demographics reporting criteria are satisfied. Then, the server system automatically determines that a report coordinator is not yet designated. Finally, the server system sends, to the client system, an indication that a report coordinator must be designated before an employee demographics report can be generated. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182613 | Managing Shipments in an Order by Proxy Service - Illustrated embodiments provide a computer implemented method, an apparatus and a computer program product in an order by proxy service for managing shipments. In one illustrative embodiment, the computer implemented method identifying a set of initial orders received at the proxy service and responsive to identifying the set of initial orders at the proxy service, identifying a set of delivery preferences associated with each order in the set of initial orders to form a set of identified delivery preferences. The computer implemented method further aggregates the set of initial orders based on the set of identified delivery preferences to produce an aggregated order, and releasing the aggregated order for shipping based on predetermined criteria to create a released order. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182614 | System And Method For Serving Advertisements According To Network Traffic - A system and method may allow an advertiser to sign a conditional contract with an advertising network so that the advertiser's advertisement may be displayed on a web page only when the network traffic thereto exceeds a threshold level. The system may have a network traffic monitoring server which may obtain information about actual network traffic level to the web page, compare the actual network traffic level to the web page with the threshold level, and output an enabling signal when the actual network traffic level exceeds the threshold level. An advertising network server may store the contract between the advertiser and the advertising network, send the threshold level to the network traffic monitoring server, and be configured to display the advertiser's advertisement on the web page only when it receives the enabling signal from the network traffic monitoring server. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182615 | SELF-SERVE DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER MAIL MARKETING SERVICE - Technologies are described herein for providing a self-serve direct-to-consumer mail marketing service. A unified mail marketing service is provided through which a user can generate a postal or e-mail mailing without the need to consult multiple independent service providers. The mail marketing service provides a single point of contact for creating demographics, identifying potential customers that satisfy the demographics, creating the mailing, creating and monitoring points of contact to measure the success of the mailing, and for printing and sending the mailing. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182616 | RINGBACK ADVERTISING - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which an indication of a telephone call being placed from a calling number is received, and a determination is made of an audio advertisement to play based on the calling number. The audio advertisement is played based on the determination. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182617 | Method for Improving Customer Satisfaction - A method for optimizing a process utilized in providing a service to a customer is disclosed in which the series of steps involved in the process are first identified. Each process step is then tracked and the tracked steps are analyzed to determine if the process can be improved. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182618 | System and Method for Word-of-Mouth Advertising - A system and method to facilitate word-of-mouth advertising and sales support associated with displayed media objects on distributed networks is described. The system provides one or more advocates to a network user accessing advertising of a brand, product, or service. One or more of the advocates may be socially related to the user. User interactions with the advocates are facilitated through a real-time communication network, follow-on commercial activity is tracked, and the value of word-of-mouth advocacy is captured and distributed. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182619 | ELECTRONIC ADVERTISING USING DISTRIBUTED DEMOGRAPHICS - In one embodiment, a request for content is received. An electronic advertisement is associated with the content. A status of a device that transmitted the request for the content is determined. Data corresponding to the status is included in the request for the content. The electronic advertisement or receipt of the electronic advertisement is provided as a function of the included data. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182620 | MODELING SYSTEM AND METHOD TO PREDICT CONSUMER RESPONSE - Systems and methods for determining a consumer response. At least two attributes are obtained for a sample product, the at least two attributes are associated with a feeding experience of an animal are determined. A regression analysis is performed on one or more factor scores for the sample product derived from the at least two attributes. A consumer response of the feeding experience as a function of the at least two attributes is determined independently of the consumer. The at least two attributes are determined based on an assessment of a plurality of technical measures associated with the feeding experience of an animal. The technical measures may be selected from the group consisting of analytical components (AN), daily feeding patterns based on automatic feeding station (AFS), chemical sensory headspace aroma compounds (CHEM), human sensory descriptive panel (HUMAN), monadic feeding patterns (VIDEO), and preference assessment (PREF). | 2009-07-16 |
20090182621 | CONTENT AND ADVERTISING MATERIAL SUPERDISTRIBUTION - Embodiments provide content and advertising material superdistribution. In one embodiment, a method of distributing content and advertising material may be provided. The method may include: registering members who are potential users and distributors of content; receiving, from a first member, an identifier of a second member with whom the first member has a relationship; receiving, from the first member, a selection of content to be distributed to the second member; receiving, from the first member, a selection of advertising material to be associated with the content to be distributed to the second member; and distributing the content and the advertising material to the second member. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182622 | ENHANCING AND STORING DATA FOR RECALL AND USE - A user of a personal computing device may see an item that interests him or her and would like to remember the item for future reference. The user captures data (e.g., a digital image, an audio recording, etc.) of the item of interest (e.g., anything user can see, hear or touch) and submits the captured data to the memory enhancement service for enhancement and storage. The memory enhancement service submits the captured data to a human interaction task system for enhancement. More specifically, the human interaction task system distributes the captured data to one or more human workers to identify the item subject of the captured data, determine the user's interest in the item subject of the captured data, and provide information regarding the item that may be relevant to the user based on this determined interest. The enhanced data returned from the human interaction task system is then stored by the memory enhancement service for subsequent recall by the user and possible use by the user or others. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182633 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PAYER-CENTRIC PAYMENT USING MOBILE TERMINAL - Provided are a method and system for payer-centric payment using a mobile terminal through which payment is made while information about a payer is not released to a participating store. Specifically, a terminal of the participating store transmits payment information including a payment amount and participating store identification information to an auxiliary terminal, the auxiliary terminal transmits the payment information to the mobile terminal of the payer, the mobile terminal of the payer transmits the payment information and information about a payment means to pay the payment amount to a payment processing system, and finally, the payment processing system pays the payment amount by using the payment means and then transmits information about a result of payment processing to the mobile terminal of the payer and the terminal of the participating store. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182634 | Image-Based Payment Medium - Disclosed is a method and system for use of an image-based payment medium through images stored on the consumer's mobile phone in place of traditional plastic gift, credit or debit cards. Upon authentication, an image is sent to the consumer's mobile phone. The consumer displays the image at the retailer's point of sale when completing a transaction. The image is scanned with a barcode reader, a webcam or other scanning device and the consumer's account in a database is debited or credited based on the amount and type of transaction. An image-base payment medium provides for the ability to target specific ads to the consumer, directed to the registered mobile phone number and also to attach loyalty and coupon programs to the account, which the recipient may redeem upon scanning of the encoded image on the mobile phone at the point of sale. The system and method is suitable for “virtual” gift cards, credit and debit cards, loyalty payment programs and other methods of value exchange. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182635 | Vehicle Inspection System and Process - An inspection system and process that allows requesters to electronically request inspections to be made of one or more items and/or properties at one or more remote locations, for the request to be electronically routed via a processor to one or more electronic devices to be carried and used by inspectors to receive such requests wirelessly and to be used at the remote locations for collecting data, entering inspection information, and observations on site into the electronic devices, wirelessly sending inspection results back to the processor, for the processor to process the observations, inspection information, and/or data into condition reports, incorporate advertisements into the condition reports and electronically send the condition reports to the requestors and/or owners of the items and/or property. The advertisements may include video, audio, and/or text components and be directed to demographics associated with the requesters and/or the owners of the items and/or property being inspected. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182636 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STRUCTURED SEARCH - A system and method for structured search of information, including but not limited to, search for goods and services in e-commerce and mobile e-commerce, is disclosed. In some embodiments, the system comprises a plurality of heterogeneously structured data sources, a plurality of query objects that represent queries to the data sources and that are independent of the structure of the data sources, and a user interface configured to query the plurality of query objects. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182637 | METHOD OF REFERRAL MARKETING - There is a method of referral marketing over a computerized network configured to incentivize participation and thereby enhance the effectiveness thereof; wherein the method includes steps of providing a webpage to sell products/services over a computerized network. The method includes providing a hypertext offering to a shopper, for a referred shopper to view the products/services purchased by the shopper. Then, creating a discount coupon including a discount code for the referred shopper using a merchant module having a hypertext link to the webpage. The method also includes sending an email including the discount coupon to the referred shopper over the computerized network. Then, the method includes creating an incentive coupon including an incentive code for the shopper that referred the referred shopper. In addition, the method may include sending an email including the incentive coupon to the shopper that referred the referred shopper over the computerized network. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182638 | Self-guiding interface for customer service machines - A customer service machine, such as a self check-out terminal, includes a visual indicator and a proximity sensor associated with certain functional components or stations of the terminal, such as itemization, bagging and payment stations. The visual indicator is configured to provide a visual signal to either encourage or deter customer activity at the particular station, depending upon whether any activity is required to further a transaction being conducted at the terminal. The proximity sensor at each station determines whether the customer is about to take action at that station. A controller determines whether the action is appropriate, and if not activates the visual indicator to deter such action, or if so activates the visual indicator to encourage such action. In one embodiment, the visual indicator includes a red light that is illuminated to deter action and a green light that is activated to encourage action. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182639 | SHIPPING STATION AND LOGISTICS SYSTEM - An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a shipping station. An exemplary shipping station includes a shipping pad that is placed at a cash register. The invention further relates to a logistics system. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182640 | Fiscal Data Recorder - A fiscal data recorder for storing transaction related data in a point of sale system is provided with a processing unit receiving the transaction related data. Memory in communication with the processing unit is operable to store the transaction related data. A protection circuit acting between the processing unit and the memory inhibits the electronic tampering with the transaction data stored in the memory. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182641 | FINANCIAL TRANSACTION APPROVAL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method of sale including processing a plurality of purchases to be sold to a consumer, identifying a consumer financial account held by a financial institution, receiving authorization from the financial institution to enable payment for the plurality of purchases from the consumer financial account, and providing the consumer with an option to approve the payment from the consumer financial account. The option is provided during processing of the plurality of purchases. Transaction approval systems provide additional advantages. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182642 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO RECOMMEND AN ITEM - Methods and Systems system for recommending an item. The system comprises at least one machine including a receiving module and a recommending module. The receiving module receives an event for an activity related to a first item. Next, the recommending module analyzes recommendation information to identify a first measure of association between the first item and a second item. The recommending module further analyzes recommendation information to identify a second measure of association between the second item and a third item. Finally, the recommendation module communicates a recommendation of the third item responsive to receipt of the event for the activity related to the first item. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182653 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CASE MANAGEMENT - A case management system and method for evaluating a plurality of transactions against a set of rules, determining which rules are satisfied, scoring the transactions as a function of the satisfied rules, and risking ranking the transactions as a function of the transaction scores. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182654 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DATA COMPLETION INCLUDING PUSH IDENTIFIER - A system and method for processing push transactions. A payor may initiate a transaction without input from the payee. A system can determine who the payee is from partial information provided by the payor, and direct the transaction to the proper party. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182655 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRIORITIZED DELIVERY OF ELECTRONIC MAIL MESSAGES - A system allows users to send electronic mail messages having prioritized delivery. A server receives an electronic mail message that contains a specified priority or a specified time frame for delivery. The server determines a time frame for delivery and selects procedures to ensure delivery of the electronic mail message within the determined time frame. The server then provides the electronic mail message to the receiving account within the determined time frame. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182656 | System and Method for the Automated Brokerage of Financial Instruments - Disclosed herein in a preferred embodiment is an automated financial instrument brokerage system wherein a front end layer interacts with customers to generate activity requests for an intermediate layer. The intermediate layer preferably processes the activity requests and places financial instrument orders on a financial market if appropriate. A backend layer preferably provides data to the intermediate layer for processing activity requests. Multiple heterogeneous front end customer applications may be supported by the same intermediate layer. Further, multiple backend layer applications may interact with the intermediate layer in a manner transparent to the front end layer. Further, scalability can be achieved be partitioning various tasks of the intermediate layer onto separate servers, and more preferably on separate redundant servers. Load balancers may then be used in the intermediate layer to provide distributed access to these servers. Also disclosed herein is a caching technique whereby turnaround time for processing activity requests can be reduced by reducing the number of times that the intermediate layer needs to interact with the backend layer. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182657 | Distributed ranking and matching of messages - A method for managing messages in a computer system is described. The method comprising the steps of; receiving a plurality of order/quote messages via an input mechanism, ranking the order/quote messages based on the at least one ranking value parameter at a first ranking unit, sending at least one top ranked order/quote message from the first ranking unit to a matching unit, matching the top ranked order/quote messages at the matching unit. A computer system and a processor for inter alia performing the method are also enclosed. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182658 | AUTOMATIC FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT TRANSACTION SYSTEM - A computer-based transaction system manages representations of a plurality of positions in a first type of financial instrument, such as bond future contracts. The transaction system, at a first predetermined time, converts each position in the first type of financial instrument into a corresponding position in a second type of financial instrument, such as bonds. At a second predetermined time that is after the first predetermined time, the transaction system converts each position in the second type of financial instrument into a position in the first type of financial instrument. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182659 | Method of selling using auction style bidding - The invention relates to an auction like bidding process establishing the value of an asset; the sale of the asset going to whomever pays first. This differs from the established auction protocol where the seller is obliged to pass the asset to the highest bidder. With this method, the seller's contractual obligation does not limit the seller to transferring ownership rights to the participants in the bidding process. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182660 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ENHANCED VOLUME-WEIGHTED AVERAGE PRICE TRADING - Systems and methods for providing trading using an eVWAP price in an illiquid market are provided. In an illiquid market there may be little or no actual trades. During a trading period, the eVWAP price is therefore determined from not only trades, but also unmatched bids and offers. The eVWAP price is determined when new information becomes available or at a specified time interval. The final eVWAP price is determined when the sampling period ends. Once the final eVWAP price is determined, the value of the final eVWAP price is published for use as a price to settle a contract. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182661 | FIRM OFFERS OF CREDIT SYSTEM - A computer-implemented method for providing firm offers of credit to a consumer includes receiving consumer information from a consumer via a network, receiving a selection via the network from the consumer to permit at least one soft credit inquiry of the consumer's credit record, submitting a soft credit inquiry to a credit reporting agency, the soft credit inquiry based on the consumer information, receiving at least one firm offer of credit from the credit reporting agency, the firm offer of credit resulting from the credit reporting agency performing the soft credit inquiry on the consumer's credit record, each firm offer of credit provided by a credit issuer; and providing the at least one firm offer of credit to the consumer via the network. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182662 | Federated Entertainment Access Service - This document describes tools capable of managing digital content from multiple content providers based on a user's identity. By so doing, the tools may free people from the limitations of their storage media and devices. The tools may perform these and other actions through an indirect relationship with users, such as when third-party content providers use the tools but provide their own direct interface with users. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182673 | TOKEN BASED NEW DIGITAL CASH PROTOCOLS WITH COMBINED BLIND DIGITAL SIGNATURE AND PSEUDONYM AUTHENTICATION - Digital cash token protocols use a combination of blind digital signatures and pseudonym authentication with at least two pairs of public and private keys. A user is provided with one master pair of private and public keys and as many pseudonym pairs of private and public keys as desired. The resulting digital cash token based hybrid protocols combine the advantages of blind digital signature and pseudonym authentication. Blind digital signatures based on the master pair of keys are used to withdraw digital cash from the user's bank account under the user's real identity. A pseudonym pair of keys is used for converting digital cash into digital cash tokens by a digital cash issuer. All pseudonyms can be used for spending the digital cash tokens. These protocols ensure anonymity when withdrawing digital cash from the user's account under the user's real identity in addition to providing pseudonym authentication when spending digital cash tokens under a pseudonym. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182674 | FACILITATING FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS WITH A NETWORK DEVICE - Systems and methods provide for communicating with a user device via a network, receiving a first numeric identifier from the user device, associating the first numeric identifier with a user account, and processing a financial transaction requested by the user device. The user device includes a mobile phone, and the first numeric identifier includes a mobile phone number associated with the user device. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182675 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONDUCTING ELECTRONIC COMMERCE OVER A NETWORK USING A SHADOW CREDIT CARD NUMBER - A method and system are disclosed for conducting electronic commerce over a computer network. A first processor can be configured to receive first data including information of a buyer, and generate second data based on the first data. The first processor sends the second data to the second processor and the second processor processes the second data which causes a product and/or service to be provided to the buyer. The second processor does not receive first data. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182676 | Remote Electronic Payment System - The invention concerns a remote electronic payment system comprising an authentication device ( | 2009-07-16 |
20090182677 | Upsell system embedded in a system and controlled by a third party - A method of determining compensation, including the steps of: generating, using a processor of a specially programmed general-purpose computer and a first software program stored in a memory element of the general-purpose computer and offered by a first business entity, at least one sales offer; transmitting the at least one sales offer using an interface element for the general-purpose computer; tracking, using the processor and a second software program stored in the memory element and supplied by a third business entity, the at least one sales offer and respective acceptances of sales offers from the at least one sales offer, the respective acceptances received by the interface element; determining, using the processor and the second software program, revenue from the respective acceptances; and calculating, using the processor and the second software program, compensation for use of the product or service, based on the revenue. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182678 | Financial risk management system - The present invention provides a method and system for re-allocating financial risks. The system includes computer modules for assessing the behavior of the insured individual by an insurance provider, modeling the risks associated with providing insurance to the individual by the insurance provider, assessing the market risks associated with providing the insurance policy by a derivative counterparty and assuming, by the derivative counterparty, market risks associated with providing the insurance policy. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182679 | RIGHTS ESTABLISHING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for providing a present consideration to a consumer and coincidentally establishing a future right for a holder to offer or to provide, at the holder's option goods or services in response to a trigger event | 2009-07-16 |
20090182680 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANONYMIZED DISCLOSURE OF CORPORATE DATA IN ELECTRONIC NEGOTIATIONS - An automated electronic negotiation system permits anonymous negotiations between one or more buyer entities and one or more seller entities. Each buyer entity and seller entity registers and provides information related to the respective entity. The information is stored confidentially and released in a step-wise fashion only upon authorization. The buyer and seller are represented by respective agents. The agents are typically software modules that conduct negotiations in accordance with a predetermined set of rules. The respective agents disclose information in response to requests during the negotiation process. Disclosures may be preauthorized or require explicit authorization of the information owner. Buyer and seller entities are assigned pseudo identities for initial negotiations. Disclosure of the true identity of the party must be explicitly authorized during the negotiation process. The system is applicable to purchases and sales of assets, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, partial sale of assets, and the like. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182681 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ELECTRONIC COMMERCE FACILITY CLIENT-BASED PRESENTATION OFFER MANAGEMENT - A method, system and computer readable medium for facilitating interactive electronic commerce transactions over an electronic commerce network between a plurality of sellers and a plurality of buyers via an independent service provider. A request is received from a seller over the electronic commerce network to generate an auction program process associated with the seller. The auction program process associated with the seller is generated by an electronic commerce computer of the independent service provider. A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) hyperlink associated with the auction program process is generated by the electronic commerce computer. The URL hyperlink is communicated to the seller for insertion into a web page hosted on a website other than the independent service provider's website, wherein the web page displays information about an item for sale. The auction program process generated by the electronic commerce computer of the independent service provider is activated when a buyer clicks on the inserted hyperlink on the hosting website. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182682 | Bank-eligible investment product and a system and method for designing, implementing, monitoring and managing the same - A computer system and computative process for designing, implementing, processing, communicating and managing a bank-eligible investment product that invests in other bank-eligible investments wherein the risk-based capital exposure of each investment is compared to a limit database and processed using a plurality of risk-weight percentages stored in the database. The computer system receives as its inputs performance data and asset allocation data for each investment and processes that data in order to calculate the risk-based capital exposure of each investment inside the product, determine the risk-based capital assessment of an investor's total investment in the product, and as part of its output, provides sufficient reporting information for investors as required by federal, state, and local regulations. In one embodiment, the constraints of each investment inside the product are frequently and periodically reprocessed, according to prescribed system parameters in order to achieve desired risk-based capital output for communication to users and for adjustment of the composition of the bank-eligible investment product. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182683 | Method and System for Low Latency Basket Calculation - A basket calculation engine is deployed to receive a stream of data and accelerate the computation of basket values based on that data. In a preferred embodiment, the basket calculation engine is used to process financial market data to compute the net asset values (NAVs) of financial instrument baskets. The basket calculation engine can be deployed on a coprocessor and can also be realized via a pipeline, the pipeline preferably comprising a basket association lookup module and a basket value updating module. The coprocessor is preferably a reconfigurable logic device such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA). | 2009-07-16 |
20090182684 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING A VOLATILITY BENCHMARK INDEX - A method and system for creating a volatility benchmark index is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a value of a Treasury bill account less a mark-to-market value of at least one of a volatility-based future or option and calculating a value reflecting a volatility benchmark. The value may be displayed at a trading facility and volatility benchmark quotes may be transmitted by the trading facility to a market participant. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182685 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INVESTMENT IN A PORTFOLIO OF ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTIONS - The invention relates to a system and method for raising a fund from investors for the purposes of distributing to a portfolio of startup investments, where each startup investment within the portfolio has been separately capitalized. Additionally, the invention relates to a system and method for investing in a milestone based portfolio of startup investments. The investment then must meet certain preset criteria (“milestones”) before additional capital is allocated to the investment. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182686 | INTEGRATED TRADING INFORMATION PROCESSING AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FOR EXEMPT SECURITIES - A system is provided for processing and transmitting trading information for exempt securities or assets not otherwise listed, traded, valuated or bought/sold in any conventional exchange or system for the regulation of securities or commodities. The system may include: (a) a risk analytic module using the latest market prices and data provided by other modules, (b) an auction module including asset auction functionality and a multi-lateral counterparty trade workstation capability, with bid-offer and unique asset price sourcing capabilities, (c) an asset or portfolio tracking module providing browser based, realtime consolidated reporting of multi-firm asset positions (public or private), and (d) an out-of-band communications module alerting users/subscribers who may or may not be logged on the system via fax, e-mail, text messages, or other out-of-band communications of a pending transaction being consummated or achieved. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182687 | Systems and methods for mid-stream postage adjustment - A method and system for receiving payment for postage by a delivery system operator from a customer is provided. The method includes receiving payment from the customer for a first postage value; receiving the parcel for delivery, the parcel including a machine-readable postage indicia indicating the amount of the received payment; determining parcel attributes; calculating a determined postage value for the parcel based on the determined parcel attributes; determining the first postage value from the indicia; and transmitting a postage payment adjustment amount based on a comparison between the first postage value and the determined postage value. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182688 | Connector assembly for connecting an earpiece of a hearing aid to glasses temple - Connector assembly for connecting an earpiece ( | 2009-07-16 |
20090182689 | RULE-BASED DYNAMIC OPERATION EVALUATION - A computer program may involve a dynamic operation, which may specify one of many types of methods based on the conditions of the invocation during runtime, such as the parameters provided to the dynamic operation. The appropriate performance of the dynamic method may be achieved by analyzing the conditions of the invocation according to an evaluation rule set, the rules comprising conditions and an action to be performed if the conditions are satisfied. The evaluation rule set may also be reconfigured upon identifying a satisfied rule to facilitate a faster evaluation of the dynamic operation during a second and subsequent invocations. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182690 | Detection and Classification of Light Sources Using a Diffraction Grating - A system mounted in a vehicle for classifying light sources. The system includes a lens and a spatial image sensor. The lens is adapted to provide an image of a light source on the spatial image sensor. A diffraction grating is disposed between the lens and the light source. The diffraction grating is adapted for providing a spectrum. A processor is configured for classifying the light source as belonging to a class selected from a plurality of classes of light sources expected to be found in the vicinity of the vehicle, wherein the spectrum is used for the classifying of the light source. Both the image and the spectrum may be used for classifying the light source or the spectrum is used for classifying the light source and the image is used for another driver assistance application. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182691 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF ENHANCING GANGLION CELL FUNCTION TO IMPROVE PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE - A method and a system of enhancing ganglion cell function using a gaming environment corresponding to a physical activity. The method and system may be used to implement one or more processes to improve a person's visual processing profile. In particular, the method and system may be used to improve a player's skill in the corresponding physical activity. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182692 | SYSTEM AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM FOR DISCOVERING GENE REGULATORY MODELS AND GENETIC NETWORKS USING RELATIONAL FUZZY MODELS - A system and computer readable medium for discovering gene regulatory models using relational fuzzy models. A system is providing that includes a data selection system that clusters gene expression data into a set of clusters and identifies a representative subset of genes from the set of clusters; and a relational fuzzy modeling system that builds a relational fuzzy model using the representative subset. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182703 | EXPOSING RELATIONAL DATABASE INTERFACES ON XML DATA - Mapping XML elements to complex relational database structures. One method includes acts for storing mark-up language representations of data in a complex relational database structure. The method includes receiving an XSD document. The XSD document defines at least one type that should be mapped to a complex relational database type. The XSD document is mapped to a relational database structure. An XML document is received. The XML document is interpreted according to the XSD document. One or more elements of the XML document are mapped to complex relational database elements based on mapping of the XSD document to the relational database structure. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182704 | DETERMINING DATA FEED USAGE - A data feed server configured for tracking usage of a data feed includes a data feed server configured to respond to polls from client computers and transmit a data feed in response to a poll from a client computer. The data feed server is further configured to received usage data from a client computer that indicates usage of the data feed at the client computer. A client computer for accessing a data feed includes a client computer configured to communicate with at least one data feed server that publishes a data feed. The client computer selectively polls the data feed server for the data feed. The client computer is further configured to record usage data indicating usage of the data feed at the client computer and, in a subsequent polling of the data feed sever, report the usage data for the data feed to the data feed server. A method of determining usage of a data feed includes collecting information with a data server that indicates whether a data feed provided by the data server was accessed by a user at a client computer to which the data server had transmitted the data feed. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182705 | Methods and Apparatus for Converting Union Commands to Union All Commands - In one aspect, a method is provided. The method includes: (1) identifying in a query of a database a union command involving data in the database that is mutually exclusive; and (2) changing the union command to a union all command. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182706 | Generating Example Data for Testing Database Queries - Computer-implemented methods, modules and clients relate to expanded, pruned sample table for testing database queries against a base table. The expanded, pruned sample table is formed from the base table by a process of initial sampling, synthesis, and pruning. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182707 | DATABASE CHANGESET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method of database changeset management for automated information enhancement and control over changesets using a computational device. The steps include: analyzing and processing a query; journaling the query into a changeset-journaling module; recording a blocking journal entry based on a blocking characteristic of the query into a journal blocker module; sending a database mutation statement to a database. Undo requests are checked against the blocking journal before execution. Further steps include: triggering an interest protocol on a match of a query with an interest set; returning a response to a query based solely on information from a changeset-journaling module; comparing an actual return from the database to an expected return and generating a difference statement therebetween; providing a collaboration module; and providing a second changeset-journal module configured to journal an alternate database state; and returning a query result based on the alternate database state. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182708 | DEALING WITH COMPOSITE DATA THROUGH DATA MODEL ENTITIES - The present invention is generally directed to a system, method and article of manufacture for accessing data represented abstractly through an abstraction model. In one embodiment, a data repository abstraction layer provides a logical view of an underlying data repository that is independent of the particular manner of data representation. A query abstraction layer is also provided and is based on the data repository abstraction layer. A runtime component performs conversion of an abstract query (i.e., a request for results or a request to modify data) into a form that can be used against a particular physical data representation. Abstract and/or physical queries are transformed according to model entities which define a relationship between logical fields of the data repository abstraction layer. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182709 | DYNAMIC PRECONDITIONING OF A B+ TREE - Various approaches for processing a B+ tree data structure are described. In one approach, in a first transaction a first insert operation to a first data page of a first index page in the B+ tree data structure is detected, and then it is determined whether performing the first insert operation would block a second insert operation in a second transaction concurrent with the first transaction. At least one empty second data page is created in response to determining that the second insert operation would be blocked by the first insert operation. The B+ tree data structure is updated to include the at least one second data page in the B+ tree data structure, and the updated index pages and second data page are committed to retentive storage. Thereafter, the first insert can be completed. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182710 | Calculating and Storing Data Structures - Embodiments are provided to calculate and provide information based in part on a defined expression. In an embodiment, a database system can be configured to include a number of calculated columns as part of a database table structure. The database system can be configured to present a calculated result based in part on a determined result type. In one embodiment, a database system can be configured to enable calculated columns to be defined on a table of a database, wherein a component can be used to evaluate an expression associated with a column calculation to determine a proper result type. The proper result type can be stored and used when presenting a result of the calculation. Other embodiments are available. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182711 | String Searches in a Computer Database - An apparatus and method for a query optimizer improves string searches in a computer database that sequentially search for a string in a database record. The query optimizer optimizes the query to search records of a database from a specified start position other than the beginning of the record. The specified start position of the search may be determined by from historical information stored from previous searches. Alternatively, the query optimizer determines the specified start position of the search based on an overriding starting position provided by a system administrator. The query optimizer may also direct that the database record be reorganized to more efficiently search for strings in the record. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182712 | Systems and methods for rapid delivery of media content - In one embodiment of the present invention, a system is provided that includes at least one computer for receiving from a user a search query that includes at least one search term. A first portion of a set of data that includes the first portion and a second portion of data, is transmitted from a first source. The computer determines whether or not to transmit at least a portion of the set of data to the user from a second source based upon the presence of the at least one search term within only the second portion of the set of data. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182723 | RANKING SEARCH RESULTS USING AUTHOR EXTRACTION - Architecture that extracts author information from general documents and uses the author information for search results ranking. The architecture performs automatic author value extraction and makes the extracted value available at index time for subsequent use at query processing and results ranking. Machine learning (e.g., a perceptron algorithm) is employed and a set of input features for the perceptron algorithm utilized for author value extraction. The extracted author value is converted into a feature for input a ranking function for generating a ranking score for each document. The input features can also be weighted according to weighting criteria. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182724 | Database Query Optimization Using Index Carryover to Subset an Index - A method, apparatus and program product use a first index associated with a field in a database table to identify a range of records in the database table that includes instances of a first key value in the field and use the identified range of records to subset a second index associated with another field in a database table. The database query identifies the first key value for the field in the database table and the second key value for the other field in the database table. By doing so, information from an index may be carried over and applied to another index to subset the other index, often reducing the quantity of entries that are searched in the other index and improving performance. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182725 | DETERMINING ENTITY POPULARITY USING SEARCH QUERIES - Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for determining the Internet search popularity of an entity are provided. Embodiments of the present invention include receiving a group of Internet search records and assigning a popularity ranking based on the number of times an entity descriptor associated with an entity occurs within the group of Internet search records created over a designated time period. An entity descriptor is one or more terms commonly used to identify an entity. The trend in an entity's popularity rank may also be calculated. An entity's popularity rank and trend in popularity rank may be presented in a graph or in a list. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182726 | Bloom Filter for Storing File Access History - A method of producing a search query result that incorporates information about previously accessed search results includes retrieving a list of results responsive to a search request from a user at a first client. A Bloom filter is applied to the results in the list of results to identify one or more first results, if any, in the list of results that the user has previously accessed. A result list is generated. The result list includes at least a portion of the list of results, based at least in part on the identified one or more first results. The result list is sent to the first client. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182727 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING TAG CLOUD IN USER COLLABORATION WEBSITES - A system and method for searching a collaborative website and displaying one or more words in a tag cloud. The system includes a search engine structured to search a collaborative website and a tag cloud generator configured to produce a tag cloud, which includes one or more words associated with one or more documents and configured to be weighted or scored according to importance within an online community, and based on a search term entered into the search engine. The method includes scoring one or more words within the collaborative website and displaying the one or more words via a tag cloud according to the score. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182728 | Managing an Archive for Approximate String Matching - In one aspect, in general, a method is described for managing an archive for determining approximate matches associated with strings occurring in records. The method includes: processing records to determine a set of string representations that correspond to strings occurring in the records; generating, for each of at least some of the string representations in the set, a plurality of close representations that are each generated from at least some of the same characters in the string; and storing entries in the archive that each represent a potential approximate match between at least two strings based on their respective close representations. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182729 | LOCAL QUERY IDENTIFICATION AND NORMALIZATION FOR WEB SEARCH - Computer-implemented methods and systems for processing user entered query data to improve results of a search of pages using a local search database are provided, when searching the internet. The method includes receiving the user entered query data and parsing each word of the query data and examining each word to determine if the word is associated with one of a business name, a city name or a state name. The examining uses probabilistic dictionaries to determine a likelihood that the word is one of the business name, the city name or the state name. Then, associating the words that were determined to be: (i) the business name with a business name tag to create one or more tagged business terms; (ii) the city name with a city name tag to create one or more tagged city terms; and (iii) the state name with a state name tag to create one or more tagged state terms. The method further includes normalizing each of the tagged business terms, the tagged city terms and the tagged state terms. The normalizing includes boosting information if found in the local search database and determining proximity between selected ones of the tagged business, city or state terms. Then, generating an optimized internal search query that incorporates constraints and ranking based on at least the boosting information and the determined proximity between the selected tagged business, city or state terms. The optimized internal search query is applied to the internet to enable search results to be produced and displayed to the user in response to the entered query data. | 2009-07-16 |
20090182730 | Method for semantic based storage and retrieval of information - A method of storing semantically similar documents on proximally located peers in a structured peer to peer overlay network, where each peer is assigned a unique identifier and each document includes one or more words belonging to at least one hierarchical structured collection of words. A method of searching and retrieving documents, corresponding to a search query, from a structured peer to peer overlay network is also provided. | 2009-07-16 |