35th week of 2008 patent applcation highlights part 70 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20080208733 | System and method for auctioning services over an information exchange network - The present invention is directed to an improved system and method for auctioning services, which overcomes some of the drawbacks in the prior art systems and methods. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, buyers request and specify at the start of the auction the number of lowest bids the buyers would like to see. By requesting to see more bids, the buyers would have greater opportunity to evaluate service providers based on factors other than price, thereby encouraging less price competition among providers. By requesting to see fewer bids, the buyers would have less opportunity to evaluate service providers based on factors other than price, thereby encouraging fierce price competition. The number of bids requested by the Buyer is made known to the bidders. The net effect is that the buyers can control the price/quality tradeoff at the onset of the auction process, and encourage the bidders to provide their lowest bids when pricing is important. This lets the buyers make their final decision based on factors in addition to price, at the lowest price possible. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208734 | Automated Trading Exchange System Having Integrated Quote Risk Monitoring And Integrated Quote Modification Services - An automated trading exchange having integrated quote risk monitoring and quote modification services. An apparatus is implemented using at least one computer, having memory, and a processor. The computer is configured to receive orders and quotes, wherein specified ones of the quotes are contained in a quote group, and have associated trading parameters such as a risk threshold. Not all received quotes are required to have trading parameters as described herein. Preferably, the quote group contains all the quotes, or a subset of quotes, belonging to an individual market-maker for a given class of options contracts, or possibly the quotes of two or more market-makers that have identified themselves as belonging to a group for the purposes of risk monitoring and quote modification. The computer typically generates a trade by matching the received orders and quotes to previously received orders and quotes, and otherwise stores each of the received orders and quotes if a trade is not generated. The computer then determines whether a quote within the quote group has been filled as a result of the generated trade, and if so, determines a risk level and an aggregate risk level associated with said trade. The computer then compares the aggregate risk level with the market-maker's risk threshold, and if the threshold is exceeded, automatically modifies at least one of the remaining quotes in the quote group. The computer may also automatically regenerate quotes that have been filled. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208735 | Method, System, and Computer Program Product for Managing Business Customer Contacts - In an enterprise where a database maintains multiple accounts for business customers, a method, system, and computer program product correctly links accounts which are associated with a common business. Business identification information from one or more external data sources is obtained and the format of the business identification data is standardized. Data records of business accounts are compared according to a plurality of rules for matching one business account to another. When two business accounts are found to match according to the business matching rules, a common identifier is applied to both business accounts to flag the two accounts as being associated with the same business entity. One or more hierarchy rules are applied to accounts associated with a common business, to establish a hierarchy among the accounts for purposes of marketing and other business communications. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208736 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SETTLING TRADES IN A DIGITAL MERCHANT EXCHANGE - A system and method for settling trades in a digital merchant exchange includes a buyer, a seller, a transaction agent, a network and a capital pool. The buyer and seller communicate through the network to agree on a contract. When the goods are received or the services are performed, the buyer issues a negotiable instrument that is received by the transaction agent. The transaction agent communicates with the buyer, seller, and capital pool through the network and facilitates the settlement of the trade. The system may call upon the capital pool to provide liquidity so that the system can issue payment to the seller at a time prior to the maturity date of the negotiable instrument. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208737 | Funds Transfer Method and Apparatus - A withdrawal of assets is initiated from a first account at a first financial institution. A deposit of the assets withdrawn from the first account is initiated to a second account at a second financial institution. The first account and the second account have a common account holder. The withdrawal and deposit of assets may be initiated after analyzing multiple accounts of the account holder and determining whether an adjustment of funds among the multiple accounts would benefit the account holder. A debit instruction is used to initiate the withdrawal of assets and a credit instruction is used to initiate the deposit of the withdrawn assets. The withdrawal and deposit of assets can be implemented using one or more payment networks, debit networks, or a wire transfer between the two financial institutions. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208738 | AUTOMATED BILL VALIDATION FOR ELECTRONIC AND TELEPHONIC TRANSACTIONS - The present invention is directed to verifying information related to one or more transactions using an electronic or telephonic medium, for example. In operation, a user of the electronic or telephonic medium makes phone calls, uses bandwidth or data, or purchases items. Information associated with the transactions is sent to a default location and stored in a data storage location, such as a data storage location. Tariff information associated with the transactions may also be stored in the data storage location. The tariff information and the information related to the transactions themselves are used to generate a first bill. At the end of a time period a second bill is received from the service provider associated with the electronic or telephonic medium. The first bill is cross-verified against the second bill. If any discrepancies are found the user and/or the service provider is notified. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208739 | TRANSACTIONAL SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOBILE DEVICES - Methods, apparatuses, and articles for a service provider capable of providing transactional services to mobile device users are described herein. In one embodiment, the service provider is adapted to receive a request from a mobile device known to the service provider to transfer value associated with the mobile device, the request specifying a recipient of the value and, in response, request, of a financial institution having an account associated with the mobile device, the transfer of value from the account to an account associated with the specified recipient. Also, in some embodiments, the service provider is adapted to receive a request from a mobile device known to the service provider to transfer value associated with the mobile device, the request specifying a mobile device service feature to be purchased with the value and, in response, exchange the value for the mobile device service feature. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208740 | MUSIC REPRODUCING SYSTEM FOR COLLABORATION, PROGRAM REPRODUCER, MUSIC DATA DISTRIBUTOR AND PROGRAM PRODUCER - A music reproducing system includes a musical instrument for reproducing a music tune on the basis of the MIDI music data, a sound reproducer for reproducing a music tune and/or narration from audio data codes and a server computer for distributing programs, MIDI files and audio files to the musical instrument and sound reproducer, and a program contains plural music tunes and narration; while a program is being reproduced in collaboration between the musical instrument and the sound reproducer, the audio data codes are converted to an audio signal expressing the narration through the sound reproducer, and the music tunes are reproduced on the basis of the MIDI files through the musical instrument; and the duration data codes of audio file are supplied to the musical instrument so as to make the musical instrument and the sound reproducer synchronized with each other. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208741 | ACCOUNT INFORMATION LOOKUP SYSTEMS AND METHODS IN MOBILE COMMERCE - Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for providing account information to a mobile wallet application in a mobile commerce system. According to one embodiment, a method of providing account information for a financial account to a mobile wallet of a mobile device can comprise receiving at a mobile wallet server a request for the account information. For example, the account information can comprise an account balance. In another example, the account information can comprise an account transaction history. An account inquiry can be sent from the mobile wallet server to an acquirer system. The account information can be received at the mobile wallet server from the acquirer system and sent from the mobile wallet server to the mobile wallet of the mobile device. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208742 | PROVISIONING OF A DEVICE FOR MOBILE COMMERCE - Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for provisioning information to a mobile device in a mobile commerce system. According to one embodiment, a method of provisioning information to a mobile wallet application of a mobile device can comprise receiving at a mobile wallet server registration information for the mobile device from an acquirer system. A determination can be made based on the registration information as to whether the mobile wallet of the mobile device has been previously provisioned. In response to determining that the mobile wallet of the mobile device has not been previously provisioned, a new mobile wallet can be created for the mobile device. A notification can then be sent from the mobile wallet server to the mobile device, the notification indicating the mobile wallet is available for download. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208743 | TRANSFER OF VALUE BETWEEN MOBILE DEVICES IN A MOBILE COMMERCE SYSTEM - Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for handling payment transactions in a mobile commerce system and initiated between mobile devices. According to one embodiment, a method of processing a payment transaction from a first mobile wallet application of a first mobile device to a second mobile wallet application of a second mobile device in a mobile commerce system can comprise receiving at a first acquirer system a communication from the first mobile device. The communication can be related to the payment transaction and can include information identifying a first financial account from which a payment is requested. A second acquirer system for authorizing the payment can be identified based on the information identifying the first financial account. The communication can be sent to the second acquirer system for authorization of the transaction based on the information related to the first financial account. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208744 | MOBILE COMMERCE SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for utilizing mobile electronic devices in various types of financial transactions. According to one embodiment, a method of providing a plurality of mobile commerce functions can comprise receiving a communication related to a function of a mobile wallet application of a mobile device. One or more of a plurality of acquirer systems for handling of the communication can be identified based on the function of the mobile wallet application to which the communication relates. The communication can be routed to the identified one or more acquirer systems for handling of the communication. In some cases, a reply to the communication can be received from at least one of the identified one or more acquirer systems and the reply can be sent to a recipient. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208745 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTION OF GREETING CARDS WITH ELECTRONIC COMMERCE TRANSACTION - A system for enabling on-line creation of greeting cards and distribution of the cards with gifts also purchased on-line includes a server system and one or more client systems. The server system is accessible online and enables network users to select and customize electronic versions of greeting cards. The customizations to the cards, as well as data identifying the card, the network user, the card recipient, and a vendor, are transmitted to a client system located at the vendor's distribution facilities. The transmitted information is utilized to print the card in hard copy form for shipment by the vendor to the designated recipient. In the disclosed system, a network user may view the card including any customizations in WYSIWYG format. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208746 | MANAGEMENT OF FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS USING DEBIT NETWORKS - Methods and systems are disclosed of enrolling a customer to perform an action. A first piece of information is received at an authentication processor from an over-the-air processor. The first piece of information was provided to the over-the-air processor by the customer from a mobile electronic device. A second piece of information is received at the authentication processor from a server different from the over-the-air processor. The second piece of information was provided to the server by the customer. The first and second pieces of information are associated by the authentication processor to enroll the customer. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208747 | Method for restricting a use of a credit or debit card - A method for restricting a use of a credit or debit card when buying an item, comprising an allocation to said card of an identifier and associated therewith a series of restrictions relating to a buying behaviour, said series of restrictions being stored within an item restrictions database, remote from a point of sale where said item is sold, and wherein when a holder of said card offers said card for payment purpose of said item to be bought, there is checked whether at least one of said restrictions would form an obstacle for paying said item by using said card, and, if at least one of said restrictions would form such an obstacle, said payment by using said card being declined, and wherein upon each payment with said card, said series of restrictions being downloaded from said item restriction database and temporarily stored into a data processing system of said point of sale, said checking being performed by said data processing system of said point of sale. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208748 | Transaction system and method - A transaction system having security parameters can authorize transactions based on a merchant category code, a card verification value code, a geographic location, a monetary value range, a transaction mode, an account access parameter, a class of goods, or a class of services, for example. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208749 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENABLING COMMERCE USING BRIDGE BETWEEN REAL WORLD AND PROPRIETARY ENVIRONMENTS - A system, apparatus, and method is provided for enabling commerce transactions, and other forms of commercial activity among participants in a gaming or other forms of virtual environment and the real world, or between a participant in one virtual environment and a participant in a second virtual environment, using or taking advantage of the services of an Identity Bridge or Gateway. In particular, a real-time commercial activity system is implemented through user interface interactions, and middle-ware interactions. A financial transaction between the users is facilitated through a third party finance service provider, using proprietary identities of the users. Since the system obtains and verifies the relationship between proprietary and real identities of the users, the financial transaction can be facilitated in a secure and trusted fashion without revealing real identities. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208750 | Method and System of Using Rfid in the Workflow of Blood Center - A method and a system for using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) in the workflow of a blood center and a medical institution from a network Customer Relationship Management (CRM) information system. The CRM comprises an RFID technique system, a computer database system, and a computer information network. The information transferred between an integrated circuit and a reader-writer occurs through the radio waves in the workflow of, for example, a blood center or other medical institution. The related information ranges from identity information to biological product information. In each procedure of the blood collecting and supply workflow, the information is read/written by the computer into electronic tag and through the computer information network into the service management information system. The work flow of blood centers (stations), such as blood test reports before and after blood transfusions and the desired information of people and objects involved in blood transfusions, can thereby be recorded completely, integrally, precisely, and comprehensively by the RFID system. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208751 | Method, Apparatus and System for Providing Added Value Content to Feature Content End Users - A system, method and apparatus are provided for offering or providing added value content associated with feature content to feature content end users. The system includes a receiver that has a processor or controller for reading end user or feature content, such as a film or programming event. The feature content is broadcast or downloaded as an encoded video stream from a suitable source, such as a video server. Metadata associated with the feature content includes information about available added value content that is associated with the feature content. The method includes providing, based on reading the associated metadata, the ability for the end user to obtain added value content associated with the feature content that has been selected and/or obtained by the end user. The added value content can be obtained by the end user and packaged with the feature content and recorded on a suitable recording medium. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208752 | Content communication and purchase using a computer-based media component - Content communication and purchases using a computer-based media component are described. A tuner component can individually interact with client components, where each communication of content may be varied or configured independent of interactions with other client components. Additionally, content can be purchased using the computer-based media component, where the purchase and/or presentation of the content may utilize the computer-based media component and/or coupled client components. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208753 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION ON PRE-PURCHASE AND POST-PURCHASE ITEMS USING RFID AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIA STORING PROGRAMS FOR EXECUTING THE METHOD - Pre-purchase and post-purchase item information provision methods and systems using an RFID technology and computer readable storage media storing programs for executing the methods are provided. A pre-purchase item information provision method for a radio frequency identification system according to the present invention includes transmitting, if a mobile reader is detected by a local server installed in a salesroom, a certificate containing information on a location of an object information service server and an authentication value to the mobile reader; transmitting, at the mobile reader, a query requesting an item ID to a tag attached to a target item; transmitting, at the tag, a item ID information generated by encrypting the item ID using the authentication value to the mobile reader; transmitting, at the mobile reader, the item ID information and the authentication value to the object information service server; and transmitting, at the object information service server, data retrieved in a database in correspondence to the item ID, the data being retrieved when the authentication value exists in the database. The item information provision method and system of the present invention can guarantee reliability of information on an item in the pre-purchase state and prevent the information from being eavesdropped in both the pre-purchase and post-purchase states. Also, the item information provision method and system can prevent the tag ID from being tracked, thereby protecting purchaser's privacy, preventing the tag from being forged, and improving computation efficiency. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208754 | METHOD FOR DETECTING DUPLICATED INSTANCES OF A SOFTWARE LICENSE - A method for issuing and updating a software program license for a computer, with a unique identifier data object embedded in the computer and referenced by the license. The unique identifier may also be used with a conventional computer fingerprint. The software program does not run on a computer without a license that references the unique identifier. The license is issued via a server over a network (such as the Internet) and must be regularly updated by the server. When updating, the present unique identifier is sent to the server, to verify that the unique identifier is the latest unique identifier issued for that license. If an unauthorized copy is made for operation on an unlicensed computer, such as by cloning the licensed computer, this is detected when the second computer is updated, because the unique identifier sent with the update request is no longer current. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208755 | Method and an apparatus to provide interoperability between different protection schemes - Some embodiments of a method and an apparatus to provide interoperability between different digital content protection schemes have been presented. In one embodiment, a first copy of digital content encrypted using a first protection scheme is received from a user. In response to a request from the user, it is verified that the user is a rightful owner of the first copy without decrypting the first copy. A second copy of the digital content encrypted using a second protection scheme is sent to the user if the user is a rightful owner of the first copy. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208756 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING SECURITY DOMAIN - An apparatus and method for providing a security domain are provided. The apparatus includes a security domain which is not connected to an external system and which manages a digital rights management (DRM) license requiring security; a non-security domain which can be connected to the external system and which manages encrypted DRM content; and a virtual controller which controls the security domain and the non-security domain. The method includes requesting checking of a license for encrypted content; checking whether the license for encrypted content exists, in response to the requesting checking of the license; and if it is determined that the license exists, requesting transmission of encrypted content, decrypting the encrypted content, and playing the decrypted content. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208757 | Systems and Methods for Processing Claims in Real-Time - Claim processing system providing an interface to permit pharmacy and medical management systems to use the Internet to transmit third-party insurance claims on a claim-by-claim basis in real-time or near-real-time to one or more claim servers that receive insurance claim requests over the Internet in an encrypted form. The one or more claim servers decrypt the claim requests and forward them to a health network application which facilitates the submission of the claims to insurance payers and the response of the insurance payers to the requests. Payer responses are received by the claim servers, encrypted and forwarded to the pharmacy and medical management systems in real-time or near real-time. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208758 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SECURE TRANSACTIONS - A method and apparatus is provided for secure terminals that facilitate secure data transmission and are compliant with the payment card industry (PCI) data security requirements. A security processor is combined with an application processor and a display into a secure display control unit (SDCU) that provides tamper resistance and other security measures. Modular secure I/O devices are interfaced to the SDCU via a wired, or wireless, medium so as to facilitate secure data transfer to the SDCU during a point-of-sale (POS) transaction or other transaction that requires secure data entry. The secure I/O devices implement one-time-pad (OTP) encryption, where the random keys, or pads, are generated by a derived unique key per transaction (DUKPT) generator. Other embodiments facilitate interconnection of the secure I/O devices to a hardware security module (HSM) or a personal computer (PC) while maintaining a high level of data security. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208759 | PROCESSING OF FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS USING DEBIT NETWORKS - Methods and systems are disclosed for executing financial transactions between customers and merchants. An identifier of a financial account is received from the customer at a merchant system. A one-time password is also received from the customer at the merchant system, with the customer having been provided with the one-time password by a mobile electronic device or contactless presentation instrument. A cryptogram is generated to included the identifier of the financial account encrypted using the one-time password. An authorization request is formulated at the merchant system. The authorization request includes the cryptogram and transaction information describing at least a portion of the financial transaction. The authorization request is transmitted from the merchant system to an authorization processor for authorization of the financial transaction. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208760 | Method and system for verifying an electronic transaction - A method for verification of an electronic transaction between a consumer and a merchant, a credit issuers or any combination thereof. This method includes the steps of: obtaining a network data set including a plurality of data fields reflecting network data; obtaining a transaction data set including a plurality of data fields reflecting transaction data, consumer data, merchant data, credit issuer data or any combination thereof, directed to the electronic transaction; analyzing at least one field of the network data set and at least one field of the transaction data set; and based upon the results of the analysis, initiating an action directed to the transaction. An apparatus and system are also disclosed. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208761 | Secured transactional banner - By providing user interface functionality on a banner served on a webpage hosted by a third party, it is possible to carry out a secure transaction without the user leaving the banner. This is achieved by providing content and transaction middleware which co-operates with a served banner to, in the first instance provide a customised advertising banner and then subsequently to provide user interfaces which allow payment and personal details to be retrieved and to provide confirmation of a purchase. The banner may be served over a mobile device and may also be served overlayed onto moving video on the webpage. This provides a much better user experience and also provides better likelihood of converted sales from banner advertising. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208762 | PAYMENTS USING A MOBILE COMMERCE DEVICE - Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for handling payment transactions in a mobile commerce system. According to one embodiment, a method of processing a payment transaction in a mobile commerce system can comprise receiving at a first acquirer system a communication from a point-of-sale (POS) device. The communication can be related to the payment transaction and can include information identifying a financial account from which a payment is requested. A second acquirer for authorizing the payment can be identified based on the information identifying the financial account. The communication can be sent to the second acquirer system for authorization of the transaction based on the information related to the financial account. An indication of whether the transaction is authorized can be received from the second acquirer system. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208763 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR FACILITATING COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING PERCENTAGE OWNERSHIPS IN PROPERTIES - A method is provided that includes maintaining a database including information associated with a real-estate portfolio of an entity, where the real-estate portfolio includes one or more real-estate properties. The method also includes receiving selection of a property in the portfolio for offering one or more percentage ownerships thereof. An offering of one or more percentage ownerships of the respective property is initiated in response to the selection, initiating an offering including automatically notifying one or more other entities of the offering. And commitments are received from one or more other entities regarding respective percentage ownerships of the property to thereby facilitate the entity and one or more other entities concluding a percentage-ownership transaction regarding the property. As provided, the offering is retractable by the entity until the other entities commit to purchase, in the aggregate, a minimum percentage ownership of the respective property. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208764 | Defined Fixed Percentage Rate Distribution Schedule For Open End Mutual Funds - The Defined Fixed Rate Distribution Schedule standardizes by prospectus the rate of distributed income for a specific mutual fund. This will allow shareholders the ability to assess future income potential as well as risk and reward. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208765 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPARISON OF VARIABLE TERM FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS USING LIFE EXTENSION DURATION COMPUTATION - A method of evaluating a variable term security including assessing life extension risk of the variable term security due to a deviation from nominal life expectancy of the variable term security, computing a summary factor of said life extension risk, and comparing the summary factor of said life extension risk to a predetermined criterion and thereby evaluating the variable term security. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208766 | System and method for an indexed debt instrument with deposit insurance pass through in a qualified program administered by an institutional investor - A system and a method for an indexed debt instrument mitigates risk perceived by an institutional investor acting as administrator of an eligible employee benefit plan when the indexed debt instrument is issued by a bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in response to a deposit made by the institutional investor in the bank. The risk is mitigated, at least in part, by pass-through of FDIC insurance protecting the deposit. The insurance passes through the plan administrator to protect the interest of each member of the plan in the deposit, up to a defined legal limit. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208767 | Predicting the Performance of Algorithmic Investment Strategies - A new type of financial forecasting model, which permits investment returns (as well as other portfolio characteristics) to be forecast according to the state of the portfolio is described. For example, the illustrative embodiment prescribes methods for designing and testing such models, and it specifies ways to use the outputs of such models to accomplish portfolio management tasks that were not possible previously. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208768 | DERIVATIVE CONTRACT AND METHOD FOR CREATING SAME FROM A PREDEFINED PERCENTAGE OF AN UNDERLYING SECURITY - A derivative contract is disclosed including an option notional value of an underlying unit calculated from a predefined percentage of an underlying security according to the formula: | 2008-08-28 |
20080208769 | CREATION AND MAINTENANCE OF A LIQUID "ALTERNATIVE BETA" INVESTMENT FUND - A method of creating and managing one or more investment funds that seek to match or exceed the investment performance of a distinct subset (the “alternative beta”) of the return stream provided by the hedge fund industry by replicating it through a dynamically-managed portfolio of liquid financial instruments. The method includes (a) analyzing the return stream using a combination of linear and nonlinear mathematical models; (b) identifying the specific components of the returns that can be replicated with liquid instruments; (c) selecting the financial instruments that meet certain criteria for liquidity, transaction costs and tax efficiency; (d) forming one or more investment funds that offer investors the ability to participate in such returns with superior liquidity and transparency; (e) directing the fund(s) to acquire the financial instruments in such manner as determined by the model; (f) rebalancing the portfolio on a regular basis to account for shifts in the investment patterns of the return stream. Software to perform the method using factors to minimize error inherent in regression analysis. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208770 | Method and System for Data Metering - A method and system for tracking the type and amount of data processed by a computer system. In one embodiment, a logging system tracks data processed by a conversion system so that differential billing of customers can be performed based on the type of data and the quality of service required to provide that data. The logging system is integrated as part of the conversion system that converts the data from a source format into a target format. As the data is converted by the conversion routines, the logging system logs the amount of data that is converted by the conversion routines. Thus, the logging system is able to track the data at each conversion routine, such as each level of a communications protocol. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208771 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING RECYCLING FEES - A system for providing a fee associated with a location for an ordered object. In response to receiving an order for an object from a customer that includes a location for where to ship the object, it is determined whether the location requires a fee for the object. The fee for the object for the location is requested from a fee service in response to determining that the location does require the fee for the object. The fee for the object for the location is received from the fee service. The fee for the object for the location is added to a customer price and a first customer response. Then, the first customer response that includes the fee for the object for the location is sent to the customer. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208772 | ADDRESS FORWARDING FOR PARCELS - A method for sorting parcels may include reading, during a first sortation pass, machine readable indicia applied to the parcel prior to mailing and at least a portion of delivery address information on a parcel. The method may also include selecting a reference indicium from the machine readable indicia and creating an entry, corresponding to the reference indicia, in a first database, the entry including a portion of the delivery address information for the parcel and a value corresponding to the reference indicium. The method may also include determining whether the delivery address information has a corresponding forwarding order, and, if a corresponding forwarding order exists, modifying the delivery address information in accordance with the forwarding order. The method may include forwarding the entry to a second database different from the first database, the second database corresponding to the delivery address information. The method may include reading the machine readable indicia during a second sortation pass, subsequent to the first, identifying the reference indicium and retrieving the entry corresponding to the reference indicium from the second database, and sorting the parcel according to the portion of the delivery address information in the entry retrieved from the database. The method may also include delivering the parcel to a location corresponding to the delivery address information retrieved from the database, even if the delivery address information differs from the destination address originally applied to the parcel. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208773 | Multi-core stochastic discrimination - In some embodiments, multi-core stochastic discrimination is generally presented. In this regard, a method is introduced comprising providing random regions of a feature space to parallel cores, testing each random region for enrichment in parallel, recording coverage for each data point in each enriched random region in parallel, and calculating an overall average coverage for each data point among the enriched random regions. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208774 | ONTOLOGY SYSTEM FOR CONTEXT-AWARE, METHOD THEREOF, AND RECORDING MEDIUM STORING THE SAME - Provided are an ontology system, a method for managing the ontology system, and a recording medium storing the same. The ontology system includes: a context broker unit for receiving context information from a sensing device and verifying a validity of the received context information; a context managing unit for controlling to generate an ontology structure by transforming the verified context information from the context broker unit to ontology web language (OWL) data and processing the OWL data; a rule-based inference engine unit for transforming the processed context information from the context managing unit to semantic web rule language (SWRL) data and processing the SWRL data through an inference process; a learning managing unit for processing the processed context information from the context managing unit through learning; and a database for storing the context information processed at the context managing unit, the rule-based engine unit, and the learning managing unit. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208775 | Method and Apparatus for Generation of a Sequence of Elements - A method and apparatus for automatically generating a target sequence of a plurality of elements selected in accordance with a plurality of user-defined constraints such as a play list of songs. The apparatus comprises a user interface ( | 2008-08-28 |
20080208776 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LEARNING BEHAVIOR IN SOFTWARE ROBOT - Disclosed is a method and apparatus for learning behavior in a software robot. The method includes detecting a kind of an object in cyberspace related to a kind of presently manifested action, and a kind and the variation of at least one state among percept states or emotional states preset so as to change in relation to the kind of the action; finding episodes respectively corresponding to each of one or more objects in the cyberspace, each of one or more emotional states and each of one or more percept states, respectively defined in the software robot, a kind of an object in cyberspace related to the detected kind of the action among multiple episodes for responding a combination of kinds of respective one or more actions and for storing variation related to each state, and a kind of at least one state among percept states or emotional states preset so as to change in relation to the kind of the action; using variation stored in response to the found episode and variation generated in response to the manifested action, and calculating a representative variation; and storing the representative variation as a variation of the found episode. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208777 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS - Methods and apparatus for predictive analytics generally comprise one or more artificial agents and an agent factory. An artificial agent may be responsive to at least one of an internal data set and an external data set. Further, an artificial agent may produce a correlation data set relating an outcome data set and at least one of the internal data set and the external data set. In addition, an artificial agent may produce a predictability value corresponding to the correlation data set. The agent factory may be responsive to the outcome data set. Also, the agent factory may produce the artificial agent in response to the outcome data set. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208778 | CONTROLLING A NON-LINEAR PROCESS - System and method for modeling a nonlinear process. A combined model for predictive optimization or control of a nonlinear process includes a nonlinear approximator, coupled to a parameterized dynamic or static model, operable to model the nonlinear process. The nonlinear approximator receives process inputs, and generates parameters for the parameterized dynamic model. The parameterized dynamic model receives the parameters and process inputs, and generates predicted process outputs based on the parameters and process inputs, where the predicted process outputs are useable to analyze and/or control the nonlinear process. The combined model may be trained in an integrated manner, e.g., substantially concurrently, by identifying process inputs and outputs (I/O), collecting data for process I/O, determining constraints on model behavior from prior knowledge, formulating an optimization problem, executing an optimization algorithm to determine model parameters subject to the determined constraints, and verifying the compliance of the model with the constraints. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208779 | SELF-TRAINING AND SELF-TESTING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Embodiments herein begin by being supplied with input of at least two parties. From this, the embodiments herein automatically generate a contract between the parties, computerized self-training programs, and computerized self-testing programs based on the parties input. Embodiments herein cause employees of a service provider to perform computerized self-training programs directed toward a first phase of the requirements. The embodiments herein also use a computerized self-testing program to determine whether all of the employees of the service provider within a specific group have acquired knowledge that exceeds the first phase of the requirements. Further, these embodiments prevent any employee of the service provider within the specific group from performing computerized self-training programs directed toward a second phase of the requirements until all of the employees of the service provider within the specific group have acquired knowledge that exceeds the first phase of the requirements, as determined by the computerized self-testing program. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208780 | System and method for evaluating documents - A system for evaluating documents may include a memory location for storing one or more software modules, and a processor for executing the one or more software modules. The one or more software modules may be configured to perform a method. The method may include receiving a baseline record and a potentially matching record. The method may also include identifying baseline record data, and identifying potentially matching record data. The method may further include comparing the baseline record data with the potentially matching record data using matching criteria. The method may also include calculating a score for the potentially matching record based on rank values and weight factors associated with the matching criteria. The score may be a measure of similarity between the baseline record data and the potentially matching record data. The method may further include determining whether a match exists between the baseline record and the potentially matching record based on the score. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208781 | REDUCTION OF CLASSIFICATION ERROR RATES AND MONITORING SYSTEM USING AN ARTIFICIAL CLASS - Systems and methods for enhancing the accuracy of classifying a measurement by providing an artificial class. Seizure prediction systems may employ a classification system including an artificial class and a user interface for signaling uncertainty in classification when a measurement is classified in the artificial class. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208782 | Imbibition gas well stimulation via neural network design - A method for stimulation of gas hydrocarbon production via imbibition by utilization of surfactants. The method includes use of fuzzy logic and neural network architecture constructs to determine surfactant use. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208783 | Spatio-Temporal Learning Algorithms In Hierarchical Temporal Networks - A spatio-temporal learning node is a type of HTM node which learns both spatial and temporal groups of sensed input patterns over time. Spatio-temporal learning nodes comprise spatial poolers which are used to determine spatial groups in a set of sensed input patterns. The spatio-temporal learning nodes further comprise temporal poolers which are used to determine groups of sensed input patterns that temporally co-occur. A spatio-temporal learning network is a hierarchical network including a plurality of spatio-temporal learning nodes. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208784 | Systems and methods for modeling and analyzing networks - The systems and methods described herein utilize a probabilistic modeling framework for reverse engineering an ensemble of causal models, from data and then forward simulating the ensemble of models to analyze and predict the behavior of the network. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods described herein include data-driven techniques for developing causal models for biological networks. Causal network models include computational representations of the causal relationships between independent variables such as a compound of interest and dependent variables such as measured DNA alterations, changes in mRNA, protein, and metabolites to phenotypic readouts of efficacy and toxicity. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208785 | USER INTERFACE METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR RULES PROCESSING - The invention provides, in one aspect, a user interface method that includes processing one or more BPM or other rules with a rules engine executing on a server digital data processor. The rules engine generates, for presentation on a client device, a user interface having one or more display, input or other elements specified by those rules. Related aspects of the invention provide methods as described above in which the rules engine generates the user interface dynamically, e.g., selecting and/or configuring the elements that make up that interface concurrently with the client-server session during which the interface (e.g., web page or other user interface paradigm) is requested by, transmitted to, and/or presented by the client device. Further aspects of the invention provide such a method, where the rules engine generates the interface, e.g., web page, with embedded BPM or other rules that are executed by the client device and that support automated decision-making, e.g., in the manner of rules executed by the rules engine itself. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208786 | RULE-BASED MANAGEMENT OF ADAPTIVE MODELS AND AGENTS - A computer-implemented method described for making a recommendation with respect to a plurality of items using a plurality of adaptive models or agents. The described method includes receiving one or more business rules; receiving a request for a recommendation; receiving attributes relating to the request; activating one or more adaptive agents such that each activated adaptive agent generates one or more recommendations with respect to the items based at least in part on an evaluation of prior outcomes relating to the items; selecting from among the one or more recommendations at least one final recommendation; and displaying the at least one final recommendation to a user. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208787 | Method and system for centralized generation of a business executable using genetic algorithms and rules distributed among multiple hardware devices - A system for generation of business executables using artificial intelligence or rules distributed among multiple hardware devices, including: a memory element of a specially programmed general-purpose computer storing a first rule or an artificial intelligence (AI) program; a generating element, in a processor for the specially programmed computer, arranged to generate at an executable using at least one of the first rule or the AI program; an interface element of the specially programmed computer, arranged to receive a second rule from a first wireless communications device (WCD), or from a general-purpose computer associated with a business entity and to store the second rule in the memory element; and a modifying element, in the processor, arranged to modify the executable using the second rule and to transmit, using the interface element, the modified executable to a wireless communications network for transmission to a second WCD. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208788 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PREDICTING CUSTOMER WALLETS - A method (and system) of predicting an unobserved target variable includes building a graphical predictive model from domain knowledge, which takes advantage of conditional independence to facilitate inference about the unobserved target variable, given observations of other variables in the graphical predictive model from a plurality of information sources. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208789 | HTTP acceleration by prediction and pre-fetching - Described is a technology by which high latency problems with respect to web requests are reduced by having a web proxy server predict and pre-fetch content, in parallel, that is to be requested by a client. The web proxy analyzes a main web page requested by a client to predict subsequent client requests. The web proxy prep fetches content before the client requests it, by making concurrent requests for the page's embedded objects that exceed the client's limited number of (e.g., two) connections. In one example, the web proxy sends HTTP requests substantially in parallel to a web server, thereby reducing overall latency. In another example, the web proxy server sends parallel requests to a remote web proxy coupled to a web server. The remote web proxy requests only a limited number of objects (e.g., two) at a time, but does so over fast (low latency) connections to the web server. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208790 | Document Processing Device, and Document Processing Method - A technique is provided for adding an annotation to a document described in a markup language. Upon acquisition of a document described in a markup language, a document processing apparatus | 2008-08-28 |
20080208791 | RETRIEVING IMAGES BASED ON AN EXAMPLE IMAGE - A method is disclosed for retrieving images relevant to an example image from among a plurality of stored images, each of the stored images being associated with metadata of different types, including retrieving set(s) of images from the stored image(s) for each different type of metadata that are based on similarities of the metadata of each different type with the example image; displaying the retrieved set(s) of image(s) organized according to each different type of metadata; and the user selecting one or more particular set(s) of retrieved image(s). | 2008-08-28 |
20080208792 | Methods and Apparatus for Management of Configuration Item Lifecycle State Transitions - Techniques for managing a plurality of configuration items in an information repository are provided. Lifecycle state transitions of the plurality of configuration items are regulated in accordance with one or more lifecycle state transition diagrams and, when a life cycle state transition involves a protected life cycle state, one or more request for change identifiers. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208793 | Image file searching method and electronic device - An image file searching method includes the following steps. First, an image searching command, which includes image color searching information or image shape searching information, is received. Then, the image searching command is compared with a plurality of image files. The image color searching information or the image shape searching information is compared with image color information or image shape information of each of the image files and a comparing result is generated. Finally, at least one target image file is found from the image files according to the comparing result. In addition, an electronic device applying the image file searching method is also disclosed. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208794 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR INTEGRATING DATA BETWEEN DISPARATE AND HOST SYSTEMS - A method, system, and computer program product are provided for integrating one or more disparate systems with a host system. For example, a computer program product including at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein includes a first executable portion for receiving data associated with at least one order for at least one product or service at a disparate system. The computer program product also includes a second executable portion for defining a first format for one or more files associated with at least a portion of the data at the disparate system. In addition, the computer program product includes a third executable portion for providing the one or more data files defined in the first format to a host system to be configured into a second format that is different than the first format and compatible with the host system. The computer program product further comprises a fourth executable portion for accessing a plurality of different predefined translation routines and translating the one or more files defined in the first format into the second format. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208795 | Method for Homogenizing Measurement Units Used Displaying Communication Messages - The present invention relates to a method for homogenizing measurement units used for displaying communication messages containing numerical data notably messages exchanged by an aircraft with the air traffic control authority. The choice of the working units of the flight management computer are recovered in the configuration database. The measurement unit of the numerical data item of the displayed message is determined. When the measurement unit of the numerical data item of the message does not form part of the system of measurement units, the numerical data item is connected into a unit forming part of the system of units. The display of the communication message on the onboard screen is formatted. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208796 | Method and system for providing sponsored information on electronic devices - A system implementing a method for providing sponsored information on an electronic device determines information of interest to the user as relevant information, accesses sponsored information, and provides sponsored information based on said relevant information. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208797 | AUTOMATED RECORD ATTRIBUTE VALUE MERGING FROM MULTIPLE DIRECTORY SERVERS - Merging records from a first directory server and a second directory server to augment data from the first server with data from the second server. The records of the second server could contain only data augmenting the data from the record of the first server, or could contain duplicative data in addition to augmenting data, in which case only the augmenting data is merged with the data of the first server. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208798 | DETECTING AND TRACKING MONOTONICITY FOR ACCELERATING RANGE AND INEQUALITY QUERIES - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for detecting monotonicity. A determination is made as to whether a function that is assumed to be monotonic will remain monotonic after performing an operation in response to receiving the operation. The operation is allowed to be performed in response to a determination that the function will remain monotonic after performing the operation. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208799 | DIRECT CALL THREADED CODE - A pre-pass and direct call mechanism which replaces the interpreter. The mechanism moves static decisions out of the repeated runtime path, into a pre-pass operation. Advantageously, the mechanism reduces runtime overhead, and improves overall performance of the DBMS during runtime, while maintaining the considerable investment in opcode generation and plan representation, already invested in the implementation of the DBMS. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208800 | Method and System For Increasing Invention - A computer assisted, convergent iterative method and system for creating an optimal definition of a problem or need, the optimal definition including a critical challenge (CC), and producing a solution thereto, including providing an initial statement of the problem or need, and iteratively performing a computer assisted search method until either ideal solution characteristics of the CC have been satisfied and the CC is considered solved or the definition of the CC is configured in a maximally optimal form. A computer assisted method and system of finding innovative and creative solutions to a problem or need also are provided, including providing an initial problem or need statement expressed in an optimal form, providing a database of related problems and solutions thereto, and analyzing attributes of the solutions to determine a method or means to create a solution to the initial problem or need. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208801 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DERIVING A HIERARCHICAL EVENT BASED DATABASE OPTIMIZED FOR ANALYSIS OF BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for inferring a probability of a first inference absent from a database at which a query regarding the inference is received. Each datum of the database is conformed to the dimensions of the database. Each datum of the plurality of data has associated metadata and an associated key. The associated metadata includes data regarding cohorts associated with the corresponding datum, data regarding hierarchies associated with the corresponding datum, data regarding a corresponding source of the datum, and data regarding probabilities associated with integrity, reliability, and importance of each associated datum. The query is used as a frame of reference for the search. The database returns a probability of the correctness of the first inference based on the query and on the data. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208802 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UTILIZING A HIERARCHICAL BITMAP STRUCTURE TO PROVIDE A FAST AND RELIABLE MECHANISM TO REPRESENT LARGE DELETED DATA SETS IN RELATIONAL DATABASES - A method and system utilizes a hierarchical bitmap structure to represent deleted data sets. Each level in the hierarchical bitmap structure may have progressively larger size and represent finer granularity of number of data blocks than its parent level. A method in one aspect may comprise allocating a first level bitmap having size equal to a register on a processor, each bit in the first level bitmap representing a plurality of blocks of data in a database, and allocating one or more pointers corresponding to said plurality of bits in the first level bitmap, said one or more pointers being allocated to point to a sub bitmap generated after a data block is deleted but before the index corresponding to the data block is cleaned. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208803 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHARACTERISING A WEB PAGE - The present invention relates to a method, computer system and computer program product for the characterising of web pages. The improved system and method for the characterising of web pages provides an improved search outcome for the user. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208804 | Use of Search Templates to Identify Slow Information Server Search Patterns - Statistical information related to performing information searches based on search templates may be automatically generated and stored in statistical records. The statistical records may be automatically updated. The statistical records may be sorted to indicate which information searches are most efficient. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208805 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REMOTE QUERYING OF DATA SOURCES - A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to receive a report document at a report query engine. The report document includes a definition of a report. The report document is processed to extract a remote location for a data source driver for the report. A request for the data for the report is transmitted via a consumer across a communication channel to the remote location. The data is received. A report instance is created from the data. The report instance includes the data processed in accordance with the definition of the report. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208806 | Techniques for a web services data access layer - Techniques for a web services data access layer are described. An apparatus may comprise a client device having an application program, a data access layer, and a client data store. The data access layer may comprise a cache manager component and a queue manager component. The application program may request an operation for an office business entity, with the cache manager component to perform the operation using data stored by the client data store. The queue manager component may store the operation in an operational queue. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208807 | Role based groups - A method and apparatus for managing group based roles in a directory server is described. In one embodiment, a group of entries is defined in the directory server. One or more of the entries possess a group based role. The group based role points to one or more groups. Entries that belong to a group pointed by the group based role also possess the group based role. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208808 | Configuring searches - A GUI is generated to receive parameters that specify properties of a search engine. Certain parameters are received via the user interface, which specify the properties for a certain search engine. The search engine is configured according to the parameters specified. A request for executing the search engine is received and search results generated by executing the search engine are presented, via the GUI. The certain parameters specify each of a set of search engine properties that include the format of the search results returned by the search engine and search domain sources of the search engine. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208809 | Role based groups - A method and apparatus for managing role based groups in a directory server is described. In one embodiment, a role attribute is defined for one or more entries in the directory server. A group of entries in the directory server is defined with a group role. The group role comprises one or more role attributes of one or more entries. The role attribute of the entries are queried to determine which entry possesses the group role. Entries that possess the group role are provided to the client. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208810 | Nested XOR roles - A method and apparatus for managing a nested XOR role in a directory server is described. In one embodiment, a plurality of entries is defined in the directory server. At least one of the plurality of entries possesses a role. An entry is queried to determine its possessed role. A nested XOR role possesses at least two roles. An entry possesses the nested XOR role by possessing only one of the roles within the nested XOR role. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208811 | Nested AND roles - A method and apparatus for managing a nested AND role in a directory server is described. In one embodiment, a plurality of entries is defined in the directory server. At least one of the plurality of entries possesses a role. An entry is queried to determine its possessed role. A nested AND role possesses at least two roles. An entry possesses the nested AND role by possessing all the roles within the nested AND role. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208812 | Instant contact searching and presentation by category - A device, system, and method are directed towards enabling a mobile device user to perform a federated search across a plurality of disparate contact data stores, including a phone directory, IM store, an email address book, a buddy list, a social networking group, a SMS list, or any of a variety of other communication contact data stores. When a user inputs a character, a dynamic search is performed across the various contact data stores. The results of the search may be repeatedly updated based on additional input characters. The results of the search may be displayed on the mobile device organized by categories of the contact data stores and/or a preferred communication mechanism. The results may also indicate a preferred mechanism for communicating with the displayed name. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208813 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR QUALITY CONTROL IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS TO CONTINUOUSLY MONITOR OUTCOMES AND UNDESIRABLE OUTCOMES SUCH AS INFECTIONS, RE-OPERATIONS, EXCESS MORTALITY, AND READMISSIONS - A method for inferring a probability of a first inference. The inference is related to identification of a cause of an outcome in a healthcare setting. A fact, related to the query, is related to the healthcare setting. The fact further relates to a network of interactions associated with the outcome. Each datum of the database conforms to the dimensions of the database. Each datum of the plurality of data has associated metadata and an associated key. The associated metadata includes data regarding cohorts associated with the corresponding datum, data regarding hierarchies associated with the corresponding datum, data regarding a corresponding source of the datum, and data regarding probabilities associated with integrity, reliability, and importance of each associated datum. The query establishes a frame of reference for the search. The database returns a probability of the correctness of the first inference based on the query and on the data. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208814 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION FOR COMPLEX SITUATIONS INVOLVING NUMEROUS KNOWN AND UNKNOWN FACTORS ALONG WITH THEIR PROBABILISTIC WEIGHTINGS - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for inferring a probability of a first inference related to a chaotic event. Each datum of the database is conformed to the dimensions of the database. Each datum of the plurality of data has associated metadata and an associated key. The query is used as a frame of reference for the search. The database returns a probability of the correctness of the first inference based on the query and on the data. The probability of the first inference relates to a cause of the chaotic event, an affect of the chaotic event, an effect of the chaotic event, whether an event is related to the chaotic event, a whether an object is related to the chaotic event, and combinations thereof. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208815 | Method And System For Optimizing Investments In Web Marketing - Contemplated systems and methods provide cost/benefit projections for alternative web site marketing strategies. In preferred embodiments the system classifies search terms into primary, secondary, and tertiary words, and projects Return on Investment (ROI) and Net Operating Income (NOI) for multiple permutations of the words. Preferred embodiments also include a budget optimizer function. In another aspect web search engines can be used to identify potential customers for the system, and to identify advertising opportunities. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208816 | Data Processing Method and System - A data processing method comprises receiving an electronic document, rendering at least a portion of the electronic document, detecting the portion of the electronic document that is unrendered, generating a feedback document comprising a portion of the electronic document, and transmitting the feedback document. Preferably, the feedback document comprises the portion of the electronic document that is rendered. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208817 | System and Method for Retrieving Data Using Agents in a Distributed Network - A method and apparatus for data retrieval by a computing system and a plurality of agent computers in a distributed network is disclosed. The computing system sends a request to each agent computer to perform a search at a node. The agents perform the searches. The agents thereupon send the resulting data to the computing system for storage in a central database. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208818 | METHOD AND MOBILE TERMINAL FOR EFFICIENT FILE LIST CREATION - The present invention relates to a method and mobile terminal that enable efficient creation of a file list. The file list creation method includes selecting a directory having at least one file, setting a reference search location to the beginning of the selected directory, reading a directory entry at the reference search location, determining the state of a file corresponding to the directory entry, and creating a file list using the directory entry and updating the reference search location according to the size of the directory entry if the corresponding file is an existing file. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208819 | GUI BASED WEB SEARCH - An exemplary computer implemented graphics-based Web search system includes a search input control and a results presentation control where the search input control is configured to receive user input to establish a relationship between a query and one or more information tags associated with search results provided by a search engine in response to the query and wherein the results presentation control is configured to re-order the search results in response to the relationship. Such a system allows a user to define and refine search intent and enhance the user's search experience. Various other exemplary systems, methods, devices, etc. are also disclosed. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208820 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION OVER TIME AND SPACE - Systems and methods for collecting, processing, analyzing, and indexing large amounts of data in such a manner that queries can be formulated and exercised against the data in an expedient manner. Embodiments of the present invention provide for static or dynamic presentation of the indexed data based upon the queries. The data organization and access techniques applied in embodiments of the present invention are structured in a way that allows for a large variety of queries to be performed on the data without having to reorganize the data. Additionally, indexes and presentations of the data are continually updated and modified in virtually real-time. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208821 | INFORMATION RETRIEVAL FROM A COLLECTION OF DATA - A method of accessing information from a collection of data includes receiving a query, generating an inverse index of the collection of data and generating results to the query in conjunction with the inverse index. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208822 | ANALYTIC ENHANCEMENTS TO MODEL CLAUSE IN STRUCTURED QUERY LANGUAGE (SQL) - A method for processing queries is provided. A database server receives and executes a query to generate a relation. The query comprises first one or more clauses and a model clause. The model clause comprises a rule that has a left-side expression and a right-side expression. In one embodiment, the right-side expression of the rule includes a window function, which specifies one or more partition columns. In an embodiment, the left-side expression comprises a for-loop predicate. The for-loop predicate is unfolded after the database server compiles the query. In one embodiment, the left-side expression of the rule comprises one or more existential predicates, where each existential predicate evaluates to a Boolean value. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208823 | Sharing Playlists in a Recommendation System - A system for sharing playlists and playlist essence with different users. A user desiring to share his or her playlist generates the playlist and a playlist characterization. The playlist characterization is based on acoustic analysis data of one or more songs in the playlist. The playlist and playlist characterization is then transmitted to another end user device. The end user device receiving the shared playlist searches the user's music collection for the songs in the playlist. If a gap is detected in the playlist because the receiving user does not own a particular song, the receiving end user devices automatically selects another song that is owned by the user to fill-in the gap. The song is selected based on the playlist characterization with the aim of preserving the essence of the shared playlist. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208824 | Methods and systems for providing a response to a query - Methods and systems for providing a response to a query. Multiple users' search engine activity in regard to a query is correlated. A response is provided based upon this correlated search engine activity information. For one embodiment of the invention, in the context of search engine result optimization, the user activity and/or user information of multiple users, during a search session, is correlated with queries to effect an evolving association between queries and the organization and presentation of documents. Systems in accordance with such embodiments employ the ability to store users' activity over the entire search session, thus making possible the correlation of a number of different types of user activity and user information. The use of correlated user input allows such systems to provide relevant search results without the limitations imposed by the key-word-based systems of the prior art. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208825 | Methods and systems for providing a response to a query - Methods and systems for providing a response to a query. Multiple users' search engine activity in regard to a query is correlated. A response is provided based upon this correlated search engine activity information. For one embodiment of the invention, in the context of search engine result optimization, the user activity and/or user information of multiple users, during a search session, is correlated with queries to effect an evolving association between queries and the organization and presentation of documents. Systems in accordance with such embodiments employ the ability to store users' activity over the entire search session, thus making possible the correlation of a number of different types of user activity and user information. The use of correlated user input allows such systems to provide relevant search results without the limitations imposed by the key-word-based systems of the prior art. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208826 | System and method for a modular used controlled search engine - Method and system for delivery of personal search services and advertising. The method includes collecting information from the user about the user's personal search engine, including, but not limited to digital content data sources, link crawl depth of those digital content data sources, and time interval to refresh the index of the digital content data sources created. In one embodiment of the present invention user's do not pay a fee in return for allowing the provider to present advertising to the user as the user uses the invention. In another embodiment, advertisers purchase advertising display services from the provider to be displayed to specific users | 2008-08-28 |
20080208827 | Device, System and Method of Modeling Homogeneous Information - Device, system and method of modeling homogeneous information. For example, a method that includes providing to a model-based application an input model including a refinable homogeneous record having a base type, wherein said homogeneous record is defined with a homogeneous constraint to only include data members of a type compatible with the base type. The homogeneous record is defined in a modeling environment that is able to automatically enforce the homogeneous constraint for the homogeneous record and for refinements thereof. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208828 | Detecting Irregularities - Method and apparatus for inferring irregularities in query data relative to referential data includes attempting to compose the query data, like a puzzle, from large chunks of the referential data, and inferring irregularities in the query data based on at least the size of the matching chunks. The larger the size of a matching chunk, the more likely it is that its corresponding region in the query data is valid and not irregular. Regions in the query data which cannot be composed from the referential data, or can only be composed using small fragmented pieces and not large chunks of the referential data, are considered irregular. The method and apparatus is applicable to all types of signals, including images, video data, medical data, one-dimensional signals and multi-dimensional signals, and can be used to identify, inter alia, suspicious behaviors, suspicious objects, irregular patterns and defects in goods. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208829 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING FILES AND INFORMATION STORAGE MEDIUM STORING THE FILES - A file management method of efficiently searching for and managing files, and an information storage medium storing the files, the method of searching for a file from an information storage medium storing at least one file including: combining at least one tag item selected or excluded by a user through a graphic user interface to generate a query; searching for tag information included in the at least one file and determining whether one or more files match the query; and, if one or more files match the query, outputting a list of the one or more files. Therefore, a user can easily search for a desired file even when he or she does not know the desired file's path, and can efficiently classify and manage a large number of media files. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208830 | AUTOMATED TRANSFORMATION OF STRUCTURED AND UNSTRUCTURED CONTENT - A device, system, and method are directed towards enabling a user to employ a set of database-like structured query expressions to manage data retrieval over a network, and the transformation and/or normalization of the data. In one embodiment, the retrieval expressions are configured as database-like structured query commands that may be performed upon at least a non-database arrangement of content over the network. In one embodiment, retrieved data is converted to at least one format intermediate to a first and second format in a sequence of transformations. | 2008-08-28 |
20080208831 | CONTROLLING SEARCH INDEXING - Computer readable media, systems, and methods for controlling search indexing are described. In embodiments, a search index control instruction is received and, if permitted by the search index control instruction, content pertaining to the received instruction is indexed and presented in accordance therewith. In one embodiment, receiving the search index control instruction includes traversing the Internet with a web crawler and analyzing one or both of a robots.txt file and source code associated with a website of interest to locate instructions. Search index control instructions may include, by way of example only, exclusionary instructions (e.g., excluding specified domains from linking to portions of the content associated with a website) and modification instructions (e.g., permitting indexing and presentation of content associated with a website but only in a modified form to reduce the risk of content theft). | 2008-08-28 |
20080208832 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DERIVING A HIERARCHICAL EVENT BASED DATABASE OPTIMIZED FOR PHARMACEUTICAL ANALYSIS - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for inferring a probability of a first inference absent from a database at which a query regarding the inference is received. Each datum of the database is conformed to the dimensions of the database. Each datum of the plurality of data has associated metadata and an associated key. The associated metadata includes data regarding cohorts associated with the corresponding datum, data regarding hierarchies associated with the corresponding datum, data regarding a corresponding source of the datum, and data regarding probabilities associated with integrity, reliability, and importance of each associated datum. The query is used as a frame of reference for the search. The database returns a probability of the correctness of the first inference based on the query and on the data. | 2008-08-28 |