| 37th week of 2008 patent applcation highlights part 58 |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20080221902 | MOBILE BROWSER ENVIRONMENT SPEECH PROCESSING FACILITY - In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a mobile environment speech processing facility. The present invention may provide for the entering of text into a browser software application resident on a mobile communication facility, where speech may be recorded using the mobile communications facility's resident capture facility. Transmission of the recording may be provided through a wireless communication facility to a speech recognition facility. Results may be generated utilizing the speech recognition facility that may be independent of structured grammar, and may be based at least in part on the information relating to the recording. The results may then be transmitted to the mobile communications facility, where they may be loaded into the browser software application. In embodiments, the user may be allowed to alter the results that are received from the speech recognition facility. In addition, the speech recognition facility may be adapted based on usage. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221903 | Hierarchical Methods and Apparatus for Extracting User Intent from Spoken Utterances - Improved techniques are disclosed for permitting a user to employ more human-based grammar (i.e., free form or conversational input) while addressing a target system via a voice system. For example, a technique for determining intent associated with a spoken utterance of a user comprises the following steps/operations. Decoded speech uttered by the user is obtained. An intent is then extracted from the decoded speech uttered by the user. The intent is extracted in an iterative manner such that a first class is determined after a first iteration and a sub-class of the first class is determined after a second iteration. The first class and the sub-class of the first class are hierarchically indicative of the intent of the user, e.g., a target and data that may be associated with the target. The multi-stage intent extraction approach may have more than two iterations. By way of example only, the user intent extracting step may further determine a sub-class of the sub-class of the first class after a third iteration, such that the first class, the sub-class of the first class, and the sub-class of the sub-class of the first class are hierarchically indicative of the intent of the user. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221904 | COARTICULATION METHOD FOR AUDIO-VISUAL TEXT-TO-SPEECH SYNTHESIS - A method for generating animated sequences of talking heads in text-to-speech applications wherein a processor samples a plurality of frames comprising image samples. The processor reads first data comprising one or more parameters associated with noise-producing orifice images of sequences of at least three concatenated phonemes which correspond to an input stimulus. The processor reads, based on the first data. second data comprising images of a noise-producing entity. The processor generates an animated sequence of the noise-producing entity. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221905 | Encoding an Information Signal - The transient problem may be sufficiently addressed, and for this purpose, a further delay on the side of the decoding may be reduced if a new SBR frame class is used wherein the frame boundaries are not shifted, i.e. the grid boundaries are still synchronized with the frame boundaries, but wherein a transient position indication is additionally used as a syntax element so as to be used, on the encoder and/or decoder sides, within the frames of these new frame class for determining the grid boundaries within these frames. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221906 | Speech coding system and method - A system for enhancing a signal regenerated from an encoded audio signal. The system comprises a decoder arranged to receive the encoded audio signal and produce a decoded audio signal, a feature extraction means arranged to receive at least one of the decoded and encoded audio signal and extract at least one feature from at least one of the decoded and encoded audio signal, a mapping means arranged to map the at least one feature to an enhancement signal and operable to generate and output the enhancement signal, whereby the enhancement signal has a frequency band that is within the decoded audio signal frequency band, and a mixing means arranged to receive the decoded audio signal and the enhancement signal and mix the enhancement signal with the decoded audio signal. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221907 | Method and Apparatus for Decoding an Audio Signal - An apparatus for decoding an audio signal and method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes receiving the audio signal and spatial information, identifying a type of modified spatial information, generating the modified spatial information using the spatial information, and decoding the audio signal using the modified spatial information, wherein the type of the modified spatial information includes at least one of partial spatial information, combined spatial information and expanded spatial information. Accordingly, an audio signal can be decoded into a configuration different from a configuration decided by an encoding apparatus. Even if the number of speakers is smaller or greater than that of multi-channels before execution of downmixing, it is able to generate output channels having the number equal to that of the speakers from a downmix audio signal. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221908 | MULTI-CHANNEL AUDIO ENCODING AND DECODING - An audio encoder and decoder use architectures and techniques that improve the efficiency of multi-channel audio coding and decoding. The described strategies include various techniques and tools, which can be used in combination or independently. For example, an audio encoder performs a pre-processing multi-channel transform on multi-channel audio data, varying the transform so as to control quality. The encoder groups multiple windows from different channels into one or more tiles and outputs tile configuration information, which allows the encoder to isolate transients that appear in a particular channel with small windows, but use large windows in other channels. Using a variety of techniques, the encoder performs flexible multi-channel transforms that effectively take advantage of inter-channel correlation. An audio decoder performs corresponding processing and decoding. In addition, the decoder performs a post-processing multi-channel transform for any of multiple different purposes. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221909 | ANIMATED CONNECTION PAGE - A method and device for facilitating interaction with one or more advertisement functionalities is provided. An advertisement middleware component provides advertisement functionalities for interfacing with one or more systems and components of an underlying device. The advertisement middleware component includes a connection page that provides a consistent and trusted user interface for mobile advertisement. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221910 | Scientific Formula and System using a slider bar which derives standardized data and faster search processes in a Personnel Recruiting System that generates more accurate results - The present invention relates to a data processing system, engrained with value-added methodologies to create a highly structured and automated recruiting system. This system may reduce the time required to select a meaningful shortlist, as well as improving the compatibility of qualifications of candidates towards the requirements of a position. In doing so, the savings may result in reduction of both tangible and intangible costs currently incurred by an employer-company today. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221911 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A SUBSET OF TRANSACTIONS OF A COMPUTING SYSTEM FOR USE IN DETERMINING RESOURCE COSTS - A method comprises receiving a representative workload of a computing system, where the representative workload comprises a plurality of composite transactions. In certain embodiments, the representative workload is a historical workload of a computing system. In general, a composite transaction refers to a transaction that comprises a plurality of embedded transactions. The method further comprises determining a subset of the plurality of composite transactions for which a corresponding resource cost is to be determined; and determining, based at least in part on a statistical regression-based analysis, a resource cost for the composite transaction(s) in the determined subset, where the resource cost reflects an amount of utilization of at least one resource of the computing system in serving the composite transaction(s). | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221912 | Submarine Patents - A method of seeking patent protection for an invention, comprising:
| 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221913 | Methods and systems for linking an electronic address to a physical address of a customer using a delivery point identification key - An electronic account links an electronic address to a physical address of a customer. Services provided to the customer using the electronic account can be delivered to the physical address or the electronic address of the customer. If the customer requests to receive only physical mail, the link between the addresses can be used to deliver any electronic mail to the physical address of the customer. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221914 | Computer-based method and system for aiding transactions - A method for providing a warranty relating to a transaction between two parties, each party having a data communications device, in a system which includes an infrastructure composed of a plurality of locations each associated with a respective institution which provides services to clients, each location having a computer system, a database coupled to the computer system and storing information about each client of the institution and a data communications device coupled to the computer system for communication with the data communications device of any one party, each party being a client of at least one of the institutions, the method containing the steps of: | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221915 | Softwate method and system to enable compliance with audit requirements for electronic procurement pricing - The present invention, named PriceAudit, is an electronic procurement tool that enables the buyer, or purchasing organization, to precisely audit, and therefore validate, on a near real-time basis, their purchasing patterns and prices across all of their (or any other) internet-based suppliers. It allows the comparison of punchout (live supplier internet catalog) price information with prior or negotiated prices, offering the ability to audit and analyze price changes. This enables the user to compare and track price changes from punchout suppliers, compile information for Sarbanes-Oxley reporting requirements, and ensure compliance with supplier contracts, via comparison of prices paid with prices negotiated with a supplier. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221916 | SYSTEMS AND DEVICES FOR ASSESSING FINES FOR TRAFFIC DISTURBANCES - Traffic disturbances are detected and data is collected by various sensors where the data reflects the entity that is responsible for the disturbance and the number of vehicles that are impacted by the disturbance. The data is analyzed to determine whether a traffic violation has occurred and to then assess a fine based at least on the number of vehicles that have been impacted as a result of the traffic violation. The fine may then be collected by notifying the entity that is responsible, such as by sending a message to an electronic device of the entity. The notification may provide for an automated payment of the fine or an option to appeal the fine. Additionally, those affected by the traffic disturbance may be identified and granted a portion of the fine that has been imposed and collected. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221917 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SPECIFYING, DEPLOYING AND DYNAMICALLY UPDATING WORK FLOWS - A method and system for specifying, deploying and updating work flows. A request is received from a user of a system with components comprising a computing system and human representatives. The components facilitate routing and servicing the request. A work flow comprising manual and automatic steps is specified to perform the routing and servicing of the request. The automatic steps are automatically performed by the computing system and the manual steps are manually performed by the representatives. Both the automatic steps and the manual steps are uniformly defined in a single general-purpose markup language (e.g., XML). Further, a manual step is dynamically transformed into a new automatic step that is represented as a new XML action element. The new XML action element includes an identifier of a software routine to be executed to perform the new automatic step. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221918 | NETWORK PERFORMANCE MONITOR - Disclosed in this specification is a method for monitoring a network, such as the central monitoring station of a medical facility. Performance data from each of the network components of interest is monitored for compliance with certain component-specific criteria. Responses are generated if the performance data satisfies, or fails to satisfy, such criteria. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221919 | MEDICAL CLINIC FORMED BY MODULAR TRANSPORTABLE COMPONENTS - A medical clinic system, including: an unattached medical clinic formed by modular transportable components, wherein the transportable modules are partially constructed portions of a building; a registration module wherein a patient registers for an appointment, and wherein an appointment type request is generated and transmitted to a server; a triaging module wherein a patient is triaged, and wherein a patient record is generated and transmitted to the server; an exam room having at least one computer terminal with access to the server; a plurality of medical instruments, wherein the plurality of medical instruments are connected to the server, a digital radiology suite; and a pharmacy. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221920 | Personal Transportable Healthcare Data Base Improvements - This is an improvement to the patient data base disclosed in Published Patent Application No. US 2007-0055550 A1, Published Mar. 8 | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221921 | METHOD OF CONDUCTING A CLINICAL TRIAL - Disclosed are methods of conducting and assessing the outcomes of a randomized controlled clinical trial. The method comprises the steps of: trialing, with respect to a first group of patients as an experimental group, an experimental treatment; and trialing, with respect to a second group of patients as a control group, at least first and second control therapies. The control therapies will have been previously validated or are a known standard of care. This method is described in relation to trialing and assessing implantable medical devices such as left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) but may be used for trialing and assessing other medical devices. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221922 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATIVE EVENT DOCUMENTATION AND RELATED DATA MANAGEMENT - In one embodiment, method and apparatus are disclosed which provide that a plurality of physicians each enter operative event data into an operative event database, wherein the operative event data documents planned or completed operative events and the physicians enter the operative event data use a wide area network through a user interface assisting the physicians in coding operative events in a consistent manner. The physicians access the operative event database to obtain information concerning upcoming or previously performed operative events, with a service provider maintaining an on-line system including one or more servers to support the entering of operative event data into the database through the Internet and the user interface. Further, the physicians subscribe to the on-line system wherein the physicians are allowed access and use the on-line system, and wherein the physicians retain control over the use and disposition of the operative event data entered by the physician. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221923 | MEDICAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A computer-assisted method of assisting a health care provider in diagnosing and treating a patient. The method includes preparing an event-based sequence relating to a disease for which the patient is diagnosed and treated and accepting answers from the health care provider during at least one clinical contact with the patient to a plurality of questions relating to the disease, a stage of the disease, an intervention of the disease, and a response to the intervention. The method also includes segmenting the event-based sequence into a plurality of milestone events for use by the health care provider in diagnosing and treating the patient. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221924 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD TO IMPROVE THE ACCURACY OF RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID)-BASED REAL-TIME LOCATION SYSTEM - A patient workflow management system. The system includes a messaging subsystem to receive data indicating one or more locations of a patient within a health care facility. The system further includes a correction module in communication with the messaging subsystem to apply a correction to at least a portion of the received data to determine a location of the patient relative to a perioperative workflow process. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221925 | SYSTEMS, DEVICES AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A REWARD BASED UPON USE OF A MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - The disclosed embodiments provide systems, devices and methods for providing a reward to a user of a mobile communications device. The described embodiments, for example, may include a mobile communications device that exchanges query data and response data, with a computer system over a communications network. The computer system includes an evaluation application operable to determine a predetermined reward based on, at least in part, the received response data. The response data is received by the mobile communications device from the user in response to query data presented to the user by the mobile communications device. The predetermined reward, for example, may affect an operational characteristic of the mobile communications device on the wireless network. Also disclosed are systems, devices and methods that include an outcome application, associated with the computer system, that generates an outcome determination based on, at least in part, the response data. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221926 | ENTERPRISE-WIDE HOSPITAL BED MANAGEMENT DASHBOARD SYSTEM - An integrated health care delivery network with enabling software and network technology to maximize bed resources, manage varying census levels, and avoid patient diversions through real-time monitoring, automation and communication, is disclosed. Preferably, the present invention is embodied in a bed management/census control dashboard (BMD) system that interfaces with and complements existing Admission/Discharge/Transfer (ADT) systems. The BMD system is an easy-to-use business intelligence application that is designed to allow administrators, clinicians and managers to easily access, analyze and display real-time patient and bed availability information from ancillary information systems, databases and spreadsheets. It enables users to see trends and relationships in hospital (bed) management data directly from their desktop personal computers. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221927 | Web-Enabled, Evidence Based Medical Diagnostic System - A web-based medical diagnostic system predicts diseases via the use of likelihood ratio calculations. Likelihood ratios are multiplied against pre-test odds for diseases to predict post-test odds that will guide a physician to a diagnosis. Each likelihood ratio is calculated on the basis of statistically accrued data and in response to questions and answers directed to patients or test results. Likelihood ratios are scaled infinitely beyond a simple 2×2 matrix, with an independent likelihood matrix created for individual patient responses or test results which are treated as independent variables in the system. The number of predicted diseases and diagnostic outcomes is also infinitely scalable. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221928 | System for Monitoring Patient Activity in a Medical Facility - A medical patient is issued an identification device that emits a first wireless signal providing a patient identification. A plurality of data collectors are placed at different locations in a medical facility to receive the first wireless signal when the patient is nearby. A separate patient event record is generated whenever one of the data collectors receives the first wireless signal and each such record contains the patient identification, time of receipt, and identification of the receiving data collector. The plurality of patient event records are analyzed to derive a report about activity of the patient within the medical facility. For example the report may indicate bathroom activity of the patient or how far and often the patient walked around the medical facility. The reports are useful to monitor and evaluate the patient's medical condition, recovery and security. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221929 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSOCIATING A PATIENT SPECIMEN IDENTIFIER WITH A RADIOLOGY IMAGE FOR THE PATIENT - A computer system for associating the identification of a patient specimen with a radiology image is provided. The system comprises at least one image database for maintaining at least one radiology healthcare image for a patient. The system further comprises a receiving module for receiving identification of a specimen collected from the patient and an association module for associating the identification of the specimen with one or more of the at least one radiology images for the patient. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221930 | Health data collection tool - A portable health data tool permits a health care provider to assimilate and display a plurality of health care data from a patient and to associate the data with patient identifying information all stored in a memory contained in the tool. The tool includes a code reader for reading patient information into the tool from a bar code or other coded tag. The tool is associated with a plurality of different data assimilation devices stored with the tool's housing, including but not limited to, instruments for measuring, temperature, blood pressure, two-finger or lead wire ECG data, pulse oximetry data, sound data and picture data obtained from an optional digital camera integrated within the housing. The tool further includes data receiver and/or transmitter ports, which may be wireless or cable ports, for transferring data between the health data tool and a separate computer system that stores patient records. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221931 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO ENABLE FOLLOWING A MEDICAL PROCEDURE FROM A REMOTE LOCATION - In a method and system following an examination or treatment of a patient by means of an imaging medical examination apparatus from an external data processing device with an associated monitor within a facility system having a number of different imaging medical examination apparatuses, data from a database of a facility system, that contains data regarding all examination devices integrated into the facility system and of the patient or patients to be examined with an examination device, and/or of a patient information system that contains data regarding all patients to be examined and the examination devices employed therefore specific to the patients are displayed on the monitor of the external data processing device. A specific displayed examination device or a specific displayed patient is selected with an input unit of the external data processing device. After the selection a data connection is established between the selected data processing device and the selected examination device or the control device thereof associated with the selected patient, such that at least the acquired image data are presented on the monitor of the external data processing device. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221932 | Network and methods for integrating individualized clinical test results and nutritional treatment - The present invention provides networks and method for linking consumers and nutritional pharmacogeneticists offering personalized nutritional information through a central network site. The network includes a central integration site through which network members communicate with each other. The central integration site stores two or more databases in the storage medium. The databases store biochemical marker data information, nutritional and/or drug data information including a record for association and effect of nutrients with a particular biochemical marker, and/or drug. The network of the invention provides individualized nutritional diagnostic and treatment to consumers on the basis of their genetic test results. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221933 | LIFE INSURANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system for providing life insurance with no out-of-pocket cost including a cost component, an increasing death benefit having a fixed portion and a rider portion, the rider portion being at least equal to a cumulative loan balance, and an investment vehicle configured to provide a rate of return on the cash component based on one or more financial market indices. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221934 | Using commercial share of wallet to determine insurance risk - Commercial size of spending wallet (“CSoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“CSoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. A modeling approach utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. Insurance companies can use CSoW/CSoSW to determine risk levels of clients and identify prospective clients. CSoW/CSoSW can also be used to determine pricing structures for clients. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221935 | SYSTEM FOR INDIVIDUAL RETRAINING ASSOCIATED WITH A JOB LOSS - The system described herein allows an individual or worker who has a job to select a different occupation to be trained for in the event of a job loss. The information about the new occupation, such as cost of education, books, etc. along with the cost of living during the retraining and subsequent job search and the probability of job loss are used to determine a periodic payment for such retraining. This payment is made while the individual works. When the individuals loses the job, the individual is provided with living expenses, occupation retraining and job location assistance. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221936 | AUTOMATED PROPERTY INSURANCE QUOTE SYSTEM - An automated web based application for generating a plurality of insurance quotes for property insurance is disclosed. A data extraction program is used to extract text from an appraisal form in PDF format. This data is used to automatically complete and submit quote request applications to a number of different insurance providers, thus generating a variety of insurance quotes. The application creates a summary of the various insurance quotes, allowing a broker or insurance seeker to quickly and efficiently select a quote. Once a quote is selected, the system automatically creates a binding document using personal information that is either manually input or extracted from a standard loan form, and sends the document to the insurance provider. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221937 | System and method for managing investment risk in satellite operator companies - In order to mitigate risk of satellite investment loss, a satellite loss event or failure event for a satellite that will be operated by a satellite operator company is identified. Financial investors in the satellite operator company are identified. Actuarial data corresponding to prior satellite loss events or failure events substantially corresponding to the satellite loss event or failure event are identified. An investment loss mitigation insurance policy based at least in part on the identified actuarial data is developed. The investment loss mitigation insurance policy is offered to the identified financial investors. Premiums are received from financial investors that subscribe to the investment loss mitigation insurance policy, and the investment loss mitigation insurance policy is placed with an underwriting pool in exchange for at least a portion of the received premiums. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221938 | Equipment Planning Support System for Triple-Deck Elevator - The invention relates to a triple-deck elevator equipment planning support system, arranged such that the average number of times of being stopped per going-round is calculated on the basis of a given building specification and cage specification data in a triple-deck elevator system; a total value of getting-on/off time periods of passengers, a total value of door-opening/closing time periods, and the total value of running time periods are calculated based on the average number; and a going-round time period of an elevator is calculated from these calculation results, and a practical transportation capacity per on triple-deck elevator is calculated. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221939 | METHODS FOR REWRITING AGGREGATE EXPRESSIONS USING MULTIPLE HIERARCHIES - Key performance indicator (KPI) expressions are rewritten using metric hierarchies. A node label is associated with each node in the metric hierarchies, the metric hierarchies arranged in arbitrary trees. Node labels associated with each term in a KPI expression are retrieved, and the terms in the KPI expression are sorted according to the node labels. The terms are grouped according to the node labels, and a collection of groups that covers all the terms in the KPI expression is found. Overlaps in the covering groups may be minimized. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221940 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING THE COMPONENT BUSINESS MODEL TO ANALYZE BUSINESS VALUE DRIVERS - The method and system uses the component business model as a framework for locating business activities. Business value drivers are identified, related in an influence model, and structured into a prioritized driver tree. The driver tree is used to determine the relative contributions of leaf drivers to the overall value of the business. Business activities contributing to the leaf drivers are then identified, and the relative contributions of the leaf drivers are allocated to the business activities and then rolled up to the components for display as a heat map overlay on a component map. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221941 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CAPACITY PLANNING FOR COMPUTING SYSTEMS - A method comprises receiving, by a workload profiler, a representative workload of a computing system under analysis. The workload profiler determines a workload profile of the computing system that reflects a transaction mix that varies over times. A capacity analyzer receives the workload profile, and determines a maximum capacity of the computing system under analysis for serving the workload profile while satisfying a defined quality of service (QoS) target. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221942 | Automatic Generation of Trailers Containing Product Placements - This invention relates to a method and computer system for automatic generation of trailers. More specifically it relates to a method for generating revenues from providers of content data. The method generally comprises the steps of finding product placement data in a super set of data. When these product placements have been found they are preferably matched with a user profile and segments, of the superset comprising these product placements with a positive match, are selected and merged into a subset of data. A counter may keep track of which product placement that has been chosen and how many times a product placement has been chosen and viewed. Based on the value of the counter an invoice is created. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221943 | Retail behavioral tracking using microsystems - An arrangement includes a plurality of containers and a processing circuit. Each of the plurality of containers has a microsystem disposed thereon. Each microsystem is configured to sense at least one environmental condition and to sense movement of the corresponding container. The microsystem is configured to communicate information regarding the at least one environmental condition and the movement wirelessly. The processing circuit is operably coupled to receive the information regarding the at least one environmental condition and the movement from each of the microsystems. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221944 | System and Method for Risk Assessment and Presentment - The method and system enable risk assessment and presentment. The assessment includes estimation of a loss probability distribution of possible losses arising from the failure of business processes. The loss probability distributions of processes can be aggregated according to respective attribute hierarchies. The risk implications of changes within an organization can be assessed due to the linking of process change and operational risk. Control effectiveness, process value at risk, and a comparison of self-assessment against independent assessment can also be measured. The presentment includes an integrated, hierarchical process view of business operations and associated operational and compliance risks and controls, including the relationship between summary level process maps and the underlying detailed level process maps. The hierarchy contains risk and control attributes associated with any particular process. Process attributes in the hierarchy link bottom level processes to the individual business line, department, product, customer segment, or any other aspects of a business operation. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221945 | ECOSYSTEM ALLOWING COMPLIANCE WITH PRESCRIBED REQUIREMENTS OR OBJECTIVES - Systems and methods are provided for creating and maintaining an ecosystem, such as for trading securities. For example, in one system, at least one eligibility prerequisite is identified—governing whether an entity is eligible to participate in the ecosystem—and whether the entity meets the eligibility prerequisite(s) is determined. In addition, at least one ecosystem rule is identified, governing whether an entity is qualified to participate in the ecosystem. An eligible entity may execute a contract in which the entity agrees to adhere to the ecosystem rule(s), thus allowing the entity to participate in the ecosystem. The entity may then enter into at least one designated ecosystem transaction, such as buying a security. Participants in the ecosystem may include issuers of securities, investors, brokers, dealers, and research analysts. In this example, the ecosystem seeks to maximize liquidity and transparency while minimizing regulatory obligations. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221946 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING AND SUMMARIZING WEEKLY PROJECT PROGRESS - The present invention provides a method and system for evaluating and summarizing weekly project progress. The method provides a process for determining and summarizing project progress based on the weekly status of project tasks. The system provides a process operating on a computer system, which includes a computer, a common spreadsheet application, and a software program, operable in combination to graphically represent summarized project progress information based on the weekly status of project tasks. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221947 | Using commercial share of wallet to make lending decisions - Commercial size of spending wallet (“CSoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“CSoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. A modeling approach utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. Banks and lenders can use CSoW/CSoSW to determine who to lend to and who to deny credit to, as well as for pricing loans and other products in a dynamic way. Banks and lenders can also determine which customers should be retained, as well as identify loans which are likely to default. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221948 | Dynamic pricing of items based on number of items sold during a time period - A method comprises sending a first price of an item for sale from a processor to one or more clients over a network, receiving one or more orders for the item at the first price from one or more of the clients, delivering the item to the one or more clients that ordered the item at the first price, establishing a time period for monitoring the quantity of items sold at the first price, monitoring the quantity of items sold at the first price during the established time period, establishing an upper limit for the quantity of items sold at the first price, pricing the item at a second price with the processor based at least on the one or more orders at the first price, and sending the second price over the network to one or more clients. The pricing includes setting the second price above the first price if the quantity of items sold during the established time period is above the established upper limit | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221949 | System and Method for Updating Forecast Model - A method for updating a forecast model is disclosed. The forecast model includes parameters that receives collected data representing historical dependent and causal data. The collected data are in different units of measure from one another. Based on the collected data, the forecast model is applied to determine a total error value from a calculation performed on the parameters in the forecast model. To update the forecast model, additional parameters are added, existing parameters are modified, or parameters are removed from the forecast model to determine a modified total error value. The modified total error value is then compared to the original total error value. The parameters are also converted to normalized values to be in a common unit of measure to facilitate the application of the forecast model to determine a total error value. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221950 | STORAGE MEDIUM HAVING REQUIREMENT CONFIRMATION SUPPORT PROGRAM STORED THEREIN, REQUIREMENT CONFIRMATION SUPPORT METHOD, AND REQUIREMENT CONFIRMATION SUPPORT APPARATUS - A requirement confirmation support program a requirement confirmation support method, and a requirement confirmation support apparatus for supporting necessary and sufficient consensus formation between proper representatives. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221951 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POLICING SPECTRUM USAGE - Transferring spectrum use rights may include ascertaining information regarding available spectrum for use in wireless communications. A request for spectrum use from a spectrum user system may be matched with available spectrum. A spectrum certificate may be issued to the spectrum user system, where the spectrum certificate contains at least one spectrum-related variable under which the spectrum user system is to engage in wireless communications. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221952 | WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT SERVER, PROGRESS MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A workflow management server for managing task information of tasks constituting a workflow is disclosed. The disclosed workflow management server includes a circulation route information storing unit configured to store circulation route information defining a circulation route of a progress report on progress of the tasks; a task information retrieving unit configured to retrieve the task information of the tasks to be included in the progress report from a database according to a user request; a progress report generating unit configured to generate the progress report based on the task information retrieved by the task information retrieving unit and the circulation route information read from the circulation route information storing unit; and a progress report sending unit configured to send the progress report generated by the progress report generating unit to terminals according to the circulation route defined by the circulation route information. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221953 | Sentient Optimization for Continuous Supply Chain Management - A system and method is disclosed for incrementally adjusting a supply chain plan. The system includes a database operable to store data associated with one or more supply chain entities and a server system coupled with the database. The server system receives one or more perturbations in supply chain plan inputs from one or more of the supply chain entities, wherein the perturbations are received during a period of time separating a supply chain planning session from a subsequent supply chain planning session and accesses the data stored in the database associated with the one or more supply chain entities. The server system also incrementally and optimally adjusts the supply chain plan based on the one or more received perturbations and the data stored in the database and communicates the incrementally adjusted supply chain plan to the one or more supply chain entities. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221954 | RANKING-BASED METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING CUSTOMER PREDICATION MODELS - A method and system perform ranking-based evaluations for regression models that are often appropriate for marketing tasks and are more robust to outliers than traditional residual-based performance measures. The output provided by the method and system provides visualization that can offer insights about local model performance and outliers. Several models can be compared to each other to identify the “best” model and, therefore, the “best” model data for the particular marketing task. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221955 | BUSINESS METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE BEST KNOWN VALUE AND BEST KNOWN VALUE AVAILABLE FOR SECURITY AND CUSTOMER INFORMATION AS APPLIED TO REFERENCE DATA - A business method allows a reference data facility to provide high quality reference data to multiple customers. The reference data service is predicated on establishing independent contractual arrangements or subscriptions between multiple customers and multiple data vendors. The reference data facility receives value streams from the multiple data vendors and delivers reference data based on those value streams to the multiple customers, depending on the independent contractual arrangements or subscriptions that entitle the customers to receive values from some subset of the data vendors. The reference data facility insures that no customer receives data or benefits from the knowledge of data content from a vendor with whom they do not have a contractual arrangement or to whose data they are otherwise not entitled. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221956 | PROVIDING AUDIO-GUIDED DEPLOYMENT OF DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS - A method for providing audio-guided deployment of a data processing system is disclosed. An unpack instruction related to a data processing system in a first container for audio presentation is designated, and one or more position sensors in the first container are queried to determine whether the position sensors are spatially configured for audible presentation of the unpack instruction. In response to determining that the position sensors are not spatially configured for the audible presentation of the unpack instruction, a position sensor error message is audibly presented. One or more radio frequency sensors associated with the first container are queried to determine whether the first container contents are ready for audible presentation of the instruction, and in response to determining that the first container contents are not ready for audible presentation of the unpack instruction, a radio-frequency sensor error message is audibly presented. In response to determining that the first container contents are ready for audible presentation of the unpack instruction, audio-guided deployment of the data processing system is provided by audibly presenting the unpack instruction. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221957 | System for Issuing Short Life Coupons or Other Promotional Devices - An improved short life coupon system which allows a television viewer to select discount or promotional coupons while viewing a television commercial. Coupon information relating to the commercial is sent to a central station which also contains up-to-date point-of sale information. This information is analyzed by the central station so that the coupon can be specifically designed to satisfy the viewer and maximize sales. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221958 | Techniques to manage information for dynamic reports using time periods for a business model - Techniques to manage information for dynamic reports are described. An apparatus may comprise a business planning application module to update a current period reference to a time member of a time dimension, generate a rolling data entry form with actual data members and forecast data members based on the current period reference, and set a data locking mode for the actual data members and a data access mode for the forecast data members. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221959 | System and architecture for managing distributed design chains - Systems, architectures, and data structures are described which are used to manage distributed design chains, specifically for domains in which data reside in multiple applications and are linked through complex interrelationships. The design chains or design networks integrated by the invention may include multiple companies in multiple sites collaborating to design and develop a new product. The invention is intended to integrate seamlessly and transparently with existing, diverse legacy applications, which include inter-linked data relevant to the design, thereby addressing the needs identified above. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221960 | Sub-Problem Optimization of Supply Chain Planning Problems - A system and method is disclosed for optimizing supply chain planning problems associated with a supply chain network. The system includes a supply chain planner coupled with one or more supply chain entities. The supply chain planner determines a supply chain plan for managing the flow of one or more items through the supply chain network. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221961 | ONLINE COLLABORATIVE GOAL MARKETPLACE - A computer-implemented, online collaborative goal marketplace is provided. The marketplace may include a server programmed with the following modules: a goal creation module, a contribution module, and/or a solution proposal module. The goal creation module may be configured to enable participants to create and publish goals. The contribution module may be configured to receive from contributors and manage contributions of resources to help achieve the goal. The solution proposal module may be configured to receive from solution providers and manage solution proposals, to help accomplish aspects of the goal. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221962 | Method for Fair Sharing Limited Resources Between Multiple Customers - The invention disclosed comprises a method for encouraging fair sharing of limited material inventory and capacity between multiple customers when creating a production plan the invention allocates resources among competing demands in a linear programming production planning system by first classifying the demands into fair share sets, wherein all demands within each set have the same priority, calculating the cumulative demand for each resource within each set, and then allocating the resources to the demands in order of fair share set priority. If, during the allocating process, the supply of a given resource cannot satisfy a given cumulative demand of a given set, the given resource is allocated proportionally (e.g., evenly or according to usage proportions) among all demands that contribute to the given cumulative demand within the given set. This is an advanced planning system for optimizing established planning objectives (e.g., customer service, short lead times, low inventory, and prioritized allocation of supply and capacity) to compute a feasible production plan for the enterprise. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221963 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ACADEMIC TUTORING - A system and method for the management of an academic tutoring service provides a series of interfaces, each providing functionality useful to a different user category, for use in the organization and management of the academic tutoring process. Included is the ability to create schedules for students and tutors, automatic invoicing to parents and tutoring session report generation. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221964 | METHOD OF OUTSOURCING EVERYDAY TASKS - A method of outsourcing everyday tasks is provided. The method includes the steps of posting a task request with detailed information concerning the services to be performed. Service providers are able to bid on the posted tasks, wherein the service providers may include a bid amount and description of the quality of service to be performed. Thereafter the consumer selects a specific service provider to accomplish the posted task. The method further facilitates completing the monetary transaction via an electronic escrow account operated by and accessible only by a third party. Moreover, a database aggregates user information as part of a detailed feedback system to alleviate fraud or poor quality of service. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221965 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISASTER TRAINING, SIMULATION, AND RESPONSE - A system for conducting simulations of disaster and hazardous incident responses to assist in the organization, planning, and testing of the response of healthcare and other institutions to such incidents. A series of modules are used to enter personnel resource information into the system, design and create disaster and hazardous incident scenarios, assign personnel to incident command system (ICS) roles, and conduct a simulation with said personnel taking appropriate responsive actions. Personnel may interface with the system through a program creating a dashboard interface. Personnel can access an ICS organization chart, and use it to initiate messages and communications, conduct meetings, take actions, and assign subordinate positions. Personnel can view the status of the response actions in real-time. Standard and custom reports can be created and viewed. The system also can be used to respond to a real incident using the same interface and methods practiced in the simulation. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221966 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR ENABLING USER-FRIENDLY, INTERACTIVE COMMUNICATION AND MANAGEMENT OF CARTAGE TRANSACTIONS - An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for cartage management, optimized for the needs of the individual operator while scalable to handle the largest cartage operation. The system is based on a distributed computing and communications network, with an integrated user interface running on a mobile console providing a single point of control for cartage applications, and other peripheral devices including a biometric device, a navigational device, and a printer/scanner. The cartage applications are further integrated via a common database, and a mechanism whereby information produced by one cartage application may be programmatically consumed by another cartage application, thus enabling the cartage applications to operate as a cohesive whole. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221967 | Attribute-Based Ordering System - By letting the needs of customers be specified by the corresponding resource attributes instead of specific resources, more customer needs can be met and the overall costs of assigning resources to customers can be minimized | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221968 | Method and system for interacting with users of portable devices - A method and system for interacting with users of portable devices is disclosed. Embodiments are directed to a mechanism for initiating interactions with users of a portable device in response to triggers detected in monitored data, where the monitored data may pertain to at least one of a time of day, a location of the portable device, a characteristic of the portable device, a characteristic of a wireless network over which the portable device communicates, and a user-initiated event associated with at least one of the portable device and an application running on the portable device. As such, the relevance of the timing of the interaction is increased. Further, the interactions may be tailored based upon the monitored data, thereby increasing the relevance of the content of the interaction. As such, embodiments provide means for intelligently interacting with users of portable devices. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221969 | Method And System For Measuring And Ranking A "Thought" Response To Audiovisual Or Interactive Media, Products Or Activities Using Physiological Signals - A system and method for calculating an objective thought value by contrasting alpha suppression and theta activation in response to stimulus by a media can be used to compare media based on an individual or a group of individuals. Events of the media can be contrasted and compared by the thought value as well. Statistical measurements may be taken to improve media. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221970 | Method and apparatus for targeting best customers based on spend capacity - Share of Wallet (“SOW”) is a modeling approach that utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a consumers spending capability, tradeline history including balance transfers, and balance information. These outputs can be appended to data profiles of customers and prospects and can be utilized to support decisions involving prospecting, new applicant evaluation, and customer management across the lifecycle. “Best customer” models can correlate SOW outputs with various customer groups for targeted marketing. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221971 | Using commercial share of wallet to rate business prospects - Commercial size of spending wallet (“CSoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“CSoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. A modeling approach utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. Research analysts can use CSoW/CSoSW to provide a comprehensive and robust indication of the business prospects of a rated company. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221972 | Method and apparatus for determining credit characteristics of a consumer - Share of Wallet (“SOW”) is a modeling approach that utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a consumers spending capability, tradeline history including balance transfers, and balance information. These outputs can be appended to data profiles of customers and prospects and can be utilized to support decisions involving prospecting, new applicant evaluation, and customer management across the lifecycle. The outputs include the size of the consumer's spending wallet over a particular time period, the total number of the consumer's revolving cards, the consumer's revolving balance, the consumer's average pay-down percentage for revolving cards, total number of the consumer's transacting cards, the consumer's transacting balance, a number of balance transfers transacted by the consumer, the total amount of the consumer's balance transfers, the consumer's maximum revolving balance, the consumer's maximum transacting balance, the consumer's credit limit, size of the consumer's revolving spending, and the size of the consumer's transacting spending. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221973 | Using commercial share of wallet to rate investments - Commercial size of spending wallet (“CSoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“CSoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. A modeling approach utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. A mutual fund rating company can use this CSoW/CSoSW modeling approach to predict the performance of funds that invest in a particular industry or sector. In addition, since mutual funds often provide guidelines for selecting stocks, rating companies can use this modeling approach to predict the performance of companies in a fund's portfolio. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221974 | Lazy Evaluation of Bulk Forecasts - Evaluation of data models and forecasts is provided, enabling processing of large numbers of forecast scenarios in a production environment. An approach for optimizing the computation for statistical modeling and forecasting is described. This approach includes calculating a recommended number of collected data points, calculating a cap on time to elapse, deciding based on at least one of the recommended number of collected data points and the cap on time to elapse whether to generate a forecast model and generating a forecast model from the collected data points. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221975 | Campaign manager - A process identifies multiple campaign activation points associated with a voice-based menu hierarchy such that the voice-based menu hierarchy is accessed by multiple callers. The process continues by identifying a campaign associated with the voice-based menu hierarchy and determining a campaign value associated with the campaign. Additionally, the process determines an opt-in rate associated with the campaign and determines a likelihood that callers will reach each campaign activation point. A score associated with the campaign is then calculated for each campaign activation point. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221976 | Web-based financial services and products client lead generation system and method - A web-based method for customer lead generation employing a system of need-based calculators which when chosen by a consumer identify a product or service need without the consumer having to actively do so. The user-specific calculators provide the consumer with calculations to be considered for a specific product or service being considered for purchase. Data entry windows in the calculator provide the consumer input positions for data needed for the calculations and concurrently capture data for a potential vendor to employ in making a bid. The consumer thereby identifies a need for a product or service and provides data for use in providing that service that may be forwarded to vendors. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221977 | Method for Statistical Process Control for Data Entry Systems - A method for integrated or Web based statistical process control of a data capture/data entry system we call AIMED@Q SPC™ (“Automatic Integration and Management of Enterprise Data Quality—Statistical Process Control”). Test images of machine print, handprint, or cursive writing, created through Digital Test Deck® technology or other methods, are injected into current workflows and keyed by Data Entry operators. Keyer results are quickly and cost-effectively compared to a perfectly known truth file corresponding to the test images. Reporting and analysis may be performed on single events or over time, at single or multiple locations. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221978 | Microscale geospatial graphic analysis of voter characteristics for precise voter targeting - An apparatus and method are provided for selecting a portion of a group of people who live in a defined geographic area that are more likely than the average population in that geographic area to perform a particular action. The apparatus includes a database for storing data. Such data includes indicia of: a group of people who live in the defined geographic area; the geographic location of the residence of each person in the group of people; and the propensity for one or more persons in the group of people who live in a particular residence to perform the particular action. The apparatus also includes a display for showing the relative locations of the residences in the geographic area and a visually recognizable indication of the propensity for one or more persons who live in a particular residence to perform the particular action. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221979 | System and Method for Generating, Producing, and Distributing Advertising Materials - The present invention is a method for generating, producing, and distributing advertising materials. The present invention utilizes an Internet web site that allows a user to upload a testimonial and then use the testimonial in combination with pre-designed templates to generate posters, brochures, websites, and other advertising articles. The present invention utilizes an Internet web site that allows a user to upload his businesses information such as logos, address, names, and telephone numbers once and then uploads testimonials and then use the testimonials in combination with pre-designed templates to generate posters, brochures, magazines, flyers, email, websites, video and other advertising articles. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221980 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE ELECTRONIC GENERATION AND DELIVERY OF COUPONS - The present invention relates to electronic coupon generation and delivery. Within the invention UPCs are obtained for predetermined products in addition to registration information from a potential customer, the registration information being received in response to a request for registration information that is associated with the predetermined product. A request is transmitted from the potential customer to print out a hard copy of a coupon that is associated with the predetermined product, and thereafter an identifier is created for the potential customer. The potential customer's identifier is associated with the UPC of the predetermined product. In the event that a request to print out a coupon is fulfilled, the coupon image is transmitted to the potential customer's computing system, wherein the coupon image is masked from display to the potential customer, and a hard copy of the coupon image is printed out at the potential customer's printing device. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221981 | SHIELD BIASING FOR MR DEVICES - A magnetic data storage system according to one embodiment includes a head having a reader, the reader further comprising a shield, a sensor, and leads coupled to the sensor; a charge clamp circuit electrically coupling the shield to the leads; and a bias circuit for passing a bias current through the sensor via the leads; wherein the bias circuit maintains a potential of the shields at about a ground potential. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221982 | Systems and methods for advertising - Disclosed are systems and methods for selecting and placing advertisements via one or more advertising agents and/or advertising mediums. In one aspect of the present invention, the advertising agents are retail merchants who utilize a common card processing service and the advertisements are text, logos, coupons, or the like printed on the face of a card receipt. In another aspect, the rights to print such card receipt advertisements at particular retail advertising agent locations are auctioned to potential advertisers via an Internet-based auction system. Auctions may be segmented based upon criteria such as area code, zip code, industry of product to be advertised, amount of card charge for receipt upon which the advertisement shall be printed, etc. In another aspect, the Internet-based system transmits the winning advertisements to the retail merchants in the form of an advertisement data string appended to an authorization data string. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221983 | Network information distribution system and a method of advertising and search for supply and demand of products/goods/services in any geographical location - The proposed system and method embodiments allow placing advertisements and searching for items within a network (Internet, intranets, etc.), particularly encompass server advertiser and consumer programs associated with database means, provide for multi-language, multi-currency, multi-items entry, multi-location, geographical-category and catalog-category resolution, multi-parameters setting, and other types of support. The method may include combinations of a normalized category suggestion, user feedback category/listing suggestion, custom-made category creation, and regular keyword search modes for placement and search phases. The user feedback suggestion is provided by the system memorizing previous user-approved linkages between entered keyterms and respective categories or listings, and then proposing them to current users entering similar keyterms. The normalized category suggestion is generated by the system storing records preferably based on a normalized data hierarchy. The custom-made categories may be converted into relational, object-relational, or object-oriented database records. Such modes facilitate placement and search for users of different skills levels. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221984 | User-managed coupons in a geo-spatial environment - A method, apparatus, and system of user-managed coupons in a geo-spatial environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes automatically applying a location meta-data to a coupon when a user provides the coupon to a geo-spatial environment based on a geographic marker of the user, storing the coupon in a library of coupons, searching the library of coupons based on the location meta-data based on a user request and flagging certain coupons in the library of coupons as being expired based on a user response. The method may further include providing an incentive to the user who provides the coupon to the geo-spatial environment in exchange of providing the coupon and/or in exchange of sharing a content meta-data that tags and identifies a source, duration, a value, and/or a description of the coupon. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221985 | Video advertiser-broker subsidizing VoIP calls - A system and method for an on-line web-based advertiser-broker to subsidize calls of a plurality of VOIP operators' subscribers by showing them video advertisements from a catalogue of advertisements provided by a plurality of advertisers. The advertisement is shown by the advertiser-broker and then the call is transferred to the VoIP operator for call completion. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221986 | Consumer-choice, incentive based, alternative payment method and advertising system - Disclosed is a consumer-choice, incentive based, alternative payment method and advertising system. The system and method provides a highly efficient and effective means for advertisers to deliver video or other advertisements to a demographically and psychographically desirable audience. The system and method enables users to convert their time spent viewing and/or listening to user-selected advertisements at their convenience into payment rewards (e.g., credits) that may be exchanged for goods and services. Users may exchange these rewards for predetermined or not yet identified goods or services. Furthermore, the system and method tracks, logs, and reports user usage and related statistics. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221987 | System and method for contextual advertisement and merchandizing based on an automatically generated user demographic profile - A computer-implemented system and method for keyword extraction and contextual advertisement generation based on user demographic profile are disclosed. The system in an example embodiment includes a category extraction service to associate product or service category information in an item group related to a host site, and a user demographic profile generator to obtain user interaction information related to a host site, to generate a user demographic profile for each item group, and to identify at least one other item group to which a particular user demographic profile relates. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221988 | Wireless Network - An 802.11 wireless network is disclosed which operates as an asymmetric two-hop cellular network. Relaying from one wireless node ( | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221989 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING SPONSORED CONTENT ON AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A method and system for providing sponsored content on an electronic device are provided. One implementation involves, in the electronic device, providing sponsored content to a user of the device based on information locally available to the device, and generating an indication of said providing sponsored content for enabling distribution of at least a portion of compensation from a sponsor of the sponsored content to a manufacturer of the device for said providing sponsored content. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221990 | Estimating the spend capacity of consumer households - The spend capacity of a consumer typically increases as the number of consumers in the household increases, since the consumer can draw on the spending power of other consumers in the household. The size of wallet of the household is thus a better indicator of the consumer's spend capacity than an individual size of wallet. All consumers in a given household can be aggregated based on, for example, their address of record. Duplicate tradelines within each household are removed from consideration in a size of wallet estimate. A spend capacity is then estimated for each tradeline using calculations derived from a consumer behavior model. The spend capacities for all tradelines in the household are combined to determine a household size of wallet. Each consumer in the household is then tagged with the household size of wallet, rather than their individual size of wallet. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221991 | Method of Staging Product - A method for staging product includes the steps of placing a storage structure at a site of a product retailer, providing storage use rights to a product vendor and marketing advertising space on the storage structure. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221992 | Business to Business Marketing System - A method and apparatus are provided for marketing products. The method includes the steps of a first vendor contracting with a second vendor under a contract whereby the first vendor pays a commission to the second vendor in exchange for referrals of customers by the second vendor to the first vendor where the first vendor sells products that are complementary to products sold by the second vendor, the first vendor selling a product to a customer of the second vendor, a tracking program calculating a commission payable on the product and the first vendor paying the commission to the first vendor in accordance with the contract. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221993 | CAROUSEL ADVERTISING SYSTEM - Advertising system that adheres printed indicia to surfaces are described. The advertising system can contain a substrate containing the printed indicia layer and an adhesive layer. A protective layer, formed of a substantially clear or transparent material, can be used protect an exterior surface of the substrate. The printed indicia may be coated, screen printed, transfer laminated, etc., to the underlying surface to which the advertising system is attached, as can the protective layer and the adhesive layer when present. The advertising system can be used on non-durable surfaces, as well as surfaces which are exposed to extreme conditions and/or continuous wear have. The advertising system can also be used with moving and non-moving, vertical and horizontal surfaces. The advertising systems also allow application and removal of advertisements quickly and effectively without removing, mechanically altering, or damaging the surfaces to which they are applied. Other embodiments are described. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221994 | MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING SYSTEM - A multi-level marketing system includes a holding company and a multi-level marketing company operated by the holding company, wherein the multi-level marketing company provides a product and/or service. A distributor buys the product and/or service from the multi-level marketing company, and one or more individuals purchase the product and/or service from one of the distributors. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221995 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASSOCIATING RICH CONTENT WITH A RICH MEDIA CONTENT - A method and system for associating one or more rich contents with a rich media content. According to the method a user plays a rich media content which includes an embedded calling script. Upon playing of the rich media content, the calling script is executed. Thereafter, one or more rich contents are associated with the rich media content based on the execution of the calling script. After associating of one or more rich contents, the one or more rich contents are played along with the rich media content. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221996 | Non-intrusive advertising using a mobile terminal - Methods and apparatus useful for non-intrusive advertising on a mobile wireless communications terminal are disclosed. A method may include storing, according to a timed schedule, a plurality of files containing data representative of a plurality of advertising images in a memory of the mobile wireless communications terminal; and selecting, upon occurrence of a predefined event, one of the plurality of files for display as wallpaper on a display screen of the mobile wireless communications terminal. A method may include waiting for an occurrence of a event; determining, upon the occurrence of the event, if a contraindicated condition is present in the mobile wireless communications terminal, and if the contraindicated condition is not present: performing a first set of actions, but if the contraindicated condition is present: waiting for another occurrence of the predefined event. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221997 | Method for the delivery and redemption of merchant coupon codes - Disclosed is a process by which merchants are able to provide discount offers, such as coupons, incentives, or tokens to consumers. Discount offers are arranged on a web site (or delivered other wise by RF) by category and users are able to pick and choose the offers in which in which they are interested for storage in a personal coupon folder. Merchants are able to bid for placement within each category and are also able to slot their offers in specific users' personal folders. Discount offers are wirelessly delivered from the users' personal folders to a wireless receiving device, where they can be transferred to a display device for direct scanning at the point-of-sale. The display device according to this invention has the capability to communicate directly with the receiving device and to display the coupon UPCs via a scannable media. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221998 | PARTICIPANT INTERACTION WITH ENTERTAINMENT IN REAL AND VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS - A system of interaction between an electronic theme park experience and live theme park interaction and activity earns rewards. The interaction permits for rewards earned in the electronic theme park experience to be redeemed in the live theme park experience and vice versa. The electronic theme park and live activity are interactive in real or delayed time through an Internet connection. Activities on one or both of the live and electronic formats are designed to drive increased player visiting of the live and/or electronic versions. The Virtual Magic Kingdom in some embodiments includes a virtual version of one or more of theme parks such as the “Magic Kingdom” portion of Disney, Inc.'s theme parks. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080221999 | System for Issuing Short Life Coupons or Other Promotional Devices - An improved short life coupon system which allows a television viewer to select discount or promotional coupons while viewing a television commercial. Coupon information relating to the commercial is sent to a central station which also contains up-to-date point-of-sale information. This information is analyzed by the central station so that the coupon can be specifically designed to satisfy the viewer and maximize sales. | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080222000 | Systems and Media for Awarding Credits Based on Provided Usage Information - Systems and media for awarding credits based on provided usage information are disclosed. More particularly, hardware and/or software for collecting and disseminating usage information related to electronic documents and for awarding usage credits to users in exchange for providing usage information are disclosed. Embodiments include receiving an indication of the usage of an electronic document by a user and aggregating the received usage indication for the document with usage indications relating to other users. Embodiments may also include creating document utilization information for the electronic document based on the aggregated usage indications and awarding usage credit to the user based on the user's providing statistics on the usage of the electronic document. Further embodiments may include transmitting an indication of the awarded usage credit to the user and receiving a request to use the usage credits, | 2008-09-11 |
| 20080222001 | Purchasing transaction support system - A portable communication terminal requests merchandise information from a store management apparatus, by using store identity information about a store where a purchasing transaction is made, and merchandise information about merchandise to be purchased. The store management apparatus has a merchandise information storage configured to store merchandise information including a price of merchandise to be sold in each store. The store management apparatus receives a merchandise information request from a portable communication terminal, retrieves a merchandise information storage, detects merchandise information matching a retrieval condition, and sends the merchandise information to the request source, i.e., the portable communication terminal. The portable communication terminal displays merchandise information sent from the store management apparatus in a display. | 2008-09-11 |
