49th week of 2008 patent applcation highlights part 59 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20080301019 | PREPAID CARD FRAUD AND RISK MANAGEMENT - A method of monitoring fraud associated with prepaid devices includes configuring fraud platform parameters which comprise one or more limits defined by one or more values, each limit associated with a particular platform parameter, one or more thresholds defined by one or more values, each threshold associated with a particular platform parameter, and one or more rules that define restrictions for certain prepaid device activities. The method further includes applying the fraud platform parameters to prepaid device production data and determining whether to issue the prepaid device depending on whether any parameters were triggered by the production data. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301020 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BUSINESS CARD FUNCTIONING AS A PREPAID DEBIT CARD OR GIFT CARD - A novel approach enables a customized smart business card that combines key features of a business card and a debit/gift card. The card not only carries information about a provider (a person and/or a business corporation who provides the card as a gift to the receiver), the card also functions as a prepaid/gift card, enabling the recipient of the card to purchase a product or service using the money/credit provided. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301021 | Systems and methods for NACHA compliant ACH transfers using an automated voice response system - Embodiments of the invention described a method for processing an ACH transfer in compliance with NACHA regulations. The method comprises receiving a request, through a phone call from a customer, to initiate an ACH transfer, the request including at least an account identifier and a payment amount. The method confirms the ACH transfer using speech recognition software and an interactive voice response unit, wherein the customer's identity, the date of transfer, the account identifier, the payment amount, a contact phone number, and the date of the confirmation, are confirmed by the customer using a verbal response recognized by the speech recognition software. This method also includes, recording, using a recording server, the verbal response of the customer in a sound file, tagging the sound file with at least the field of an account identifier, and storing the sound file for at least two years in a data repository. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301022 | Real-Time Core Integration Method and System - Embodiments include a system, or platform, and method allowing financial institutions (FIs) to have access to an account opening platform that is capable of completing every aspect of the account opening approval process for the FI, and that is also capable of interfacing with their respective core systems (regardless of type or protocol) for receiving account opening requests from customers. Account opening requests may encounter permanent or temporary errors. When temporary errors are encountered, the account opening request is placed in a queue and automatically retried until the error is resolved. The account opening platform performs real-time integration with a variety of core systems such that approved new accounts are immediately “boarded” to the FI's core. In an embodiment, the platform is a plug-and-play” architecture such that adding the ability to communicate with new or different cores requires minimal effort. For example, no recoding of basic FMS software is required, but only coding of a plug-in module for a specific FI. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301023 | Multi-Channel and Cross-Channel Account Opening - Embodiments as described herein include methods and a system for multi-channel and cross-channel account opening. An applicant may start an account opening process in one channel and move to one or more other channels without any application data being lost. A financial management system (FMS) provides a single account opening platform for multiple financial institutions (FIs) such that an application to open an account is handled by the FMS platform using shared resources among channels, and applying rules specified by each FI. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301024 | INTELLEGENT BUYER'S AGENT USAGE FOR ALLOCATION OF SERVICE LEVEL CHARACTERISTICS - A system, method, program product and service for managing bidding in a resource management framework. A buyer's agent is provided to manage the bidding process for resources for a client. The buyer's agent includes the ability to submit a bid to a resource broker to acquire a set of resources for the client based on service level requirements of the client. Once the set of resources is obtained, they are monitored to ensure the required service level of the client is being met. If the service level requirements are not met, the buyer's agent automatically resubmits a bid to the resource broker. Finally, collaboration among a plurality of buyer's agents may be utilized to avoid bidding wars and the like. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301025 | APPLICATION OF BROKERING METHODS TO AVAILABILITY CHARACTERISTICS - This application describes an application of resource unit brokering algorithms, chip management methods for automated brokering, chip management methods for live brokering, and chip allocation methods to the brokering of availability characteristics of service level management within an enterprise. Typically, the availability characteristics are derived from known capacity values that are provided by configuration managers. Calculations are made on the capacity values and maximum quantities of the availability resource units are provided to resource brokers for spot or periodic sale and auction to one or more buyer's agents. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301026 | FLUID, DEPLETING CHIPS FOR OBTAINING DESIRED SERVICE LEVEL CHARACTERISTICS - The present invention provides fluid, depleting chips for allocating computational resources for obtaining desired service level characteristics, wherein fluid chips deplete from a maximum allocated amount but may, in an optional implementation, be allowed to be replenished through the purchase of additional chips. A number of chips are assigned to the requestor/party, known as the business unit (BU), which could be a department, or group providing like-functionality services. In one implementation, the chips themselves could represent base monetary units integrated over time. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301027 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR SELECTING A BROKERING METHOD FOR OBTAINING DESIRED SERVICE LEVEL CHARACTERISTICS - Under the present invention, a set (e.g., one or more) of requests (e.g., from a single bidder or multiple bidders) for an elemental bidding resource (EBR) is received. Market conditions for the EBR are evaluated from historical data. It is then determined whether a demand for the desired EBR exceeds a supply of the EBR. Based on the market conditions, the supply, and the demand, a brokering strategy (e.g., auction versus non-auction) and associated method are selected to allocate the EBR. A resource unit broker (RUB) will then determine an outcome of the brokering method to fulfill at least one of the set of requests. The outcome and associated metrics can then be logged, it can be determined whether a sales contract was created, the EBR can be allocated, and reports/data can be updated accordingly. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301028 | APPLICATION OF BROKERING METHODS TO PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS - This application describes an application of resource unit brokering algorithms, chip management methods for automated brokering, chip management methods for live brokering, and chip allocation methods to the brokering of performance characteristics of service level management within an enterprise. Typically, the performance characteristics are derived from known capacity values that are provided by configuration managers. Calculations are made on the capacity values and maximum quantities of the availability resource units are provided to resource brokers for spot or periodic sale and auction to one or more buyer's agents. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301029 | APPLICATION OF BROKERING METHODS TO RECOVERABILITY CHARACTERISTICS - This application describes an application of resource unit brokering algorithms, chip management methods for automated brokering, chip management methods for live brokering, and chip allocation methods to the brokering of recoverability characteristics of service level management within an enterprise. Typically, the recoverability characteristics are derived from known capacity values that are provided by configuration managers. Calculations are made on the capacity values and maximum quantities of the availability resource units are provided to resource brokers for spot or periodic sale and auction to one or more buyer's agents. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301030 | APPLICATION OF BROKERING METHODS TO SCALABILITY CHARACTERISTICS - This application describes an application of resource unit brokering algorithms, chip management methods for automated brokering, chip management methods for live brokering, and chip allocation methods to the brokering of scalability characteristics of service level management within an enterprise. Typically, the scalability characteristics are derived from known capacity values that are provided by configuration managers. Calculations are made on the capacity values and maximum quantities of the availability resource units are provided to resource brokers for spot or periodic sale and auction to one or more buyer's agents. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301031 | SCALING OFFERS FOR ELEMENTAL BIDDABLE RESOURCES (EBRs) - This invention describes the use of a Chip Conversion Factor (CCF) to scale offers for EBRs. The CCFs are a multiplier that will be applied to offers received for the EBRs. In general, the CCF can be computed based on any number of factors such as the cost of the EBRs, the worth of an EBR to a potential buyer (e.g., at a particular time), a customer status (e.g., preferred customer) of a potential buyer, etc. The invention helps to take into account any differences between EBRs that meet a potential buyer's requirements but that may affect the value of the EBRs relative to one another. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301032 | DERIVATIVES OF ENVIRONMENTALLY RELEVANT ITEMS - The present invention provides methods and systems for facilitating exchange of rights associated with environmentally relevant items. The methods and systems may include identifying a first environmentally relevant item associated with a first environmentally relevant action, identifying a second environmentally relevant item associated with a second environmentally relevant action, identifying at least one disparity between the benefit of the first environmentally relevant item and the benefit of the second environmentally relevant item and creating an instrument whereby a transaction may be undertaken based on the nature of the at least one disparity. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301033 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTIMIZING LONG TERM REVENUES IN ONLINE AUCTIONS - A method and apparatus for optimizing long-term revenues in online auctions of distinguishable units of an item. For example, the item might be a specific keyword in sponsored search where the distinguishable units could be different slots for putting ads. The system can estimate parameters such as relevance and value by using a notion of fairness and can optimize the revenue by effecting the users' incentives and by improving the bidding language. In general, the method and the system can also be used for equivalent offline auctions. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301034 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED COMMODITIES TRANSACTIONS INCLUDING AN AUTOMATIC HEDGING FUNCTION - An integrated virtual market is provided that facilitates communication between the producers of a given commodity and the parties wishing to purchase such commodities. This system provides real-time updated information about local pricing being offered by those purchasers. In addition, those producers can post offers that can automatically be accepted by purchasers and have contracts automatically generated. An important consideration from a purchaser's prospective is minimizing the risk associated with making such transactions. Due to this, futures contracts are often obtained. The virtual market system of the present inventions automatically requests and obtains futures contracts to hedge the contracts being generated. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301035 | System and method for managing and administering a lifetime income share plan - The present invention provides a system and method for administering an investment option known as a lifetime income share. Lifetime income shares mitigate survival risk, the risk that an individual will outlive his or her assets. More specifically, the purchase of a plurality of lifetime income shares certifies that an individual is entitled to receive a predetermined, periodic income payment for the life of the purchaser. Additionally, the lifetime income shares of the present invention may be purchased and distributed to participants by a third party (e.g. commingled fund). The third party wishing to provide the lifetime income shares of the present invention to participants may purchase a predetermined amount of shares of an annuity from the underwriting organization and distribute it to the participants. This plan has an investment phase, a distribution phase, and a payout phase. Once the payout phase begins, the stream of monthly income commences at a specified age or date. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301036 | HIDDEN BOOK TRADING SYSTEM AND METHOD - Presented is a system and method for performing crossing of institutional security orders. The system includes a first server interconnected to a second server and client stations across a communication network. The first server includes a database and is configured to receive institutional orders from the client station, which are stored in the database. The first server includes operating instructions operable to determine whether a match exists between contra institutional orders based on predetermined criteria. Upon determination of a match, the first server forwards a child order composed of at least a portion of one of the contra orders to the second server. At a fraction of a second later, the first server forwards the other of the contra orders to the second server followed by the remaining portion of the contra order. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301037 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATIC MIGRATION OF A CONSUMER BETWEEN FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS - Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for automatically migrating a consumer from one prepaid financial account to another prepaid financial account based on preset trigger criteria. A prepaid payment device, such as a payroll card, may be issued to the consumer and associated with a prepaid financial account. The prepaid financial account may include a profile for the consumer. The issuer of the prepaid payment device may monitor the account activity and set trigger criteria that control when the consumer is automatically migrated from the current prepaid financial account and which type of new account the consumer is migrated into. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301038 | System and Method for Sharing and Allocating Financial Risk Associated with a Loan - An application for a loan comprising information about a buyer is received. An amount of funds to be contributed to the holdback pool by the seller based on the information about the buyer is determined. Approval of the amount of funds is received from the seller. The application for the loan is approved responsive to the approval from the seller. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301039 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FAIR-SHARING IN BANDWIDTH SHARING AD-HOC NETWORKS - Systems and methods for fair-sharing in bandwidth sharing ad-hoc networks. A method includes maintaining a borrower account and lender account of a borrower and a lender of an ad hoc network. The method also includes adjusting at least one of the borrower account and the lender account based upon data transfer by the lender for the borrower. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301040 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EVALUATING FINANCIAL TRANSACTION RISK - Methods and systems are provided for evaluating the risk of conducting financial transaction such as money transfers through representatives. In one embodiment, information generated by a money transfer system regarding a plurality of financial transactions conducted by one or more representatives are received, records of the information are stored in a transaction database, a risk processor is configured to access the transaction database and retrieve risk element data related to transactions conducted by the representative and an analysis of the risk element data is performed using the risk processor. The risk processor may be configured to process the risk element data into one or more risk element values and to calculate a Transaction Risk Index for the representative by comparing one or more of the risk element values to an appropriate risk proxy. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301041 | Method and system for processing financial transactions using multiple financial accounts - Associating multiple existing financial accounts with a multi-card account. The single multi-card account may allow a cardholder to determine an order for processing a financial transaction among the multiple financial accounts. This ordering may be dependent on the type of financial transaction. Also, the cardholder may allows partial payments from multiple financial accounts, such that a single purchase could be allocated to multiple accounts associated with the multi-card account. These systems and methods minimize the number of cards a cardholder must carry, thus minimizing the chance of losing cards or otherwise having an unauthorized use of an account and also minimizing the chance of an embarrassing rejection of a transaction. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301042 | System and method for categorizing credit card transaction data - A system and method employs a categorized list of business names to identify a category corresponding to transaction information, such as credit card transaction data. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301043 | System and methods for managing debit card account settings - A method includes receiving, from a remotely located computer, information identifying a durational spending limit corresponding to a debit card used by a bank customer, and causing an authorization request to be declined responsive to the durational spending limit and to an amount spent via the debit card during a time period corresponding to the durational spending limit. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301044 | Gift card reimbursement system and method - A method for purchasing goods and services in transactions utilizing a valued card includes issuing to a card owner from an issuing institution a valued card pursuant to an agreement between the card owner and the issuing institution. The valued card has a purchase value. The valued card is transferred to a recipient having authority to purchase goods and services utilizing at least a portion of the purchase value. The card owner is reimbursed a percentage of a remaining balance of the purchase value at an expiration date pursuant to the agreement. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301045 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A COMPANY AND A RECRUITING FIRM - A system to facilitate engagement and communication between a company with an available position and at least one recruiter includes a server coupled to a computer network, a user interface for co-workers at the company coupled to the server over the computer network and a plurality of co-workers post information to the server about an available position of the company, including a bounty, receive information from the server about candidates for the available position of the company, and select a candidate on the server for the available position, and a user interface for recruiters coupled to the server over the computer network and a plurality of recruiters receive information from the server about an available position of the company and submit information to the server about a candidate for the position of the company. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301046 | Methods and systems for making a payment and/or a donation via a network, such as the Internet, using a drag and drop user interface - The invention provides methods and systems that facilitate and expedite electronic transactions between a computer readable medium user (“Payor”), and a merchant or payee (“Payee”), including payment through the Internet. The invention allows the Payor to make a payment to a Payee of an exact desired amount using a drag and drop graphical user interface control, dragging from a graphical element displayed on the Payor terminal and dropping into a Payee's visual display on a website. The invention reduces the complexity and the time of the payment transaction, improving the user overall experience. The invention can be implemented for online commerce, for mobile payments, for small amount online payments, for online donations, or for payments using prepaid accounts. The invention can be implemented by an accounts issuer institution or by a funds and transactions managing entity. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301047 | ATM System For Receiving Cash Deposits From Non-Networked Clients - A systems and methods for depositing foreign funds into a native account using a foreign transaction machine are disclosed according to one embodiment of the invention. A foreign transaction machine, such as an ATM, receives and financial account number associated with a financial account and determines the native currency associated with the financial account. The foreign ATM may then receive cash in a foreign currency. AN exchange rate is received from within the ATM or through a network connected to the ATM. The foreign funds are then converted according to the exchange rate into native funds. The native funds are then deposited into the financial account. In other embodiments, the transaction machine provides transaction cards with native funds in response to receiving foreign currency. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301048 | PORTABILITY OF FINANCIAL TOKENS - A method determines that a first relationship between a holder of a portable consumer device and a first employer is terminated. In response to determining that the first relationship is terminated, the method also disassociates account information of the portable consumer device from the first employer while retaining an association between the portable consumer device and an issuer of the portable consumer device. In addition, the method establishes a second relationship between the employee and a second employer and links the account information of the portable consumer device with the second employer. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301049 | Transaction Management System - The transaction management system | 2008-12-04 |
20080301050 | REAL TIME ACCOUNT UPDATE - A method is used in a system that includes a financial service provider coordinating accounts issued by an issuer to cardholders requesting credit from merchants. Each merchant has an acquirer with whom the financial service provider also coordinates the accounts. The method can be performed by a merchant sending a transmission to its acquirer including a request for a transaction against one account to which the merchant receives a denial or prior to receiving such a denial. The merchant then requests information from the financial service provider who responds by sending the requested information, upon which the merchant determines whether to extend the credit. When the method is performed by a financial service provider, in response to the denial received by one merchant or prior to such denial, the financial service provider receives a transmission from the merchant including a request for information about the account. In response, the financial service provider sends the merchant the requested information. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301051 | Internet fraud prevention - A method of detecting malware on a computer and comprising scanning a system memory of the computer, and/or code being injected into the system memory, for known strings indicative of banking trojans. These strings may be Universal Resource Locators and/or partial Universal Resource Locators. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301052 | AUTHORIZING CUSTOMER PREMISE EQUIPMENT ON A SUB-NETWORK - Systems and methods for authorizing a customer premise equipment (CPE) device to join a network through a network termination unit (NTU). The CPE device can send an encrypted connection request, and an authorization server can decrypt the connection request and provide a network membership key (NMK) associated with the CPE device to the NTU. The authorization server can encrypt the NMK associated with the CPE device using a device access key (DAK) associated with the NTU. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301053 | SERVICE BROKER - A method, associated with a platform that includes a number of distributed proxies and a hub, includes receiving, at a first proxy, a communication from a first entity intended for a second entity and forwarding control information to the hub. The method may also include identifying parameters associated with communications between the first and second entities and forwarding the parameters to the first proxy. The method may further include processing, by the first proxy, the communication in accordance with the parameters, forwarding, by the proxy, the processed communication to a second proxy, and forwarding, by the second proxy, the processed communication to the second entity. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301054 | Station For Sale of Digital Media - A system for selling digital media, comprising: a content server for providing a master source of digital content to the system; a retail server for maintaining a local cache of popular content, and for packaging content; a license server for maintaining licenses for each piece of digital content wherein the license server issues new licenses to the retail server at the time of sale and issues subsequent licenses to a consumer for extending content usage; a plug-in for accessing digital content in a single click; and a media tablet for providing a consumer interface for exploring the digital content of the system, the media tablet comprising an interface for connection by a portable device for content transfer; means for accepting payment; and means for interacting with the retail server. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301055 | UNIFIED PLATFORM FOR REPUTATION AND SECURE TRANSACTIONS - The claimed subject matter provides a unified platform system and/or a method that facilitates optimizing an online transaction. The unified platform system can include a secured transaction component that can secure a portion of transactional data related to an online transaction between at least one buyer and at least one merchant utilizing a secure transaction technique. The unified platform system can include a reputation assessment component that can receive a portion of reputation data related to at least one of the buyer or the merchant based at least in part upon verifying completion of the online transaction between such buyer and merchant. The unified platform system can publish the portion of reputation data coupled with a portion of non-private transactional data to provide context for the reputation data. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301056 | ONLINE PAYER AUTHENTICATION SERVICE - A payment authentication service authenticates the identity of a payer during online transactions. The authentication service of the present invention allows a card issuer to verify a cardholder's identity using a variety of authentication methods, such as the use of passwords. Also, the only system participant requiring a certificate is the issuing financial institution. One embodiment of the invention for authenticating the identity of a cardholder during an online transaction involves querying an access control server to determine if a cardholder is enrolled in the payment authentication service, requests a password from the cardholder, verifies the password, and notifies a merchant whether the cardholder's authenticity has been verified. In another aspect of the invention, a chip card and the authentication service independently generate cryptograms that must match in order for the service to verify that the correct chip card is being used by the cardholder. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301057 | Online Commercial Transaction System and Method of Operation Thereof - A system for conducting commercial transactions comprises an application server that hosts a software application that can be accessed by users to conduct commercial transactions thereon, an application user database of authorised users capable of accessing the application server, each authorised user in the application user database being uniquely identifiable by means of corresponding login name and password, and a proxy server communicable with the application server and accessible by a plurality of registered users from respective mobile phones The proxy server provides each one of the plurality of registered users with access to the application server from that user's respective mobile phone. A proxy database is associated with the proxy server, the proxy database containing details of authorised users in the application user database who are also registered to access the application server through the proxy server from their respective mobile phones. Each registered user in the proxy database is uniquely identifiable by means of a corresponding user identification code, the proxy database also providing, for each registered user, a mapping of that user's user identification code and the user's corresponding user information contained in the application user database. The proxy database stores each registered user's corresponding user information in encrypted format, and the system includes a encryption engine capable of encrypting any data passed between the proxy server and the mobile phone of each registered user. The proxy database also stores an active encryption key for each registered user, the active encryption key being used by the encryption engine to encrypt and decrypt data passed between the proxy server and the user's mobile access terminal. The encryption engine is dynamic, using a different encryption key during each session in which the user accesses the application server from his respective mobile phone, the encryption engine generating, during each session, a further encryption key for the user and transferring the further encryption key to the user's mobile phone for storage therein. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301058 | Method and system for negotiating digital media licenses and distributing digital media - A method for uploading digital media and negotiating licenses, includes receiving, from a licensor, media and associated data and storing the received media and associated data in a database, generating a contract based on input from the licensor, for licensing the media to a licensee, storing the generated contract in the database of the system, and allowing the licensor and the licensee to negotiate the generated contract utilizing the system by using client applications to communicate with the system. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301059 | MLP Financing System - The MLP Financing System extends the properties of shares in an publicly traded entity that does not generate UBITs to create a new asset class that permits the underlying assets to be specifically structured for financing. MLP Financing System requires a minimum of three markets entering into transactions involving a company, a publicly traded entity, and a third entity in the financial industry. Each market establishes an asset value, price, yield, and risk. Asset price differentials between markets identify arbitrage opportunities. The market asset value, price, yield, risk, and financial constraints of entities operating in those markets provide the initial transaction specifications between company-MLP, financier-MLP, and company-financier. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301060 | METHOD FOR VALUATION AND SALE OF PRIVATE EQUITY TO ACCREDITED INVESTORS BY MEANS OF A RANKED, ALGORITHMIC, DUE DILIGENCE PROCESS - A computer implemented method to provide a valuation estimate and secondary market exchange for private equity securities is disclosed. The valuation of the security is accomplished through a performance ranking in which time dependent values of multiple quantitative and weighted qualitative factors are calculated to provide a automated surrogate method for a traditional due diligence valuation. This method greatly facilitates the valuation analysis and liquidity of the private equity. The market participants are limited to US Securities and Exchange Commission defined accredited investors. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301061 | Method and System for Monitoring Market Data to Identify User Defined Market Conditions - A method and system for monitoring market data. The method includes collecting real time data that is related to conditions of a trading market. Collection occurs at an edge server associated with a liquidity destination trading at least one financial article of trade. In addition, the real time data that is collected is also normalized into a standard form. A user defined criteria is received from a centralized hub. The user defined criteria defines a particular event in the condition. It is then determined when a condition in the trading market matches the event. A response is generated providing notification of the occurrence of the event. The response is sent to the centralized hub for distribution to a user associated with the user defined criteria. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301062 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EFFICIENTLY USING COLLATERAL FOR RISK OFFSET - A system and method for analyzing correlation between the assets given by the trader for collateral and that trader's open positions is disclosed. Thus, if the collateral is correlated to the trader's open positions, then some offset can be given. If there is no correlation than the collateral is valued in the conventional way. For example, if a trader provides t-bills as collateral for an account that has open positions (e.g. short futures) in T-bills, than that trader's account can be credited with some offset since the value of T-bills and T-bill futures are highly correlated. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301063 | System and Method for Managing Trading Using Alert Messages for Outlying Trading Orders - According to one embodiment, a method of managing trading is provided. In a market for a particular type of instrument, buy orders and sell orders are received from a plurality of traders. Each buy order has an associated bid price and each sell order has an associated offer price. A determination is made of whether the particular trading order is an outlying trading order by determining whether the particular trading order differs from at least one comparison price by more than a threshold value. If it is determined that the particular trading is an outlying trading order, a restrictive action is taken regarding the outlying trading order. For example, if a trader subsequently submits another trading order that would trade with the outlying trading order, an alert message may be sent to the trader and the subsequent trading order may be prevented from trading with the outlying trading order at least temporarily. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301064 | System and Method for Determining a Real Estate Property Valuation - Methods and systems for establishing a contemporaneous Real Estate property valuations are disclosed. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, this is based upon first identifying a set of relevant value indicators, or Fields, and then producing a comprehensive Multiple Regression Analysis which statistically measures the relative value of Real Estate properties included in the Set. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301065 | DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY DETERMINING A CATEGORY OF MAIL TO WHICH A MAILPIECE DELIVERED TO A FRANKING SYSTEM BELONGS - A device for determining the category of mail of a mailpiece, which device comprises: an stand designed to receive said mailpiece; at least one gauge fastened to said stand and provided with a slot of predetermined length and of predetermined height, which length and which height are suitable for defining a determined maximum width and a determined maximum thickness for the mailpiece; means for automatically estimating a length of the mailpiece depending on its position on the stand, and relative to the gauge; and means for acting, on the basis of that single estimate of the length of the mailpiece, to deliver, to a franking machine, information about the category of mail to which said mailpiece belongs. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301066 | ERROR PROPAGATION IN CALCULATION WITH CONDITIONAL ALTERNATIVES - The result of a first calculation may be determined by one of two alternative calculations. Each of the alternative calculations has an error associated therewith (due to factors such as measurement imprecision, rounding, etc.), and these errors propagate to the first calculation. However, there may also be error in the first calculation due to uncertainty about which of the alternative calculations applies. Such error can be taken into account based on the respective probabilities that the first and second calculations will apply, as well as the difference in the results produced by the two calculations. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301067 | REALITY GAME SHOW - A program is provided in which individuals submit business proposals in efforts to receive funding or other support to be used to implement the proposals. The program may be provided distributed for television, internet, cellular telephones or other media. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301068 | Process for logistics management - A system and method are provided for servicing back orders and replenishing stock in order to provide high service level while preventing overstocking of material. Goods are produced at a first location and a certain number of the goods is required at a second location at a certain time. A number of goods may be required in general, but a smaller number of goods may be urgently needed. The entire delivery may be split between different modes of transport according to a low priority category and a high priority category. The system and method may include a tool to effectively manage when to split replenishment material transfers from the first location to at least one second location into first and second modes of transport. The system and method also may allow transfer orders to cover back order needs at a second location regardless of inventory available at a first location. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301069 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LEARNING BALANCED RELEVANCE FUNCTIONS FROM EXPERT AND USER JUDGMENTS - The present invention relates to systems and methods for determining a content item relevance function. The method comprises collecting user preference data at a search provider for storage in a user preference data store and collecting expert-judgment data at the search provider for storage in an expert sample data store. A modeling module trains a base model through the use of the expert-judgment data and tunes the base model through the use of the user preference data to learn a set of one or more tuned models. A measure (B measure) is designed to evaluate the balanced performance of tuned model over expert judgment and user preference. The modeling module generates or selects the content item relevance function from the tuned models with B measure as the selection criterion. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301070 | KERNELS AND METHODS FOR SELECTING KERNELS FOR USE IN LEARNING MACHINES - Learning machines, such as support vector machines, are used to analyze datasets to recognize patterns within the dataset using kernels that are selected according to the nature of the data to be analyzed. Where the datasets possesses structural characteristics, locational kernels can be utilized to provide measures of similarity among data points within the dataset. The locational kernels are then combined to generate a decision function, or kernel, that can be used to analyze the dataset. Where an invariance transformation or noise is present, tangent vectors are defined to identify relationships between the invariance or noise and the data points. A covariance matrix is formed using the tangent vectors, then used in generation of the kernel. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301071 | Support Vector Inductive Logic Programming - A computer implemented method of particular, although not exclusive application to analysing a plurality of molecules which comprises computing a kernel function for each pair of the plurality of molecules, the kernel function being representative of the number of features present in both molecules of the pairs and using the kernel function in a kernel based learning algorithm to model the relationship between the features and a property of the molecules. The method is also applicable to predicting a numerical value representing a characteristic of a molecule and, more generally, modelling instances of data in a database. A particular, although again not exclusive application, is the prediction of toxicity of a molecule. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301072 | ROBOT SIMULATION APPARATUS - A robot simulation apparatus including: a display section which displays models of at least a conveyance apparatus, an object, and a robot respectively laid out at predetermined positions; a movement condition designating section which designates a direction and a speed of movement of the object; a imaging condition designating section which designates a relative position of the camera with respect to the object and imaging condition in order to obtain a still image of the object located within an imaging area; a teaching model storage section which stores a teaching model of the object to be compared with the still image obtained with the camera; a grasping position calculating section which calculates a grasping position of the object to be grasped by the robot based on a position and an attitude of the object obtained by comparing the still image with the teaching model, and on the direction and the speed of movement of the object; and a teaching position setting section which sets a teaching position for said robot based on the grasping position. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301073 | METHOD FOR WAFER ANALYSIS WITH ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK AND SYSTEM THEREOF - A method for wafer analysis with artificial neural network and the system thereof are disclosed. The method of the system of the present invention has several steps, including: first of all, providing a test unit for wafer test and generating a plurality of test data; next, transmitting the test data to a processing unit for transferring to output data; then, comparing the output data with predictive value and modifying bias and making the output data close to the predictive value, and repeating the steps mentioned above to train this system; finally, analyzing wafers by the trained system. Using this system to analyze wafers not only saves time, but also reduces manpower and the risk resulting from artificial analysis. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301074 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND SOFTWARE FOR HYPERLINKING NAMES - Hyperlinking or associating documents to other documents based on the names of people in the documents has become more desirable. Although there is an automated system for installing such hyperlinks into judicial opinions, the system is not generally applicable to other types of names and documents, nor well suited to determine hyperlinks for names that might refer to two or more similarly named persons. Accordingly, the inventor devised systems, methods, and software that facilitate hyperlinking names in documents, regardless of type. One exemplary system includes a descriptor module and a linking module. The descriptor module develops descriptive patterns for selecting co-occurent document information that is useful in recognizing associations between names and professional classes. The linking module tags names in an input document, extracts co-occurent information using the descriptive patterns, and uses a Bayesian inference network that processes a (non-inverse-document-frequency) name-rarity score for each name along with the name and selected co-occurent document information to determine appropriate hyperlinks to other documents, such as entries in professional directories. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301075 | METHOD OF TRAINING A NEURAL NETWORK AND A NEURAL NETWORK TRAINED ACCORDING TO THE METHOD - A neural network comprises trained interconnected neurons. The neural network is configured to constrain the relationship between one or more inputs and one or more outputs of the neural network so the relationships between them are consistent with expectations of the relationships; and/or the neural network is trained by creating a set of data comprising input data and associated outputs that represent archetypal results and providing real exemplary input data and associated output data and the created data to neural network. The real exemplary output data and the created associated output data is compared to the actual output of the neural network, which is adjusted to create a best fit to the real exemplary data and the created data. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301076 | Systems and Methods for Analyzing Information Technology Systems Using Collaborative Intelligence - An information technology (IT) system of interest is analyzed using collaborative, community-based sharing of expert knowledge, analysis and advice through user-submitted analysis rules and/or user-submitted report templates. Users may submit rules that have been found to be useful in analyzing or managing IT systems. A rule may analyze a particular item of configuration data or performance data according to a predetermined criterion. Other users may apply these rules to their own systems' data and, thereby, utilize the collective expertise of the people who submitted the rules. Performance and configuration data from IT systems or components of the systems in various enterprises is collected and then sanitized by removing or masking identifying information before storing the sanitized data in a data warehouse. An IT manager may compare data from his/her IT system to historical data from the system or to data from IT systems having similar workloads, configurations, problems or according to other matching criteria, without obtaining confidential information about the comparison systems. Such comparisons may use the user-submitted rules. Reports are generated from these analyses and comparisons according to predefined and/or user-submitted report templates and report component templates for items such as text blocks, tables, graphs, charts and block diagrams. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301077 | System and Method for Medical Predictive Models Using Likelihood Gamble Pricing - A method for predicting survival rates of medical patients includes providing a set D of survival data for a plurality of medical patients, providing a regression model having an associated parameter vector β, providing an example x | 2008-12-04 |
20080301078 | Method and apparatus to abstract away rule languages - Some embodiments of a method and an apparatus to abstract away rule languages from a rule engine have been presented. In one embodiment, rules written in a first rule language are parsed into descriptor classes, which are used to model concepts that can be expressed in a rule engine. An intermediate structure is generated from the parsed rules. The intermediate structure is input to a core of the rule engine, which is operable to execute the rules. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301079 | Method and apparatus to define a ruleflow - Some embodiments of a method and an apparatus to define ruleflows for a rule engine have been presented. In one embodiment, a graphical user interface (GUI) is generated to allow a user to graphically specify an execution order of some rules. Then the rule engine is used to execute the rules according to the execution order. The rules may include one or more rule sets, where each rule set contains one or more rules. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301080 | METHOD FOR RULE COMPLIANCE SITUATION CHECKING AND RELATED CHECKING SYSTEM - A method for rule compliance situation checking is provided. The method in one aspect, includes the steps of: a) building a rule model for predefined rules and building a business operational model for business processes; b) normalizing vocabularies in the rule model and the business operational model; c) checking whether the rule model is satisfied by the business operational model; and d) outputting a report on checking results. The present invention also provides a corresponding system for rule compliance checking. The rule compliance checking of the present invention allows users to perform fast and effective automatic checking of rule compliance, avoid interference of man-made factors in checking process to a great extent and thus guarantee veracity of checking results. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301081 | Method and apparatus for generating configuration rules for computing entities within a computing environment using association rule mining - A method and apparatus for generating computer configuration rules comprising receiving configuration data regarding a plurality of computers, analyzing the configuration data to determine associations within the configuration data, and generating configuration rules from a result of the analysis. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301082 | KNOWLEDGE BASE COMPRISING EXECUTABLE STORIES - Systems and methods are provided for assisted decision-making. A knowledge base comprises a plurality of executable stories. A given story comprises a belief network containing at least one associated hypothesis and evidence associated with the at least one hypothesis. The system further comprises at least one decision algorithm having respective associated input formats. A translation interface is operative to convert a given story from the knowledge base into a decision network having a format associated with the at least one decision algorithm. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301083 | System and method for generating new concepts based on existing ontologies - A system and a method for automatically generating new concepts based on existing ontologies are provided. The system creates new concepts in existing ontologies based on new concept descriptions expressed in a natural language format, and comprises: a normalizer for receiving and parsing the new concept descriptions so as to transform them into normalized one and output them, wherein said normalized concept description includes one or more description part(s) having kernel concepts, said description parts can only contain the terms which can be identified in said existing ontologies, and each of said kernel concept contains a headword and zero or more property(s); and a new concept factory for, based on the normalized description of the new concept, identifying the kernel concepts in each normalized concept description part, and extracting the identified kernel concepts, related properties, and the relations among the kernel concepts for a user to create new concepts according to existing ontologies. Therefore, ontologies will be easier to be managed, reused and expanded, while keeping smaller size and less complexity of the ontologies. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301084 | Systems and methods for dynamically creating metadata in electronic evidence management - Systems and methods for creating metadata are provided in which electronic evidence is captured, the electronic evidence comprising a binary large object, extrinsic metadata, and intrinsic metadata. The extrinsic metadata and the intrinsic metadata are extracted from the captured electronic evidence. The extrinsic metadata, intrinsic metadata, or user-defined metadata, or any combination thereof are dynamically associated with the binary large object. At least one operation is performed on the binary large object, wherein the operation is determined by the associated extrinsic metadata, associated intrinsic metadata, or associated user-defined metadata. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301085 | Dynamic Database File Column Statistics for Arbitrary Union Combination - Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for generating database statistics for optimizing union queries. In general, working sets including samples of values in database columns are persistently maintained in a database. To optimize a union query, the working sets describing the columns included in the union query are combined to generate an ad hoc working set. The ad hoc working set is then used to generate a database statistic describing the combined columns. In another embodiment, working sets may also be maintained for generating statistics for optimizing non-union queries, thus enabling statistics to be refreshed more frequently. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301086 | STREAMING MULTIDIMENSIONAL DATA BY BYPASSING MULTIDIMENSIONAL QUERY PROCESSOR - A data warehouse comprises a multidimensional data storage area to store multidimensional data and a transactional data storage area to store underlying transactional data from which the multidimensional data is generated. The data warehouse also comprises a multidimensional query processor to provide one or more interfaces to issue a first set of queries conforming to one or more multidimensional query languages to retrieve the multidimensional data from the multidimensional data storage area. Furthermore, the data warehouse comprises a dynamic query engine to provide an additional interface to issue a second set of queries that bypass the interfaces provided by the multidimensional query processor to retrieve the transactional data from the transactional data storage area, wherein the second set of queries do not conform to any of the one or more multidimensional query languages. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301087 | Index clustering for full text search engines - Techniques of index clustering for full text search engines are described herein. In one embodiment, a full text search is performed by a search node using a local copy of an index within the searching node during a search session. In response to an update of a list of data entries the relational database through a Common API (common in the sense the update triggered to the relational DB will also trigger an index change), an index update event is scheduled to update a master copy of the index directory. Periodically the local copy of the index directory is updated by copying index data from the master copy of the index directory (totally or incrementally). Other methods and apparatuses are also described. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301088 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR APPLICATION OF LAWS - A system and method for determining a law that has been violated by a suspect is provided. The system and method can have a user interface to receive user inputs and to present queries and a plurality of answers to each of the queries, with the user inputs being selections of the plurality of answers; and a processor to determine a next one of the queries to be presented based on a selection of one of the plurality of answers to a previous query and to determine the law that has been violated based on each of the selections of the plurality of answers. The processor can be in communication with the user interface. The queries can be based on elements of the law. The user interface can present the law that has been violated. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301089 | ENHANCED SEARCH RESULTS BASED ON USER FEEDBACK RELATING TO SEARCH RESULT ABSTRACTS - The present invention provides for enhanced search results in response to a search request based on a search term. The enhanced search results generate a search results page including a plurality of document identifiers including a hyperlink and an abstract, each abstract including a plurality of abstract terms. The method and apparatus, upon receipt of the search request, accesses a relevancy factor database that includes relevancy factors. The relevancy factors are determined by accessing feedback logs for search results based on the same search term, calculating a popularity factor for each of the plurality of phrases in the abstracts and user selection activity and relevancy factors are based on the popularity factors. Thereby, the method and apparatus generates the search results page with the sequence of the document identifiers based on the relevancy factors. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301090 | DETECTION OF ABNORMAL USER CLICK ACTIVITY IN A SEARCH RESULTS PAGE - The present invention provides for the detection of abnormal user behavior for a query session of an electronic search engine. A query session is initiated upon receipt of a user search request that includes one or more search terms. The search engine, in accordance with known search technology, generates a search results page that includes various hyperlinks, including for example web content hyperlinks, page navigation hyperlinks and advertising hyperlinks. Tracking user activities generates the clickstream associated with the search results page. The present invention determines a probability score for the clickstream and then this score is normalized. A comparison of the normalized probability score with other normalized probability scores for similar query sessions determines of the normalcy of the query session. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301091 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVED FORUMS - An embodiment relates generally to a method of searching. The method includes receiving a query in a structured forum and searching a general and certified knowledgebase based on the query. The method also includes providing a plurality of search results ordered based on an associated rating of each search result of the plurality of the search results. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301092 | GEOCODING USING INFORMATION RETRIEVAL - Geocoding architecture based on information retrieval. The geocoding information retrieval system operates on locations and geographic entities. The architecture uses parameters in addition to the query string, if available. The parameters provide contextual information that enables filtering and sorting the results. The additional parameters include market, culture, map view, and user location. A geocoding triage process uses the query and context information provided and output of a machine-learning parser to select the data-lookup geocoders for processing the query. A results processing component collects the results from the underlying data-lookup geocoders, merges the results into a single list after normalizing the scores, and then re-sorts the results list. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301093 | Determining Search Query Statistical Data for an Advertising Campaign Based on User-Selected Criteria - Techniques for determining search query information for an advertising campaign and communicating the search query information to a sponsor of the advertising campaign are described. The techniques include receiving, from a sponsor the advertisement, a request for search query information relating to the advertisement having been presented by a search service, identifying previously executed search queries submitted by users of the search service, wherein search results of the identified search queries have been presented with the advertisement to one or more users of the search service. compiling search query information, the search query information including ad performance data associated with the advertisement for the identified search queries, and providing the sponsor with the compiled search query information. A user interface may be generated to receive user input of selection criteria and provide an interface to search query information. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301094 | Method, apparatus and computer program for managing the processing of extracted data - Data is processed at a central data processor using multiple processing steps. The data is processed for the extraction of entities. Relationships between the extracted entities are also extracted. A system map is built using one or more factors derived from the extracted entities and relationships and organized by influence relationships. Each factor is associated with one or more options. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301095 | Method, apparatus and computer program for managing the processing of extracted data - Data is processed at a central data processor using multiple processing steps. The data is processed for the extraction of entities. Relationships between the extracted entities are also extracted. A system map is built using one or more factors derived from the extracted entities and relationships and organized by influence relationships. Each factor is associated with one or more options. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301096 | Techniques to manage metadata fields for a taxonomy system - Techniques to manage metadata fields for a taxonomy system are described. An apparatus may comprise a processor and memory, the memory to store a vocabulary management module and a smart field management module for execution by the processor. The vocabulary management module may be arranged to manage a taxonomy of managed vocabulary terms organized in a hierarchical structure. The smart field management module may be arranged to receive a candidate vocabulary term for a smart metadata field, compare the candidate vocabulary term with the managed vocabulary terms, and validate the candidate vocabulary term for storage by the smart metadata field. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301097 | LDAP revision history - A method and apparatus for maintaining a revision history in a Light Weight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) repository. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a query for a version of an attribute associated with an LDAP entry. The method further includes returning a value for the version of the attribute in response to the query. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301098 | Method for providing a unified view of a domain model to a user - Techniques for providing a unified view of a domain model to a user are described herein. In one embodiment, in response to a first search query received from a client via a first search mechanism (e.g., outside of the relational DB) for a list of persistent objects representing data entries of a relational database, it is determined whether the persistent objects have been accessed via a second search query via a second search mechanism based on an object identifier of the persistent object. If the requested persistent object has been accessed via a second search query, an identical instance of the persistent object is returned to the client as a result of the first search query. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301099 | Systems and methods for using proxies in social network analysis in electronic evidence management - Systems and methods are presented for using proxies in social network analysis in electronic evidence management. The systems and methods comprise capturing electronic evidence from at least one source. One or more metadata are dynamically associated with the captured electronic evidence. The captured electronic evidence is analyzed, and at least one of the one or more metadata is associated with one or more proxies. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301100 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INDICATING PAGE COMPONENT FOCUS - The present invention relates to systems and methods for providing content items containing components utilizing focus indication focus indication. The method according to one embodiment comprises receiving a request from a client by a content delivery network for a resource that comprises a plurality of resources. The plurality of resources are then concatenated at the content delivery network to generate a concatenated resource and propagated to the client through the content delivery network. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301101 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, MEANS, AND MEDIA FOR RECORDING, SEARCHING, AND OUTPUTTING DISPLAY INFORMATION - Systems for recording, searching, and outputting display information are provided. In some embodiments, systems for recording display information are provided. The systems include a virtual display that: intercepts display-changes describing changes to be made to a state of a display; sends the display-changes to a client for display; records the display-changes; and a context recorder that records context information describing a state of the display derived from a source independently of the display changes and independently of screen-images. In some embodiments, the systems further include a display system that generates an output screen-image based at least in part on at least one of the display-changes and in response to a search of the context information. In some embodiments, the virtual display further records screen-images; and the display system further generates the output screen-image based at least in part on a recorded-screen-image of the recorded screen-images. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301102 | STORE PRODUCT LOCATING SYSTEM - A store product locating system and method enables a customer to locate a product quickly at its exact position within the store. Using a kiosk, a customer can input a name for a product they are searching for, the system searches for the product in its database of products and their locations, and the system then displays the location of the product on a floor plan map. The customer can input a number of products being searched for, and the system displays the location of each product in turn along with already-input product locations. The system prints out a map with the locations of the products requested marked on the map. The system can also enable input by customer voice request, uploading a list of products shopped for from a flash memory device or handheld device, and downloading to the handheld device, as well as uploading a list of items to a store's website from a PC. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301103 | INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, COLLECTING SERVER, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD AND PROGRAM - An information processing system including, a client capable of receiving and reproducing content from a media server, and a collecting server for receiving content management information on the content from the media server and managing the content management information. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301104 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING ENHANCED SEARCH FUNCTIONALITY - A system and method for implementing enhanced search functionality. The system includes means for identifying a plurality of search criteria; means for selecting a first database for the search; means for conducting a first plurality of searches of the first database, each one of the first plurality of searches using a respective one of the plurality of search criteria; means for comparing results obtained from each of the first plurality of searches to identify a first group of objects common among the results obtained from each of the first plurality of searches; and means for providing a set of search results to a user based on the identified first group of objects. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301105 | METHODOLOGIES AND ANALYTICS TOOLS FOR LOCATING EXPERTS WITH SPECIFIC SETS OF EXPERTISE - A method and analytics tools for locating experts with specific sets of expertise are disclosed, the method including providing a collection of documents P | 2008-12-04 |
20080301106 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATIONS OF SEARCH RESULTS IN MULTIPLE RELATED HISTOGRAMS - A system and method are provided for enabling a user to search for documents that the user has previously viewed on its local machine. The system includes three main components: the desktop integration module, the index module, and the graphical user interface module. The desktop integration module is an application which monitors documents with which the user interacts for predetermined events, and obtains content data and metadata from the monitored documents. The index module indexes the content data and metadata received from the desktop integration module. The graphical user interface module then permits a user to utilize the desktop integration module and index module by allowing a user to search for a document. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301107 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING BANDWIDTH EFFICIENCY IN A COMPUTER NETWORK - A method for operating a server to improve bandwidth efficiency in a computer network is disclosed. The server is operable to transmit files between a memory of the server and destinations on the computer network through a communication link having a finite bandwidth. The files are distinguishable by type and the server is provided with a rule set for prioritizing transmission of files by type. The method comprises monitoring a bandwidth usage of the communication link, and triggering application of the rule set when the bandwidth usage exceeds a threshold amount. The threshold amount is determined relative to the finite bandwidth. The method further comprises distinguishing between the files according to type, and prioritizing transmission of the files according to type and according to the rule set. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301108 | DYNAMIC DISCOVERY OF ABSTRACT RULE SET REQUIRED INPUTS - A method, system and article of manufacture for processing rule sets and, more particularly, for processing abstract rule sets. One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method of managing execution of an analysis routine on input data. The method comprises receiving input and receiving user-selection of an analysis routine for processing the received input. The analysis routine is defined by at least one abstract rule set having one or more abstract rules each having a conditional statement and a consequential statement. The method further comprises executing the analysis routine on the received input, comprising (i) identifying all required inputs for each abstract rule of the analysis routine, (ii) determining whether the received input includes data for all required inputs, and (iii) if the received input does not include data for one or more of the required inputs, retrieving suitable data for the one or more of the required inputs from the database. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301109 | MODIFICATION OF A SAVED DATABASE QUERY BASED ON A CHANGE IN THE MEANING OF A QUERY VALUE OVER TIME - An apparatus and method modify a saved query based on a change in a query value meaning that changes over time. In preferred embodiments a graphical query interface displays an option to adjust query values of a saved database query. A query adjustment mechanism then adjusts the value of the query to compensate for the change in the meaning of the query value since the query was created such that the adjusted query will have the same basic meaning as when the query was originally created. Preferred Embodiments allow the user to specify to adjust the query to the current date or to a specified date in the past. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301110 | MODIFICATION OF A SAVED DATABASE QUERY BASED ON A CHANGE IN THE MEANING OF A QUERY VALUE OVER TIME - An apparatus and method modify a saved query based on a change in a query value meaning that changes over time. In preferred embodiments a graphical query interface displays an option to adjust query values of a saved database query. A query adjustment mechanism then adjusts the value of the query to compensate for the change in the meaning of the query value since the query was created such that the adjusted query will have the same basic meaning as when the query was originally created. Preferred Embodiments allow the user to specify to adjust the query to the current date or to a specified date in the past. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301111 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING RANKED SEARCH RESULTS - Subject ranking management system provides a ranked search result for a given set of one or more search terms. The subject ranking management system determines, using a taxonomy, one or more parent subject items related to one or more matching subject items that match a given set of search terms. The system statistically ranks relevant subject items including the matching subject items and the parent subject items, and organizes the relevant subject items as ranked by the item ranking calculation unit. Ranked subjects can then be presented to an operator to assist with further refinement or used to automatically produce a better search without further operator invention. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301112 | ENABLING SEARCHING OF USER RATINGS AND REVIEWS USING USER PROFILE LOCATION, AND SOCIAL NETWORKS - A system and method are directed towards a free-form search query of user reviews using user profile, location information, and/or social networks, to obtain a result having an associated universal aggregated rating. The user may enter in free-form a search query that may then be transparently modified using the user's profile, social network, and/or current physical location. The search results may then be presented to the user along with aggregated weighted ratings. The user may also enter products and/or services into a data store, including comments, and a universal rating. In one embodiment, the user may provide a tag to another reviewer's comments that may be useable to aggregate ratings. In one embodiment, the user's profile, location, and/or social networking information may be used to further annotate the user's inputs. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301113 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING VECTOR TERMS RELATED TO A SEARCH QUERY - The present invention relates to providing vector terms for use in formulating search requests in response to a user query. The method according to one embodiment comprises receiving a search query from a client and identifying links to one or more content items corresponding to the search query. One or more term vectors are then generated corresponding to the content items and one or more vector terms are selected from the term vectors. The links to the one or more content items and selected vector terms are combined to form a final result page. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301114 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR A PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL NETWORK - An embodiment relates generally to a method of providing a professional social network. The method includes providing a plurality of services in a service portal and providing for a plurality of service providers. Each service provider has an associated rating and review at least once and is associated with a service of the plurality of services. The method also includes receiving a request for a selected service and providing a sub-plurality of service providers of the plurality of service providers in response to the request, where the sub-plurality of services providers are ordered based on the associated rating and review. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301115 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DIRECTED FORUMS - An embodiment relates generally to a method of providing a directed discussion. The method includes providing for an on-line forum and providing a list of available personnel within the on-line forum. The method also includes receiving a query in the on-line forum and directing the query to the best available personnel on the list of available personnel. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301116 | Search Ranger System And Double-Funnel Model For Search Spam Analyses and Browser Protection - An exemplary method for protecting web browsers from spam includes providing a multi-layer model that includes a doorway layer, a redirection domain layer, an aggregator layer, a syndicator layer and an advertiser layer; identifying domains as being associated with at least one of the layers; and, based at least in part on the identifying, taking one or more corrective actions to protect web browsers from search spam. An exemplary method for identifying a bottleneck layer in a multi-layer spam model includes providing a multi-layer spam model, collecting spam advertisements, associating a block of IP addresses with the collected spam advertisements and identifying a bottleneck layer based on the block of IP addresses. Other methods, systems, etc., are also disclosed. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301117 | KEYWORD USAGE SCORE BASED ON FREQUENCY IMPULSE AND FREQUENCY WEIGHT - A method and system for assessing keyword usage based on frequency of usage of the keywords during various periods is provided. A keyword usage measurement system is provided with the frequency of keywords during various periods. The measurement system then calculates a recent usage score for a keyword by combining a frequency impulse score for the keyword with a frequency weight for the keyword. The frequency impulse score for a keyword indicates whether a recent change in the frequency of the keyword has occurred. The frequency weight for a keyword indicates a recent measure of the frequency of the keyword. | 2008-12-04 |
20080301118 | User Interactive Precision Targeting Principle - A method of determining content relevance for a user sets a user preference, which is related to a first area of content. The method calculates a set of scores, by using a combination, of the user preference, affinity data, and a parametric weight. The method organizes the content by using the set of scores, such that the organization of the content has a desirable relationship to the user, and recommends the selected content. Preferably, the method precomputes the affinity data and/or the parametric weight to generate and store the precompiled data for later retrieval. The affinity data describes a relationship between a first item of content and a second item of content, and the parametric weight describes an attribute of the second item. Additional embodiments include a system implementation and computer readable medium. | 2008-12-04 |