52nd week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 56 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090319251 | Circuit Simulation Using Step Response Analysis in the Frequency Domain - A method for simulating a response of a circuit to an ESD input stimulus applied to the circuit includes the steps of: receiving a description of the circuit into a circuit simulation program, the circuit including at least one mutual inductance element indicative of magnetic coupling in the circuit; generating a linear approximation of nonlinear elements in the circuit at respective DC bias points of the nonlinear elements; obtaining a frequency domain transfer function of the circuit; obtaining a time domain impulse response of the circuit as a function of the frequency domain transfer function; integrating the time domain impulse response to yield a step response of the circuit, the step response being indicative of a response of the circuit to the ESD input stimulus; and analyzing the step response of the circuit to determine whether the circuit will operate within prescribed parameters corresponding to the circuit. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319252 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING ASSUME PROPERTIES FROM A CONSTRAINED RANDOM TEST-BENCH - One embodiment of the present invention provides systems and techniques to extract assume properties from a constrained random test-bench. During operation, the system can receive a constrained random test-bench for verifying the design-under-test (DUT), wherein the constrained random test-bench includes a statement which assigns a random value to a random variable according to a constraint. Next, the system can modify the constrained random test-bench by replacing the statement with another statement which assigns a free input variable's value to the random variable. The system can also add a statement to the constrained random test-bench that toggles a marker variable to localize the scope of the statement. The system can then generate an assume property which models the constraint on the free input variable. The assume property can then be used by a formal property verification tool to verify the DUT. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319253 | FPGA Simulated Annealing Accelerator - Iterative repair problems are generally solved using a combinatorial search method such as simulated annealing are addressed with a FPGA-based coarse-grain pipelined architecture to accelerate a simulated annealing based iterative repair-type event scheduling application. Over 99% of the work done by any simulated annealing algorithm is the repeated execution of three high-level steps: (1) generating, (2) evaluating, and (3) determining the acceptability of a new problem solution. A pipelined processor is designed to take advantage of these steps. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319254 | CHARGE-BASED MILLER COEFFICIENT COMPUTATION - A method of estimating a Miller coefficient for an aggressor network and a victim network coupled by a coupling capacitor includes synthesizing a reduced order system from the aggressor network and the victim network, estimating an active area across the coupling capacitor for an aggressor induced noise signal based on the reduced order system, calculating an estimate of the Miller coefficient based on the active area of the aggressor induced noise signal, and outputting the calculated estimate of the Miller coefficient. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319255 | MAXIMIZING THROUGHPUT FOR A GARBAGE COLLECTOR - Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that executes a garbage collector in a computing system. During operation, the system obtains a throughput model for the garbage collector and estimates a set of characteristics associated with the garbage collector. Next, the system applies the characteristics to the throughput model to estimate a throughput of the garbage collector. The system then determines a level of performance for the garbage collector based on the estimated throughput. Finally, the system adjusts a tunable parameter for the garbage collector based on the level of performance to increase the throughput of the garbage collector. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319256 | DECOUPLING DYNAMIC PROGRAM ANALYSIS FROM EXECUTION ACROSS HETEROGENEOUS SYSTEMS - Dynamic program analysis is decoupled from execution in virtual computer environments so that program analysis can be performed on a running computer program without affecting or perturbing the workload of the system on which the program is executing. Decoupled dynamic program analysis is enabled by separating execution and analysis into two tasks: (1) recording, where system execution is recorded with minimal interference, and (2) analysis, where the execution is replayed and analyzed. Recording and analysis are carried out on heterogeneous systems so that they can be separately optimized. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319257 | TRANSLATION OF ENTITY NAMES - Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, related to entity name translation. In general, a set of data records including one or more names of one or more entities in a source language is received and candidate translations are generated for the names of the data records. The candidate translations are strings of characters in a target language that has a different orthography than an orthography of the source language. A data repository is queried for records matching the candidate translations. A translation of at least one of the candidate translations is selected based on a comparison of a combination of candidate translations and properties of the source record with the result of the querying the data repository. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319258 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SPELL CHECKING IN TWO OR MORE LANGUAGES - A system, method and computer program product for multi-language word spelling verification and correction, including providing one or more spelling dictionaries and spelling rules for two or more languages; selecting two or more languages for use with the one or more spelling dictionaries and spelling rules; and performing verification and correction words of a document or data entry field written in the two or more languages based on the selected two or more languages using the one or more spelling dictionaries and spelling rules. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319259 | Enhancing Perceptual Performance of SBR and Related HFR Coding Methods by Adaptive Noise-Floor Addition and Noise Substitution Limiting - Methods and an apparatus for enhancement of source coding systems utilizing high frequency reconstruction (HFR) are introduced. The problem of insufficient noise contents is addressed in a reconstructed highband, by using Adaptive Noise-floor Addition. New methods are also introduced for enhanced performance by means of limiting unwanted noise, interpolation and smoothing of envelope adjustment amplification factors. The methods and apparatus used are applicable to both speech coding and natural audio coding systems. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319260 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUDIO TRANSMIT PROCESSING IN AN AUDIO CODEC - Methods and systems for audio transmit processing in an audio CODEC are disclosed and may comprise receiving one or more analog and/or digital audio signals, and simultaneously processing the received one or more analog audio and/or digital audio signals via a plurality of processing paths of the audio CODEC. The digital audio signals may be generated via a digital microphone, which may comprise a microelectromechanical (MEMS) microphone, and may be utilized for audio beamforming. The received analog and digital signals may be processed at one or more sampling rates, and may be filtered via decimation filters. The received analog signals may be converted to digital signals. The processing may comprise converting a sampling rate of the received digital signals and the converted analog signals. The processing may comprises filtering of the received digital signals and the converted analog signals via infinite impulse response (IIR) filters. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319261 | CODING OF TRANSITIONAL SPEECH FRAMES FOR LOW-BIT-RATE APPLICATIONS - Systems, methods, and apparatus for low-bit-rate coding of transitional speech frames are disclosed. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319262 | CODING SCHEME SELECTION FOR LOW-BIT-RATE APPLICATIONS - Systems, methods, and apparatus for low-bit-rate coding of transitional speech frames are disclosed. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319263 | CODING OF TRANSITIONAL SPEECH FRAMES FOR LOW-BIT-RATE APPLICATIONS - Systems, methods, and apparatus for low-bit-rate coding of transitional speech frames are disclosed. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319264 | SPEECH DECODING APPARATUS, SPEECH ENCODING APPARATUS, AND LOST FRAME CONCEALMENT METHOD - Disclosed is a sound decoding device capable of improving the lost frame compensation performance and improving quality of the decoded sound. In this device, a rise frame sound source compensation unit ( | 2009-12-24 |
20090319265 | Method and system for efficient pacing of speech for transription - A method and system for improving the efficiency of real-time and non-real-time speech transcription by machine speech recognizers, human dictation typists, and human voicewriters using speech recognizers. In particular, the pacing with which recorded speech is presented to transcriptionists is automatically adjusted by monitoring the transcriptionists' output by comparing the output acoustically or phonetically to the presented recorded speech as well as monitoring the resulting transcription, and accordingly adjusting the pacing. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319266 | MULTIMODAL INPUT USING SCRATCHPAD GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE TO EDIT SPEECH TEXT INPUT WITH KEYBOARD INPUT - A system and method for multimodal input into an application program. The method may include performing speech recognition on speech audio input to thereby produce recognized speech text input for insertion into a document of an application program, the document having keyboard focus. The method may also include identifying the document as being text service framework unaware. The method may further include displaying the recognized speech text input in a scratchpad graphical user interface for editing the recognized speech text input. The method may further include reflecting keyboard input bound for the document to the scratchpad graphical user interface, while preserving the keyboard focus of the document. The method may also include displaying the reflected keyboard input on the scratchpad graphical user interface, to thereby effect edits in the recognized speech text input. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319267 | METHOD, A SYSTEM AND A DEVICE FOR CONVERTING SPEECH - An arrangement for converting speech into text comprises a mobile device ( | 2009-12-24 |
20090319268 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THE INTELLIGIBILITY OF AN AUDIO ANNOUNCEMENT DEVICE - A method and an apparatus for measuring the intelligibility level of an audio announcement device ( | 2009-12-24 |
20090319269 | Method of Trainable Speaker Diarization - A novel and useful method of using labeled training data and machine learning tools to train a speaker diarization system. Intra-speaker variability profiles are created from training data consisting of an audio stream labeled where speaker changes occur (i.e. which participant is speaking at any given time). These intra-speaker variability profiles are then applied to an unlabeled audio stream to segment the audio stream into speaker homogeneous segments and to cluster segments according to speaker identity. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319270 | CAPTCHA Using Challenges Optimized for Distinguishing Between Humans and Machines - An audible based electronic challenge system is used to control access to a computing resource by using a test to identify an origin of a voice. The test is based on analyzing a spoken utterance using optimized challenge items selected for their discrimination capability to determine if it was articulated by an unauthorized human or a text to speech (TTS) system. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319271 | System and Method for Generating Challenge Items for CAPTCHAs - Challenge items for an audible based electronic challenge system are generated using a variety of techniques to identify optimal candidates. The challenge items are intended for use in a computing system that discriminates between humans and text to speech (TTS) system. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319272 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VOICE ORDERING UTILIZING PRODUCT INFORMATION - A method for voice ordering utilizing catalog taxonomies and hierarchical categorization relationships in product information management (PIM) systems includes: prompting a user with a query to input speech into a speech recognition engine; translating the inputted speech into a series of words; querying a product information management component (PIM) based on the series of words; wherein the querying is performed as a matching algorithm against PIM category and attribute keywords; returning coded results to a voice synthesizer to produce at least one of: a voice response, and a text response to the user; and wherein in the coded results indicate one or more of: a not found message for zero matches, a confirmation of a suitable single match, a request for additional information in the event one or more of the following occurs: more than one matching item, category, and item attribute was found in the PIM. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319273 | AUDIO CONTENT GENERATION SYSTEM, INFORMATION EXCHANGING SYSTEM, PROGRAM, AUDIO CONTENT GENERATING METHOD, AND INFORMATION EXCHANGING METHOD - An audio content generation system is a system for generating audio contents including a voice synthesis unit | 2009-12-24 |
20090319274 | System and Method for Verifying Origin of Input Through Spoken Language Analysis - An audible based electronic challenge system is used to control access to a computing resource by using a test to identify an origin of a voice. The test is based on analyzing a spoken utterance to determine if it was articulated by an unauthorized human or a text to speech (TTS) system. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319275 | SPEECH SYNTHESIZING DEVICE, SPEECH SYNTHESIZING SYSTEM, LANGUAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, SPEECH SYNTHESIZING METHOD AND RECORDING MEDIUM - A speech synthesizing device, the device includes: a text accepting unit for accepting text data; an extracting unit for extracting a special character including a pictographic character, a face mark or a symbol from text data accepted by the text accepting unit; a dictionary database in which a plurality of special characters and a plurality of phonetic expressions for each special character are registered; a selecting unit for selecting a phonetic expression of an extracted special character from the dictionary database when the extracting unit extracts the special character; a converting unit for converting the text data accepted by the accepting unit to a phonogram in accordance with a phonetic expression selected by the selecting unit in association with the extracted special character; and a speech synthesizing unit for synthesizing a voice from a phonogram obtained by the converting | 2009-12-24 |
20090319276 | Voice Enabled Remote Control for a Set-Top Box - A remote control device includes a digital audio storage device, a talk button, and an optical distance measurer. The digital audio storage device is configured to continually record an audio input for a specific amount of time. The talk button is coupled to the digital audio storage device and is configured to initiate a transmission of the audio input to a set-top box device. The optical distance measurer is coupled to the talk button and is configured to automatically measure a distance to a user in response to the talk button being pressed. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319277 | Source Coding and/or Decoding - A method of bandwidth expansion in which a low band signal is used to create an excitation signal for an LPC synthesis filter for producing a high band synthetic signal. An encoding process comprises: dividing a signal into a low band signal and a high band signal; coding the low band signal; analysing the high band audio signal to create filter coefficients; filtering the high band signal, using a filter configured by the created filter coefficients, to produce a residual signal; creating a measure of the residual signal; and outputting the coded low band signal, the created filter coefficients for the high band signal and the measure. A decoding process is similar to the reverse of the encoding process. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319278 | EFFICIENT CODING OF OVERCOMPLETE REPRESENTATIONS OF AUDIO USING THE MODULATED COMPLEX LAPPED TRANSFORM (MCLT) - An “Overcomplete Audio Coder” provides various techniques for overcomplete encoding audio signals using an MCLT-based predictive coder. Specifically, the Overcomplete Audio Coder uses unrestricted polar quantization of MCLT magnitude and phase coefficients. Further, quantized magnitude and phase coefficients are predicted based on properties of the audio signal and corresponding MCLT coefficients to reduce the bit rate overhead in encoding the audio signal. This prediction allows the Overcomplete Audio Coder to provide improved continuity of the magnitude of spectral components across encoded signal blocks, thereby reducing warbling artifacts. Coding rates achieved using these prediction techniques are comparable to that of encoding an orthogonal representation of an audio signal, such as with modulated lapped transform (MLT)-based coders. Finally, the Overcomplete Audio Coder provides a true magnitude-phase frequency-domain representation of the audio signal, thus allowing precise auditory models to be applied for improving compression performance, without the need for additional Fourier transforms. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319279 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUDIO TRANSMIT LOOPBACK PROCESSING IN AN AUDIO CODEC - Methods and systems for audio transmit loopback processing in an audio CODEC are disclosed and may include receiving digital audio signals to be transmitted via the wireless device, and looping back one or more of the signals to an output device via a switch matrix. One or more of the digital audio signals may be generated via a digital microphone, which may include a microelectromechanical (MEMS) microphone. The received digital audio signals may be filtered via decimation filters, which may include poly-phase filters. The received digital audio signals may be switched between phases of the poly-phase filters via an input switch, which may include CMOS transistors. One or more of the received digital audio signals may be generated from a received analog signal via an analog to digital converter (ADC), which may include a multi-channel ADC. The output device may include a wireless headset, loudspeaker and/or audio test equipment. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319280 | Enhancing Perceptual Performance of SBR and Related HFR Coding Methods by Adaptive Noise-Floor Addition and Noise Substitution Limiting - Methods and an apparatus for enhancement of source coding systems utilizing high frequency reconstruction (HFR) are introduced. The problem of insufficient noise contents is addressed in a reconstructed highband, by using Adaptive Noise-floor Addition. New methods are also introduced for enhanced performance by means of limiting unwanted noise, interpolation and smoothing of envelope adjustment amplification factors. The methods and apparatus used are applicable to both speech coding and natural audio coding systems. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319281 | CUE-BASED AUDIO CODING/DECODING - Generic and specific C-to-E binaural cue coding (BCC) schemes are described, including those in which one or more of the input channels are transmitted as unmodified channels that are not downmixed at the BCC encoder and not upmixed at the BCC decoder. The specific BCC schemes described include 5-to-2, 6-to-5, 7-to-5, 6.1-to-5.1, 7.1-to-5.1, and 6.2-to-5.1, where “0.1” indicates a single low-frequency effects (LFE) channel and “0.2” indicates two LFE channels. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319282 | DIFFUSE SOUND SHAPING FOR BCC SCHEMES AND THE LIKE - In one embodiment, C input audio channels are encoded to generate E transmitted audio channel(s), where one or more cue codes are generated for two or more of the C input channels, and the C input channels are downmixed to generate the E transmitted channel(s), where C>E≧1. One or more of the C input channels and the E transmitted channel(s) are analyzed to generate a flag indicating whether or not a decoder of the E transmitted channel(s) should perform envelope shaping during decoding of the E transmitted channel(s). In one implementation, envelope shaping adjusts a temporal envelope of a decoded channel generated by the decoder to substantially match a temporal envelope of a corresponding transmitted channel. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319283 | Apparatus and Method for Generating Audio Subband Values and Apparatus and Method for Generating Time-Domain Audio Samples - An embodiment of an apparatus for generating audio subband values in audio subband channels has an analysis windower for windowing a frame of time-domain audio input samples being in a time sequence extending from an early sample to a later sample using an analysis window function having a sequence of window coefficients to obtain windowed samples. The analysis window function has a first group of window coefficients and a second group of window coefficients. The first group of window coefficients is used for windowing later time-domain samples and the second group of window coefficients is used for windowing an earlier time-domain samples. The apparatus further has a calculator for calculating the audio subband values using the windowed samples. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319284 | Method and device for verifying postage when moving postal articles over an electronic parcel compartment system - A method for verifying postage when moving postal articles over an electronic parcel compartment system, during which non-recurring identification codes are allocated for postage stamps and stored in a storage means which associated status indicators. When a postage stamp with an identification codes is output, the associated status indicator is set to 1, whereas non-allocated identification codes have status indicator 2. In addition, identification codes that had been allocated with a postage stamp that, however, had already served for a delivery of a postal article in a parcel compartment system, are likewise set to status 2. If an identification code, which has not been stored in the storage means or the status indicator thereof is 2, is detected when placing a postal article in a parcel compartment system, a processing means releases a signal. This signal initiates a refusal to accept the postal article and/or initiates a storing of the customer data of the customer who wanted to insert the postal article. The invention also relates to a parcel compartment system for carrying out the disclosed method. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319285 | TECHNIQUES FOR MANAGING DISRUPTIVE BUSINESS EVENTS - Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for managing disruptive business events. A selection is received from a user to associate one or more items in a content repository with one or more disruptive business events. Once items are associated with events, the business processes around those items change based upon predefined event settings defined on the business events. As users interact with the one or more items associated with the disruptive business event during a normal course of business, one or more actions associated with the event settings are applied. Items associated with disruptive business events can be assigned at different levels in a hierarchy in the content repository. Other applications can retrieve data regarding the disruptive business events. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319286 | PERSONAL SERVICE ASSISTANCE IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE - A method of providing personal service assistance in a virtual universe is disclosed. The method provides a customer avatar (CA) access to a personal assistance avatar or personal customer service representative (PCSR) avatar, hereinafter PCSR avatar. Through the PCSR avatar, the CA communicates a need or requests for personal service assistance from a business or organization. The communication of the received request is processed to identify an appropriate business, organization or vendor that meets the need or request. The identified business, organization or vendor is contacted for a representative from the business to accede to the request from the CA. The representative from the business is allowed to assume control of the PCSR avatar to conduct the session necessary for rendering the assistance or transaction. Upon completion of the session, control of the PCSR avatar is reverted to that prior to the session. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319287 | AUTHENTICATION SEGMENTATION - Methods and systems of authentication segmentation to selectively apply authentication tools to target high risk segments of transactions and entities. The methods and systems identify a plurality of fraud reduction tools and determine segmentation metrics associated with the plurality of fraud reduction tools. One or more segments are determined based on the segmentation metrics using fraud data and the best candidates of the one or more segments is identified. One or more fraud reduction tools is selected that target the best candidates. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319288 | SUGGESTING CONTACTS FOR SOCIAL NETWORKS - A social network is managed by applying connectivity and similarity measures to social network information to identify possible new relationships between social network users, and then automatically suggest those identified relationships to the social network users. The social network information can include user profile information and indicate existing social relationships between the users in the social network. Users can provide feedback regarding the suggestions, including indications whether the relationship was accepted, consummated, or declined. The social network information can be updated using the feedback. Similarity measures can be based on one or more of shared contacts, or common interests or activities, or content associated with social network users, or ratings within the social network of users and/or their content. Possible relationships having similarity measures that suggest the users likely to already know each other, can be omitted and not suggested. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319289 | Internet-Based Method and Apparatus for Career and Professional Development via Structured Feedback Loop - Methods and apparatus for generating feedback, reviewing feedback, and conducting interviews by use of VMocks are provided. A VMock, or Virtual Mock, is a virtual profile of a candidate that includes resume, text, video and a document. VMock profiles may be created that have one or more VMocks. Contacts associated with the VMock profile may be managed. Feedback may be requested from the contacts concerning the one or more VMocks, who may then generate the requested feedback. The feedback may then be reviewed. This feedback process may be performed in the context of interviews for employment opportunities and in other similar situations. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319290 | ECONOMIC SOLUTION TO THE SPAM PROBLEM - An economic-based solution is provided for regulating electronic messages (commonly referred to as spam). Analogous to a standard bond mechanism, delivering email to an inbox requires an unknown sender to place a small pledge into escrow with a third party. If the recipient expects further communication with a particular sender, they can add the sender to a list of approved senders which will allow the sender's messages to be delivered to the recipient. An innovative method for managing this list of approved senders is described in the present application. A technique for soliciting electronic messages using the underlying principles of the bond mechanism is also set forth in the application. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319291 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A SELF-SERVICE MECHANISM FOR OBTAINING ADDITIONAL MEDICAL OPINIONS BASED ON DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL IMAGES - An apparatus and system are provided for facilitating a mechanism in which a patient or another person may utilize a system to request an independent second or subsequent read and a second or subsequent opinion relating to medical images that were provided by a previous physician. The apparatus and system also enable physicians desiring to provide second or subsequent reads and evaluations of medical images to be able receive payment for their services. The apparatus includes a processor configured to receive a medical image(s) and associated data initially evaluated by a previous physician and assign or select a physician identified in a list to provide a second or subsequent read of the medical images and associated data. The processor is capable of evaluating and sending the medical images and associated data to a first device and generating a second or subsequent medical opinion or diagnosis regarding the medical images. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319292 | Method and System to Manage Caregiver Costs in a Health Care Facility - A method to manage caregiver costs in a health care facility may include allowing selection of a patient or group of patients for analyzing care costs and allowing selection of a set of parameters related to services provided to the patient or group of patients by the health care facility. The method may also include collecting patient data associated with the selected patient or group of patients based on the set of parameters. The method may additionally include determining at least one of patient acuity, location within the health care facility and caregiver attributes for the selected patient or group of patients based on the patient data and determining care costs based on at least one of the patient acuity, location, and caregiver attributes for the patient or group of patients. The method may further include presenting a care costs report to a user to manage costs within the health care facility. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319293 | VIRTUAL INVENTORY SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR COVERED ENTITIES - A virtual transaction process and system providing a mechanism for a covered entity to maintain a virtual inventory with a contracted pharmacy for dispensing medication for the covered entity's employees. An administrative entity is provided that adjudicates claims with the contracted pharmacy, and compiles a utilization report for the prescription medication manufacturer and covered entity to effect a chargeback credit from the manufacturer and payment between the covered entity and contracted pharmacy. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319294 | Managed distribution solution and methods thereof - The managed distribution solution (“MDS”) of the present invention includes systems and methods for giving the point-of-service provider (“POS”) (i.e., physicians, home infusion, clinics, long term care, etc.) an alternative to the traditional buy and bill model. In one exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention, a processing site is configured for communicating with a distributor, a Client and a POS to facilitate delivery of a Product from a distributor to the POS. In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a billing system is associated with the processing site for facilitating billing for Products delivered to POS to a Client, when a patient of the Client receives the Product from the POS. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319295 | GLOBAL DISEASE SURVEILLANCE PLATFORM, AND CORRESPONDING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A computer-implemented method for identifying and assessing public health events, and a corresponding system and apparatus, includes capturing public health-related information from structured and unstructured sources, where the information is contained in one or more documents, extracting meta-data from the captured public health-related information, creating an index of the extracted meta-data; archiving the meta-data and the documents, where the index links meta-data to its associated document, processing the extracted meta-data according to one or more detection algorithms to determine if an anomaly exists, and where an anomaly exists, providing a public health event notification, and monitoring and evaluating the responses to the public health events. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319296 | Patient Directed Integration Of Remotely Stored Medical Information With A Brokerage System - A brokerage system that identifies a service provider satisfying at least some attributes in a set of patient defined attributes for providing a service is accessed. A request for records corresponding to the patient's health information to a data repository that stores the health records is sent. A graphical user interface that when rendered on a display displays the patient's health information is received. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319297 | Workplace Absenteeism Risk Model - A computer-implemented process includes: collecting a plurality of data; implementing a model that uses the data to estimate or predict lost work time at an individual level; and computing absenteeism risk at the individual level. The model can include, for example an artificial neural network or a model that uses regression analysis. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319298 | PATIENT STATUS AND HEALTHCARE INFORMATION COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - An automated method for communicating patient status updates. The method includes registering a user. The registered user is associated with a patient file on a patient database. The patient file is representative of the patient for which the user will be receiving automated patient status updates. Patient status updates are received on the patient database via direct data entry or over a network. The patient file corresponding to the admitted patient is identified and configured to receive patient status updates for storage thereon. The patient status updates received on the patient file are formatted to conform to communication preferences established on the patient file. The method continues with the transmission of the formatted patient status updates over a network to the user communication device. A user receiving the patient status updates on the user communication device may avoid waiting at the healthcare facility for updates while being informed of any status changes in real-time. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319299 | SYSTEM AND TECHNIQUES FOR REPORTING ADVERSE EFFECTS - Techniques for collecting and reporting adverse events associated with a patient are disclosed. The techniques include providing a user interface to identify drug and medical conditions associated with the patient using standardized drug and medical terminology. The techniques also include generating and displaying a cumulative narrative of user selections on the interface. The cumulative narrative can be directly transmitted to one or more companies and/or and regulatory agencies. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319300 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING CLINICAL DECISION SUPPORT - A method and system for providing clinical decision support is disclosed herein. The method comprises: mapping medication information with at least one follow up action based on a predefined relation. The follow up actions are suggested to a user upon selecting a medication formation. The method further includes scheduling the follow up actions may automatically. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319301 | Methods and systems for presenting a combination treatment - Methods, computer program products, and systems are described that include accepting an indication of a schedule for administration of a bioactive agent to an individual and presenting an indication of an artificial sensory experience at least partly based on the accepting an indication of the schedule for administration of the bioactive agent to the individual. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319302 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING COST OF INSURANCE RATES - According to some embodiments, a current net amount at risk associated with a life insurance policy is determined. The life insurance policy may, for example, have been previously issued to a consumer for a given face death benefit amount. At least one applicable cost of insurance rate may then be automatically selected based at least in part on the determined net amount at risk. The applicable cost of insurance rate can then be applied to the current net amount at risk for the policy. For example, a first cost of insurance rate may be applied to a first portion of the current net amount at risk, and the applicable cost of insurance rate may be applied to a second portion of the current net amount at risk. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319303 | METHOD OF INSURING INDIVIDUALS USING GUARANTEED INSURANCE, TERM INSURANCE, AND NON-GUARANTEED INSURANCE - A method of insuring a group of individuals includes purchasing a guaranteed insurance component and a decreasing term insurance component using a level premium received for each individual. The guaranteed component is based on relatively conservative risk assumptions, and provides a paid-up benefit upon cessation of payment of premiums if premiums have been paid for a designated number of years. Any excess interest is used to purchase a non-guaranteed component having a paid-up benefit based on relatively less conservative risk assumptions. The paid-up benefit of the guaranteed component and the term benefit combine to provide an in-force benefit. During an initial level benefit period, the non-guaranteed insurance component increases the paid-up benefit amount. Once the sum of the guaranteed benefit amount and the non-guaranteed benefit amount exceeds the in-force benefit, premiums are no longer owed and the coverage becomes fully paid-up. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319304 | EVENT SCHEDULING METHOD AND SYSTEM - A computer implemented method, apparatus and program product automatically schedule events by generating templates of participant pairings based on scheduling stipulations, preferences or other constraints. The generated templates do not typically include any time or location information, which is later combined with the template to form the schedule. Constraints used to generate the template pairings may include secondary match-ups, or pairings, that do not meet a primary preference of a participant. Other constraints may include weighted time slot designators, repeat pairings, crossover games between different leagues, as well as meeting times. The template feature enables constraints to be satisfied before the parings are associated with times. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319305 | AUTOMATED SERVICE FEES ASSESSMENT METHODS AND SYSTEM - A computer travel system and methods for assessing travel service fees are described. System of the invention communicates, on one end, with a travel agent from a travel front office and, on the other end, with a system administrator who manages a price scheme database containing unitary fees and rules. Travel agent creates and modifies PNRs (passenger name records) from which service fees are assessed by a fee calculator. Fee calculator interfaces with the price scheme database to obtain unitary fees and rules to apply to get PNR service fees. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319306 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VENUE ATTENDANCE MANAGEMENT - A system and method for managing attendance at a venue such as a fair, theme park, state park, and the like, is generally disclosed. The venue may having a plurality of different attractions managed at least in part by a computerized operational venue management system that interacts with one or more patrons having a mobile communications device (e.g., cell phone, PDA, Blackberry®, and the like). The patron may receive show information, for example, and remotely select options including ticket purchases for a show or attraction. Payment may also be authorized remotely, and an electronic ticket(s) may be provided. Moreover, real-time updates may be sent to the mobile communications device to provide ongoing information about the attractions such as show times, available tickets remaining, time to navigate to an attraction, and so forth. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319307 | Methods of Evaluating Undersaturated Coalbed Reservoirs - The evaluation and assessment of geologic formations comprising undersaturated coalbed methane reservoirs. In some embodiments, the present invention provides for inductively quantifying critical desorption pressure of the solid in an undersaturated coalbed methane reservoir from an unrelated substance, the formation water. By using these techniques, the characterization of undersaturated coalbed methane reservoirs may be more quickly and economically made based upon a methane content characteristic such as critical desorption pressure, gas content, and in some embodiments gas content as calculated from isotherm evaluation, estimates of dewatering for production, and ratios of critical desorption pressure to initial reservoir pressure, among other possible characteristics. The features of the invention may further have applicability in combination with conventional reservoir analysis, such as coring, logging, reservoir isotherm evaluation, or other techniques. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319308 | EQUIPMENT RETROFITTING PROJECT METHOD - An equipment retrofitting project method includes the steps of conducting sales, project management (PM)/design, production and field service phases. The PM/design phase includes the steps of providing a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) and measuring spatial and dimensional coordinates of natural gas compressor station components with the CMM at the compressor station location. The coordinates are related to a reference at the compressor station location. Output is provided from the CMM in the form of part coordinate system (PCS) data comprising the spatial and dimensional data associated with the components and a 3-D model is created from the PCS data. In the production phase new and/or refurbished components are produced utilizing the PCS data at a location remote from the equipment. In the field service phase the new or refurbished components are installed in the equipment. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319309 | PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A system and method for analyzing and minimizing the life-cycle cost of constructing, maintaining and rehabilitating a network of highway pavements for a pre-determined life-cycle and associated range of minimum acceptable conditions thereof. Specifically, the present invention enables a decision maker to realize the trade-off between cost and pavement condition, thereby aiding the decision maker in choosing an appropriate allocation of resources for pavement construction, maintenance and rehabilitation. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319310 | Information Criterion-Based Systems And Methods For Constructing Combining Weights For Multimodel Forecasting And Prediction - Systems and methods are provided for a computer-implemented method for automatically generating a weighted average forecast model that includes receiving a plurality of forecasting models and time series data. At least one parameter of each of the received forecasting models is optimized utilizing the received time series data. A weighting factor is generated for each of the plurality of optimized forecasting models utilizing an information criteria value indicating fit quality of each of the optimized forecasting models, and the generated weighting factors are stored. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319311 | Systems and Methods for Real-Time Monitoring and Analysis of Prescription Claim Rejections - Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for real-time monitoring and analysis of prescription claim rejections. In one embodiment, a transaction performance monitoring system for facilitating real-time monitoring of the rejection of claims can be provided. The transaction performance monitoring system can include a transaction performance monitoring application operable to receive a plurality of claims associated with at least one dispenser, wherein each of the claims relates to at least one prescription and at least one payor. In addition, a transaction performance monitoring application operable to, in real-time, identify rejected claims and associated causes of the rejected claims. Furthermore, a transaction performance monitoring system can include a network operable to communicate the plurality of claims between the at least one dispenser and the at least one payor. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319312 | System and Method for Governance, Risk, and Compliance Management - In particular embodiments, the present invention provides a system and method for governance, risk, and compliance management. For example, a method for governance, risk, and compliance management includes providing an interface for defining a control to be used to reach a goal of an organization. The control provides a procedure to be followed by the organization. The method further includes providing the interface for implementing the control in order to reach the goal of the organization. The method further includes receiving metric data from an external source. The metric data includes a document link. The method further includes providing the interface for accessing, using the document link, one or more documents corresponding to the control. The one or more documents are accessed in such a way as to prevent the one or more documents from losing their status as original. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319313 | Method of automation of business processes and apparatus therefor - The invention disclosed relates to the field of requirement specification in application development. This invention provides a system for business process automation which can generate an executable optimized requirements set by capturing the requirements from the users and processing them to create prototypes. Feedback is obtained from external users on the played prototypes to correct and enhance the requirements to obtain an optimized, complete, correct and consistent requirements set. This helps in the successful development of business application with minimal errors in a very short time. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319314 | METHODS OF COLLECTING AND VISUALIZING GROUP INFORMATION - A system and methods allow groups to be managed. Various methods of collecting and visualizing group information are described. A group head and various members of organizations can organize fundraising activities or groups based on a common purpose. Group performance can be rated and displayed. Various group successes can be reported. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319315 | COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS CARBON OFFSETS - A club or community of mineral producers or other interested parties is put together for the purpose of responsibility account for CO2 and/or other pollutants in produced minerals. The community utilizes a community system to track the amount of CO2 that is associated with produced minerals. The community member sponsoring the mineral contributes to the community fund an amount representative of the value of the estimated CO2 as determined by the community system. The community then utilizes the received funds to invest in carbon offset activities which in turn are returned as benefits to the community members so that either those members can sell carbon offset accounted minerals or the community can do so on the community members' behalf. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319316 | Method and System of Using Structured Social Networks and Communities to Create and Maintain Business Service Models - A method is described for distributing the creation and maintenance tasks of a Business Service Model over social networks and communities in enterprise environments. Members of a community are enabled to view all Business Service Models and components in the community, and in accordance with permissions are enabled to read, create, modify, delete, update, tag, mark and comment on Business service Models and components, including being able to add missing relationships, elements, state propagation rules, or algorithms. Community workspaces are provided for tracking creation and maintenance activities, and individual workspaces are provided summarizing these activities taking place within the individual's communities. Combined together in a continually iterative model, these computer implemented mechanisms provide IT organizations with a complete, accurate and current Business Service Model. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319317 | Or Relating To A Method and System for Testing - A method of evaluating a cost associated with a test scenario, which test scenario comprises one or more branches making up a use case, the method comprising the steps of: determining a first parameter based on the complexity of the use case; determining a second parameter which indicates the criticality of the use case; determining a third parameter which indicates an execution cost of each action and decision point of the use case; determining a fourth parameter which indicates the priority of each branch of the use case; determining a fifth parameter which indicates the classification of each test parameter for each branch of the use case; determining a cost associated with the test scenario, based on a predetermined calculation using two or more of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth parameters. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319318 | NOTIFICATION TRANSMISSION OVER A NETWORK BASED ON OBSERVED DATA - One embodiment includes an apparatus that comprises a storage medium to store a database. The apparatus also includes a port to receive, over a network, data related to a number of observations at a work site based on input into an electronic device. The apparatus includes a processor to store the data into the database, wherein the processor is to output a notification message through the same or a different port and over the network to an account of a supervising party based a metric related to the number of observations. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319319 | Multiple Event Calendar Processing - A computer-implemented method of processing a plurality of events within a calendar application can include receiving a user input specifying a period of time within a calendar associated with a user, detecting a plurality of events occurring within the period of time, and determining at least one attribute for each of the plurality of events. An event clearing technique can be selected for each of the plurality of events according to the at least one attribute of each respective event. The specified time period can be cleared by executing the selected event clearing technique for each of the plurality of events, wherein an updated calendar is generated. The updated calendar can be output. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319320 | DYNAMICALLY MANAGING ELECTRONIC CALENDAR EVENTS BASED UPON KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIS) WITHIN A BUSINESS PROCESS MONITORING (BPM) SYSTEM - The present invention can include a solution that dynamically manages electronic calendar events based upon the key performance indicators (KPIs) of a business process monitoring (BPM) system. Such a system can include a BPM system, an electronic calendar software application, and a dynamic calendar event manager. The BPM system can be configured to manage data for many user-defined KPIs. The electronic calendar software application can be configured to manage the calendar data of various calendar events for many users. The dynamic calendar event definition can be configured to define a condition for modifying the calendar data of a user-specified calendar event. The dynamic calendar event definition can consist of a KPI threshold value, a calendar action, and an applicable attendee list. The dynamic calendar event manager can be configured to dynamically and automatically handle the modification of the calendar data in accordance with the dynamic calendar event definition. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319321 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SCHEDULING INSTRUCTIONAL COURSES HAVING ASSOCIATED COMPLIANCE RULES - Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for scheduling an instructional course for a student where the instructional course requires completion of a plurality of events in accordance with at least one rule associated with a regulatory authority. Students may advantageously be shown a set of available events with an indication that certain events are compliant with the rules of the regulatory authority. Following completion of the required events, compliance information may be transmitted to the regulatory authority. Further, access may be provided to one or more student accounts for auditing purposes. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319322 | INTERNATIONAL DIARY SYSTEM - The present invention relates to an international diary system. More particularly, the present invention provides a means to store and manage necessary informations related to international business or overseas trip using a calendar showing national holidays by country, thereby expanding utilization of overseas schedule management. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319323 | Computer modeling of project management process - Computer modeling process of project management based on Monte Carlo simulation of average quantum mechanical wave function of the project milestone predicting the project delay or project cost increase, based on presenting project milestones as superposition of wave functions of all tasks, averaged over multiple project samples, with each task's duration randomly distributed around its scheduled value. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319324 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATED PALLET AND SORT SCHEME MAINTENANCE - A computer coupled to a mail processing device enables sort schemes having associated sort parameters, particularly mail item sort schemes and an associated pallet scheme providing pallet location designations for mail items sorted in accord with one or more of the sort schemes. A mailing job to be run by the mail processing device as well as an execution or dispatch date of the mailing job are selected or otherwise identified. Based on mailing criteria corresponding to the mailing job, a server or other computer associated within the mail processing device retrieves a pallet scheme and a one or more mail sort schemes. One or more pallet location designations associated with the sort scheme(s) are updated, based on the pallet scheme. The mail processing device is run on the mailing job, based on said one or more enabled sort schemes. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319325 | TRANSFERRING A DIGITAL IMAGE FROM A PHOTOGRAPHER TO A FULFILLMENT CENTER TO GENERATE A PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESS - A photographer computing device is described. The device receives information that specifies option(s) to create a photographic product from a digital image; a list of fulfillment center(s) to generate the product according to the options, and routing information to at least one of the center(s). The device transmits an order for the product to at least one center. The order specifies a method (e.g., at will or within a specified or negotiated period of time) for the device to communicate the image to selected ones of the center(s). The delivery method is independent of receipt of any type of request or prompt for the image from any other computing device including the gateway device and any fulfillment center. The device uploads the image as per the delivery technique and receives confirmation that the order has been received. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319326 | CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM FOR INDUSTRIAL HUMAN RESOURCES - An environment is constructed in which students, job seekers, and employees can surely improve their skills to become the human resource image having skills and the like required by enterprises and industrial human resources can continuously receive education throughout their lifetime. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319327 | ACTION IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM - [Problems] The present invention relates to a behavior improvement system for ascertaining behavior reform by helping a person in question take notice of his or her behavior in regard to the behavior modification from various sides. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319328 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERSONAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT USING SENSORY INFORMATION - In order to manage personal information, a schedule information collector to receive items relating to a schedule of a user's and to distinguish the received items to generate first schedule data; a schedule data processor to add sensory information corresponding to the respective items of the first schedule data to generate second schedule data; and a schedule notifier to notify the sensory information of the second schedule data, in which time when the second schedule data is notified to the user is arrived, to the user. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319329 | USER PROFILE GENERATION ARCHITECTURE FOR MOBILE CONTENT-MESSAGE TARGETING - A targeted-content-message-related profile for use with wireless access terminals (W-ATs) may be generated by one or more usage-related rules on the W-AT itself. The usage generate rules may be used by the W-AT to generate a user profile, with the usage-related rule providing a dynamic property to the user profile. All or part of the user profile may then be used as a targeted-content-message-related profile for targeting content messages. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319330 | TECHNIQUES FOR EVALUATING RECOMMENDATION SYSTEMS - Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for calculating and evaluating the behavior of recommendation systems. Accuracy measures are computed for a plurality of items in a real recommendation system, an ideal recommendation system, and a popularity-based baseline recommendation system. The accuracy measures for the plurality of items are presented to a user so the user can evaluate a performance of the real recommendation system in comparison to the ideal recommendation system and the popularity-based baseline recommendation system. The accuracy measures can be presented in an interactive graph. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319331 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO RESPOND TO RECALLS - Methods and apparatus to respond to recalls are disclosed. An example method includes receiving product recall information and generating at least one store cohort based on the received product recall information to represent a plurality of stores spatially arranged based on relative similarities to at least one channel. The example method also includes generating at least one ranked list of contact information based on the at least one store cohort, and disseminating the received product recall information to an entity associated with the contact information. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319332 | DETERMINING WHETHER A RESPONSE FROM A PARTICIPANT IS CONTRADICTORY IN AN OBJECTIVE MANNER - If a response is with a threshold of the predicted response, then the contradictory response is classified as being independent and it is not truly contradictory. If a response is beyond a threshold, the response is classified as not being independent and is likely worthy of further investigation. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319333 | ESTIMATING ADVERTISING PRICES FOR AN INCUMBENT CONTENT PROVIDER - Computer-readable media and a computer system for correcting bid estimates that are calculated from stored data encompassing an incumbent customer's participation in a keyword auction are provided. Initially, input criteria is received, which includes customer-history data and a candidate position, within a ranking of incumbent customers competing to display an advertisement, that is attractive to the incumbent customer. A corrected rank model of the competing incumbent customers' ranking is generated, which effectively discounts the stored data related to the incumbent content provider. The corrected rank model is utilized to predict an adjusted average position of the incumbent content provider, within the ranking of the competing incumbent customers, without physically extracting stored data associated therewith. A corrected price model that ignores the influence of the incumbent customer's participation in the advertising auction is then constructed. This corrected price model and the candidate position facilitate predicting the corrected bid estimate. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319334 | INTEGRATING ENTERPRISE DATA AND SYNDICATED DATA - Enterprise data and syndicated data can be integrated by obtaining enterprise data, obtaining syndicated data from a syndicated data provider, performing various processing on the enterprise and syndicated data such as recast processing, fringe compensation, event identification, and/or event matching, and outputting results. A data integration framework for integrating enterprise data, syndicated data, and/or unstructured data can be provided. The framework can comprise a plurality of data extractors and a data integration module. The data integration module can be configured to perform syndicated data recast processing on the syndicated data, perform fringe compensation processing on the syndicated data, identify consumption events in the processed syndicated data, and match shipment events to consumption events. Results of the matching can be stored and reported. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319335 | NASCAR CAR CARE AUTO FAIR - The present disclosure is related to the combination of a car show and product demonstration in connection with a NASCAR race. Car enthusiasts may be invited to participate and bring their cars for display at the car show. While at the show, the car enthusiasts may be exposed to several displays promoting and demonstrating products targeted to the car care enthusiasts. Sales data or survey data may be collected at the car show to enable data mining to determine associations between various products featured at the car show and attendees of the car show. A car care product company may easily market products to attendees of the NASCAR race. The company may also demonstrate the quality of the products by showing the use of the products in a real-world environment, such as with the NASCAR automobiles or with cars of the car enthusiasts participating in the car show. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319336 | DIAMOND VALUATION METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM PRODUCT - Further it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for evaluating a diamond comprising the steps of selecting a diamond to value, determining the shape, size, color, clarity and cut of the selected diamond, determining a base price of the selected diamond, calculating the applicable discounts/premium for the parameters of the selected diamond, calculating a weightage for each parameter of the selected diamond for which a discount/premium is calculated, calculating a total adjusted price based on the discount/premium determined, the weightage determined and the base price determined in step d, and outputting the calculated total adjusted price. Further it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for determining the discounts/premium applicable to each parameter for a diamond—by selecting records of a given shape, size, color, clarity and cut—where the corresponding parameters are equal or within a specified small range, with the exception of parameter i and then determining the average sales price Y for a diamond for the ideal value V(0) of the selected parameter i, determining an average price Y(i) for a diamond with the selected parameter value of V(i), calculating a discount/premium D(i) of the selected diamond using the formula D(i)=(Y−Y(i))/Y, and repeating for each additional parameter V(i) determined. Further, the discount/premium with respect to the base/standard/index diamond, D′(i) is calculated as D′(i)=[D(i)−D(I)]/[1−D(I)] where D(I) is the discount/premium of the base/standard/index diamond. Further it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for determining the weightage for each parameter of the selected diamond by regression analysis for each parameter i. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319337 | Optical product network via Internet - An optical product network includes a plurality of product provider stations for a plurality of wholesalers and/or manufacturers jointing therewith, a plurality of sale stations for a plurality of retailers and/or exclusive venders joining therewith, and a management system forming a network bridge to link the product provider stations with the sale stations via Internet, wherein the management system manages a purchasing order from each of the sale stations for requesting an optical product from at least one of the wholesalers in a quantity manner, such that the management system is adapted for effectively managing the optical products to maximize a mutual benefit and collaboration between the wholesalers and the retailers in a quality and quantity manner. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319338 | Method and system for virtual mentoring - A virtual mentoring system for assessing traits and improvement needs of a user is disclosed. The virtual mentoring system generates a personalized plan for the user that includes recommendations for reducing one or more inhibitors inversely correlated with improvement areas. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319339 | System for evaluating customer loyalty - The present invention discloses a system and a method for evaluating customer loyalty. The system evaluates customer loyalty by calculating a satisfaction rating which is based on the customers' initial perception and actual experience of buying a product and/or service. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319340 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ANALYZING PERSONAL BEHAVIOR - The invention provides a personal behavior analysis apparatus capable of statistically analyzing a personal behavior. To analyze personal behaviors, a population data file is provided that stores flow-line data for individual persons as a population acquired by tracking the behaviors of persons within a monitored area. After input of a condition for narrowing down the flow-line data as analysis objects is accepted via a condition input section, the population data file is searched based on the condition and flow-line data meeting the condition is acquired. The acquired flow-line data is stored in a subpopulation data file as a subpopulation. A control section of the apparatus calculates statistics values related to personal behavior analysis using the flow-line data stored in the subpopulation data file and displays them on a display section. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319341 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OBTAINING VEHICLE ENTERTAINMENT STATISTICS - A telematics control unit in a vehicle couples to a vehicle communication network bus and monitors signals on the bus that correspond to various parameters related to entertainment devices in the vehicle, such as, for examples, a radio, a telephone, and a video player. During a predetermined period, the TCU monitors the entertainment device signals and stores information represented by the signals to a memory. The TCU transmits the entertainment device signal information from the memory to a telematics operations center server operated by a telematics services provider. The TOC is configured to analyze the status of the entertainment signal information to determine various entertainment device settings in the vehicle and how they correlate with given entertainment programming, based on programs being broadcast when the TCU monitors the signal, or programs an occupant of the vehicle plays from storage media. Advertisers may obtain the information analysis and tailor advertising accordingly. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319342 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AGGREGATING AND SUMMARIZING PRODUCT/TOPIC SENTIMENT - Documents are collected from a variety of publicly available sources that contain product data including product reviews, product specifications, price information and the like. Snippets of text obtained from the documents are analyzed for relevance, sentiment, credibility and other aspects that help evaluate the quality of a product. Feature vectors are computed for snippets to analyze relevance, sentiment, or credibility. Statistical analysis is performed on the feature vectors to estimate a measure of the relevance, sentiment, or credibility. Factors associated with various snippets are aggregated to compute a quality score for a product or a particular aspect of product including product features, attributes, usages, or user personas. Information is displayed on a user interface that allows the user to examine the details relevant to computation of the quality score. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319343 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING GUIDANCE DATA - Described herein is a system and method for providing entity investment guidance via a communication network. The system includes a server, at least one entity-issued disclosure received by the server via the communication network and a storage accessible by the server. The storage includes at least one forecast data extracted from the at least one entity disclosure, said forecast data indicative of a projection of an entity performance parameter, and a context file for each of the forecast data, the context file including at least a portion of the entity disclosure associated with the forecast data. Also included in the system is a user interface in communication with the server, wherein the server generates an investment guidance display of the forecast data and the context file and transmits the display to the user interface via the communication network. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319344 | ASSESSMENT OF SALES FORCE PERSONNEL FOR IMPROVEMENT OF SALES PERFORMANCE - Personality, behavior and competency assessment data is obtained for a sales person (or group of sales persons), particularly via a computer-implemented interface. The resulting overall individual (or aggregated) assessment data is then compared with high sales performer benchmark data to identify performance improvement opportunities that, in turn, are used to identify at least one specific action for the sales person (or group of sales persons). Such techniques may be use with sales management personnel as well. Reports based on the assessment results and comparisons thereof with high sales performer benchmark data may be created and provided to the individuals being assessed or persons associated with the individual sales persons. The personality, behavior and competency assessment data may also be used to identify predictive characteristics of high sales performers that may be subsequently used to predict other characteristics of individuals or groups. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319345 | Method for evaluating performance of internal network in an enterprise - An evaluating method for internal network performance by simulation of a flow network model with an acceptable threshold for the required flow of the internal network is applied to a computer system. The network model comprises plural nodes and document flow paths, wherein each said node corresponds to one employee of the internal network with a capacity, which is tested to get a testing result, and each said document flow path has a flow, which maps into a probability distribution data by a probability mapping function. According to the probability mapping function and operation relationship between the capacity and the flow together with the acceptable threshold and the probability distribution data, a system reliability value is calculated out and shown in a display screen. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319346 | Intelligently interactive profiling system and method - One aspect of the invention is a method for identifying at least one property of data. An example of the method includes receiving data, and making assessments regarding the data. The method also includes applying at least one behavioral operator, and outputting results. The method further comprises receiving feedback concerning system performance. Additionally, the method includes adjusting at least one parameter based on the feedback received concerning system performance, wherein the at least one parameter is a parameter of a machine learning method. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319347 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A HOLISTIC WELL-BEING ASSESSMENT - Systems and methods are described for an assessment tool built on a holistic well-being improvement model. The model consists of a series of assessments including, but not limited to a well-being improvement assessment, work productivity assessment, and a clinical health risk assessment. A member would complete these assessments through an internet site, on paper, on the phone, and/or on any other medium generally known in the art. After a member participates in the assessment, the assessment is analyzed based on a series of predefined algorithms. A member is then provided with system tools and access to third party behavior change tools and resources. Concurrently the data is compiled for the benefit of an employer and/or a provider in the form of an aggregate report in order to understand the status of the current population's well being and also providing the ability to predict future outcomes. The system further tracks the progress of a member on their well-being goals and behaviors. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319348 | MOBILE COMPUTING SERVICES BASED ON DEVICES WITH DYNAMIC DIRECTION INFORMATION - Direction based pointing services are enabled for a portable electronic device including a positional component for receiving positional information as a function of a location of the portable electronic device, a directional component that outputs direction information as a function of an orientation of the portable electronic device and a location based engine that processes the positional information and the direction information to determine points of interest relative to the portable electronic device as a function of at least the positional information and the direction information. A set of scenarios with respect to non-movable endpoints of interest in the system emerge and these scenarios and other embodiments are described in more detail below. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319349 | MOBILE MEMBER OPERATION METHOD - The present invention provides a mobile member operation method suitable for a mobile electronic device, and the mobile electronic device is connected to a service server by a network. The mobile member operation method comprising: the mobile electronic device receives an update command. The mobile electronic device transmits the update command to the service server by the network. The service server determines that whether the user is a member and searches discount information by specific searching criteria, such as store location, industries, or other criteria, according to the update command. The service server transmits the discount information to the mobile electronic device for storing in a memory of the mobile electronic device if the user is a member. The mobile electronic device displays the discount information and receives a using command; and the mobile electronic device outputs the discount information. | 2009-12-24 |
20090319350 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING PRIORITIZED ADVERTISING DATA DURING EXECUTION OF VIDEO TRICK PLAY COMMAND DATA - A computer readable medium is disclosed containing computer executable instructions that when executed by a computer perform a method, the method including but not limited to receiving trick play command data at an end user device; receiving a plurality of advertising data at the end user device; correlating the plurality of advertising data with penetration data for an end user associated with the end user device; prioritizing the advertising data for the end user device based on the correlation; and presenting a portion of the advertising data on the end user device based on the prioritizing of the advertising data during execution of the trick play command data. A system is disclosed that is useful in performing the method. A data structure embedded in a computer readable medium is disclosed that contains data used by the system and method. | 2009-12-24 |