45th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 44 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090276209 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY PROCESSING CANDIDATE RESUMES AND JOB SPECIFICATIONS EXPRESSED IN NATURAL LANGUAGE INTO A NORMALIZED FORM USING FREQUENCY ANALYSIS - Systems and methods for automatically processing candidate resumes and job specifications expressed in natural language into a normalized form using frequency analysis. A database of elements is provided in which each element is expressed in natural language and at least some of which are associated with a corresponding set of synonymous words or phrases. Candidate resumes and job specifications are received in electronic form and expressed in natural language. The candidate resumes and job specifications are analyzed to extract elements expressed in candidate resumes and job specifications. The extracted elements are compared to the database. For each extracted element, the most frequent element or synonym is identified an used as a common form for the extracted element. A set of candidate resumes is matched with a corresponding job specification by comparing the set of elements expressed in common form for the resumes with the set of elements expressed in common form for the job specification. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276210 | STEREO AUDIO ENCODING APPARATUS, STEREO AUDIO DECODING APPARATUS, AND METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed is a stereo speech decoding device and others capable of reducing a stereo speech encoding bit rate and suppressing degradation of speech quality. In this device, a section | 2009-11-05 |
20090276211 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR UPDATING STATUS OF SYNTHESIS FILTERS - A method and device for updating statuses of synthesis filters are provided. The method includes: exciting a synthesis filter corresponding to a first encoding rate by using an excitation signal of the first encoding rate, outputting reconstructed signal information, and updating status information of the synthesis filter and a synthesis filter corresponding to a second encoding rate. In the present disclosure, the status of the synthesis filter corresponding to the current rate and the statuses of the synthesis filters at other rates are updated. Thus, synchronization between the statuses of the synthesis filters corresponding to different rates at the encoding terminal may be realized, thereby facilitating the consistency of the reconstructed signals of the encoding and decoding terminals when the encoding rate is switched, and improving the quality of the reconstructed signal of the decoding terminal. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276212 | ROBUST DECODER - Techniques and tools related to delayed or lost coded audio information are described. For example, a concealment technique for one or more missing frames is selected based on one or more factors that include a classification of each of one or more available frames near the one or more missing frames. As another example, information from a concealment signal is used to produce substitute information that is relied on in decoding a subsequent frame. As yet another example, a data structure having nodes corresponding to received packet delays is used to determine a desired decoder packet delay value. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276213 | ROBUST DOWNLINK SPEECH AND NOISE DETECTOR - A voice activity detection process is robust to a low and high signal-to-noise ratio speech and signal loss. A process divides an aural signal into one or more bands. Signal magnitudes of frequency components and the respective noise components are estimated. A noise adaptation rate modifies estimates of noise components based on differences between the signal to the estimated noise and signal variability. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276214 | METHOD FOR DUAL CHANNEL MONITORING ON A RADIO DEVICE - A method for dual channel monitoring on a radio device as provided enables efficient use of communication network resources. The method includes receiving at the radio device a first speech signal over a first channel, while simultaneously receiving at the radio device a second speech signal over a second channel. The first speech signal is then processed at the radio device to generate a text transcription of the first speech signal, and the text transcription of the first speech signal is displayed on a display screen of the radio device. An audible voice signal is then produced from a speaker that is operatively connected to the radio device simultaneously with displaying the text transcription of the first speech signal. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276215 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CORRECTING TRANSCRIBED AUDIO FILES - Methods and systems for correcting transcribed text. One method includes receiving audio data from one or more audio data sources and transcribing the audio data based on a voice model to generate text data. The method also includes making the text data available to a plurality of users over at least one computer network and receiving corrected text data over the at least one computer network from the plurality of users. In addition, the method can include modifying the voice model based on the corrected text data. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276216 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ROBUST PATTERN MATCHING IN CONTINUOUS SPEECH - A method for speech recognition, the method includes: extracting time—frequency speech features from a series of reference speech elements in a first series of sampling windows; aligning reference speech elements that are not of equal time span duration; constructing a common subspace for the aligned speech features; determining a first set of coefficient vectors; extracting a time—frequency feature image from a test speech stream spanned by a second sampling window; approximating the extracted image in the common subspace for the aligned extracted time—frequency speech features with a second coefficient vector; computing a similarity measure between the first and the second coefficient vector; determining if the similarity measure is below a predefined threshold; and wherein a match between the reference speech elements and a portion of the test speech stream is made in response to a similarity measure below a predefined threshold. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276217 | VOIP CALLER AUTHENTICATION BY VOICE SIGNATURE CONTINUITY - There are provided methods and systems for authenticating a user. A method includes receiving a voice signature certificate corresponding to a setup portion of a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call. The VoIP call further has a voice conversation portion. The voice signature certificate includes a voice signature segment. The method further includes reproducing the voice signature segment to enable verification of voice continuity from the setup portion to the voice conversation portion. The verification is performing by comparing the voice signature segment to a user's voice during the voice conversation portion. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276218 | Robot and Server with Optimized Message Decoding - A method for optimizing message transmission and decoding comprises: reading data from a memory of an originating device, the data comprising information regarding the originating device; encoding the data by converting the data to a subset of words having a ranked recognition accuracy higher than the remainder of words; transmitting the encoded data from the originating device to a receiving system audibly as words via a telephone connection; utilizing a voice recognition software to recognize the words; decoding the words back to the data; and taking a predetermined action based on the data. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276219 | VOICE INPUT SYSTEM AND VOICE INPUT METHOD - In the present invention, a voice input system and a voice input method are provided. The voice input method includes the steps of: (A) initiating a speech recognition process by a first input associated with a first parameter of a first speech recognition subject; (B) providing a voice and a searching space constructed by a speech recognition model associated with the first speech recognition subject; (C) obtaining a sub-searching space from the searching space based on the first parameter; (D) searching at least one candidate item associated with the voice from the sub-searching space; and (E) showing the at least one candidate item. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276220 | MEASURING DOUBLE TALK PERFORMANCE - A system evaluates a hands free communication system. The system automatically selects a consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC), vowel-consonant-vowel (VCV), or other combination of sounds from an intelligent database. The selection is transmitted with another communication stream that temporally overlaps the selection. The quality of the communication system is evaluated through an automatic speech recognition engine. The evaluation occurs at a location remote from the transmitted selection. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276221 | Method and System for Processing Channel B Data for AMR and/or WAMR - A method and system for processing channel B data for AMR and/or WAMR may include generating one or more channel B data hypotheses for a present speech frame, if channel A data has a valid CRC and channel B data is unacceptable. Channel B data may be unacceptable, for example, due to high residual bit error rate and/or low Viterbi metric. Speech hypotheses may also be generated for the present speech frame, where each speech hypothesis may be based on a corresponding channel B data hypothesis and channel A data. A speech constraint metric may be assigned to each speech hypothesis that is compared to a previous frame speech data. The speech hypothesis that is closest to the previous frame speech data may be selected as a present speech data. The speech constraint metric may, for example, measure gain continuity and/or pitch continuity. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276222 | Method and system for incorporating one or more inputs and defining and applying a plurality of rules for the different stages of speech and video analytics systems - A method and system for improving the context and accuracy of speech and video analytics searches by incorporating one or more inputs and defining and applying a plurality of rules for the different stages of said speech and video analytics system searches. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276223 | REMOTE ADMINISTRATION METHOD AND SYSTEM - An administration method and system. The method includes receiving by a computing system, a telephone call from an administrator. The computing system presents an audible menu associated with a plurality of computers to the administrator. The computing system receives from the administrator, an audible selection for a computer from the audible menu. The computing system receives from the administrator, an audible verbal command for performing a maintenance operation on the computer. The computing system executes the maintenance operation on the computer. The computing system receives from the computer, confirmation data indicating that the maintenance operation has been completed. The computing system converts the confirmation data into an audible verbal message. The computing system transmits the second audible verbal message to the administrator. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276224 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING DELIVERY OF MEDIA CONTENT BY A MEDIA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may operate according to, for example, a method involving recording audio feedback from a plurality of subscribers commenting on media content supplied by a media communication system on at least one of a plurality of media channels, detecting one or more trigger words in the recorded audio feedback having an association with a disruption of one or more media services supplied by the media communication system, selecting one or more network elements of the media communication system in at least one transmission path that supplies media services to one or more of the plurality of subscribers that supplied audio feedback matching the one or more trigger words, and directing the selected one or more network elements to record media content on one or more media channels selected from the plurality of media channels. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276225 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATED SENTENCE PLANNING IN A TASK CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM - The invention relates to a method for sentence planning ( | 2009-11-05 |
20090276226 | METHOD AND TERMINAL FOR ENCODING AN ANALOG SIGNAL AND A TERMINAL FOR DECORDING THE ENCODED SIGNAL - An analog signal divided into time frames is encoded and a synthetic signal is formed on the model thereof in a time frame manner via a synthesis filter which is excited by an excitation signal. The excitation signal is formed by at least one adaptive code list containing a plurality of scanning values provided with a defined scanning space. For the actual excitation signal, a segment corresponding to the time frame length is selected from the plurality of scanning values via a speech-based frequency parameter which can take non-integer values and, in such a case, the values intermediate to the scanning values defined by the speech-based frequency parameter are formed in such a way that the time space between the intermediate values and the scanning values is reduced and the totality of the intermediate and the scanning values is used for forming the excitation signal. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276227 | FAST SYNTHESIS SUB-BAND FILTERING METHOD FOR DIGITAL SIGNAL DECODING - In order to reproduce audio signals which have been compressed or encoded for storage or transmission using, for example, MPEG audio encoding, a synthesis sub-band filter is employed which performs an inverse modified discrete cosine transform. The computational cost of the IMDCT implementation is reduced by pre-calculating arrays of sum and difference data. The arrays of sum and difference data are then used in two separate transform calculations, the results of which can be used in the generation of pulse code modulation audio data. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276228 | TECHNIQUES FOR INTERNET CAFE SERVICE PROVIDER ACCESS - Techniques for Internet café service provider access are presented. An Internet café includes one or more computers that customers use to access the Internet. Each computer of the Internet café is provisioned with a virtual machine (VM), each VM is tailored with a particular operating system (OS) and suite of services. The OS's and suite of services are regularly updated over the Internet via a Internet café service provider to keep the VM's up-to-date via remote administration that is not needed on site at the Internet café. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276229 | METHODS OF MONITORING THE EFFECT OF NUTRITIONAL PRODUCTS - Methods of measuring the effects of nutritional products on a consumer and generating revenue from products related to same are provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of monitoring one or more effects of a nutritional product on a consumer. The method comprises providing a nutritional product and a personal monitoring device for use by a consumer and measuring an effect that the nutritional product has on the consumer using the personal monitoring device. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276230 | AMASSING INFORMATION ABOUT COMMUNITY PARTICIPANT BEHAVIORS - Particular embodiments provide recommendations based on community affiliation. In one embodiment, the method determines a query from a target user. A community in which the target user is a member is then determined. The community may include a plurality of members that have joined the community based on a common interest. User activity information is analyzed for at least a portion of the members of the community to determine a recommendation for the query. The user activity information is determined to be of interest to the target user based on the target user's membership in the community. For example, based on the user's membership in the community, recommendations as to what other members in the community liked can be correlated to the query for the target user. Thus, the recommendation may be provided to the user based on what other users in the community liked. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276231 | Method and System for Job and Career Guidance, Planning, Strategy and Workforce Development - A method, system and computer program product for career guidance and planning, the method includes receiving an electronic request for guidance relating to procuring a job role in a particular job category; retrieving data relating to documented qualifications and retrieving data relating to the required qualifications necessary for at least one job role in the particular job category. The method and system also include comparing the documented qualifications with the required qualifications necessary for the at least one target job role in the particular job category and determining the differences between the documented qualifications and the required qualifications necessary for the at least one job role as well as displaying each difference between the documented qualifications and the required qualifications necessary for the at least one job role. The method and system also include retrieving data relating to the training necessary to address the skill gap between the documented qualifications and the required qualifications necessary for the at least one job role and providing at least one strategy and recommendation in response to the electronic request on how to efficiently develop the skills necessary to address the skill gap between the documented qualifications and the at least one target job role. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276232 | WARRANTY MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - An integrated circuit (IC) including a warranty and enforcement system and a method are disclosed. In one embodiment, an IC includes a parameter obtainer for obtaining a value of a parameter of the IC; a warranty data storage system for storing warranty limit data regarding the IC; a comparator for determining whether a warranty limit has been exceeded by comparing the value of the parameter to a corresponding warranty limit; and an action taker for taking a prescribed action in response to the warranty limit being exceeded. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276233 | COMPUTERIZED CREDIBILITY SCORING - A credibility engine creates individual credibility scores and network credibility scores that are distinguished from purely economic credit scores and which can be used to objectively rate a comparative value of credibility for entities and entity networks. The credibility engine analyzes credibility related information obtained from information providers and calculates corresponding credibility scores that are provided to information requesters. Some of the credibility related information used to create the credibility scores is obtained from surveys or reviews provided to primary and secondary sources having corresponding primary and secondary relationships with the entity. The entity can be an individual or organization. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276234 | Method and system for predicting credit ratings transitions - A system and method is provided for allowing users to create portfolios of issuers and macroeconomic scenarios used to determine pertinent rating facts and future paths of macroeconomic drivers. The system and method use the pertinent rating facts and the future paths of macroeconomic drivers, namely unemployment rates and high yield spreads, as inputs to a Credit Transition Model (CTM). The system and method generate a complete set of rating transitions, including predicting the probability of default, while taking into account withdrawal of issuers to more accurately reflect default rates. The system and method provide users with multiple choices for outputs from the CTM and can easily and quickly generate results from the model. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276235 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO FACILITATE ETHNOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENTS - Example methods and apparatus to facilitate ethnographic measurements are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes transmitting a first survey question set to a wireless device associated with a respondent and receiving a response from the wireless device, the response indicative of a mood of the respondent, and transmitting a second survey question set to the respondent, the second survey question set based on the respondent mood. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276236 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR IMPLEMENTING A LOCATOR SERVICE - Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing a locator service are provided. A method includes receiving object identification information and location identification information from a vehicle. The location identification information indicates the presence of the vehicle at a parking space. The method also includes creating an occupancy record that includes the object identification information and the location identification information. The method further includes receiving a request to locate the vehicle during an exiting process, the request including at least a portion of the objection identification information. The method further includes retrieving the location identification information from the occupancy record associated with the object identification information, and presenting the location identification information of the parking space to the operator. The location identification information is received at the computer system via a radio frequency identifier associated with the parking space. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276237 | Method and arrangement for monitoring health data - The invention relates to a method and a system for monitoring health data. The invention relates specifically to data monitoring included in an enquiry presented to a patient. In accordance with the invention, an impulse is sent from the server to the terminal of a person living at a distance in order to present an electronic enquiry in the terminal for the person living at a distance to fill in at least partly and/or for the terminal to fill in at least partly. While filling in the enquiry, the terminal reads the person's health data measured by at least one measuring instrument for measuring the person's health data and encloses the read data in electronic form with the answer. In accordance with the invention, the health-measuring instrument is selected in the terminal on the basis of the electronic enquiry. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276238 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING FINANCIAL DATA FOR OPTICAL LABS SHARING LENS CALCULATION SOFTWARE - A method and system for allowing multiple geographically distributed optical labs to share global resources over a telecommunications network. Each optical lab is set up as a client account on the server with privileges to access the global recourses. Each lab has its own equipment set, the settings and configuration of which, are recorded in one of the client account databases. Other proprietary databases contain price lists, financial information and patient data. The lens calculation software encounters a sequential stream of job requests from different client accounts. The corresponding proprietary account data, allows uniform pricing rules to be applied to lens processing jobs. As jobs are completed, each lab receives an individual packet of printable job ticket data, printable invoice data, electronic interface files for the lens generating equipment, and an extract file for importing into the labs accounting software. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276239 | VALIDATED HEALTHCARE CLEANING AND SANITIZING PRACTICES - A validated healthcare facility cleaning and sanitizing system provides a comprehensive and systematic approach to cleaning and sanitizing practices at a hospital or other healthcare facility. The validated hospital cleaning system identifies hospital vectors of contamination; that is, sources through which hospital acquired infections (HAIs) may be spread. The validated system defines a plurality of modules within a healthcare facility, each having an associated cleaning process map designed to meet the particular cleaning and/or sanitizing needs and challenges faced by that module. Various stages of the cleaning process map include validation points, at which certain parameters designed to ensure proper cleaning and/or sanitizing of the module are verified. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276240 | Patient Problem Data Structure and Processing System - A patient problem data system stores data representing a plurality of different patient problems for use in providing healthcare to a patient. An acquisition processor acquires data representing a patient problem for storage in a repository. A repository, electrically coupled to the acquisition processor, includes data representing a plurality of different patient problems; an individual patient problem has a patient problem name and is characterized by patient problem attributes; an individual patient problem has a plurality of attribute properties determining how a patient problem attribute is represented. Patient problem attributes include a focus term indicating a topic of a patient problem, a patient problem likelihood term indicating an assessment of likelihood of the associated corresponding patient problem, and a client term indicating at least one target person for care. The attribute properties include a format attribute property indicating a format constraint of a patient problem attribute and a content attribute property indicating a content constraint of a patient problem attribute. A retrieval processor, electrically coupled to the repository, retrieves data representing at least one patient problem from the repository. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276241 | Patient Care and Treatment Data Structure and Processing System - An expected outcome data system stores data representing a plurality of different expected outcomes of patient care and treatment for use in providing healthcare to a patient. An acquisition processor acquires data representing an expected outcome of treatment associated with a medical problem for storage in a repository. A repository, electrically coupled to the acquisition processor, includes data representing a plurality of different expected outcomes; an individual expected outcome has an expected outcome name and is characterized by expected outcome attributes; an individual expected outcome has a plurality of attribute properties determining how an expected outcome attribute is represented. Expected outcome attributes include a focus term indicating a topic of an expected outcome, an expected outcome likelihood term indicating an assessment of likelihood of the associated corresponding expected outcome, and a client term indicating at least one target person for care. The attribute properties include a format attribute property indicating a format constraint of an expected outcome attribute and a content attribute property indicating a content constraint of an expected outcome attribute. A retrieval processor, electrically coupled to the repository, retrieves data representing at least one expected outcome from the repository. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276242 | System, method and apparatus for second opinion - A method for providing a medical second opinion includes receiving a first IDC-9 code from a physician at a computerized system. The first ICD-9 code is related to a clinical interest of the physician. A second ICD-9 code is received at the computerized system from a patient. The computerized system compares the first and second ICD-9 code values. By finding equivalent or equal ICD-9 codes, a physician having an appropriate clinical interest is automatically referred to the patient. The physician provides a second medical opinion. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276243 | Healthcare Notification Method And System Including A Healthcare Website - Methods and apparatus enabling organizations with a need to communicate with healthcare providers regarding health-related issues affecting patient health to notify healthcare providers of a health-related issue affecting patient health are disclosed. An electronic notification of the health-related issue is transmitted by one of the organizations to a healthcare notification network, which may include a healthcare website, for transmission to a healthcare provider, where the electronic notification includes a mechanism for obtaining an acknowledgement indicating that the healthcare provider has received and opened the electronic notification. Healthcare related information, such as drug recalls and medication warnings to healthcare providers from content providers, along with other services, is provided at the healthcare website. Healthcare related information may also be provided through other websites, such as electronic prescription and electronic medical/health records websites. Other services include providing corresponding Continuing Medical Education (“CME”) courses that may enable healthcare providers to earn CME credits toward a Maintenance of Certification (MOC) required by Medical Boards. MOCs for corresponding healthcare providers along with certificates to prescribe particular medications and/or use particular medical devices may be also stored at the healthcare website and verified by third parties, such as pharmacists and medical device manufacturers, before delivery. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276244 | HEALTH CARE FINANCING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A computer implemented method for determining eligibility of a patient to receive financial assistance. The method utilizes health care financial assistance information associated with at least a first potential health care financial assistance plan and a second potential health care financial assistance plan, wherein the patient is not enrolled in either of the first or second potential health care financial assistance plans at the time of the determination of the eligibility, wherein the first potential health care financial assistance plan is provided by a first health care financial assistance plan provider, wherein the second potential health care financial assistance plan is provided by a second health care financial assistance plan provider, wherein the health care financial assistance information associated with the first potential health care financial assistance plan includes first provider qualification criteria and wherein the health care financial assistance information associated with the second potential health care financial assistance plan includes second provider qualification criteria. A system for financing health care is also disclosed. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276245 | AUTOMATED HEALTHCARE IMAGE REGISTRATION WORKFLOW - Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some implementations automatic selection of a number of options in a clinical scenario of healthcare image workflow is provided. The options include selection of datasets, registration process, display mode, fusing process and/or publication. The automatic selection provides for a fully automated workflow. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276246 | Automated Interdisciplinary Plan of Care Generation System - A processing device implemented system supports providing a plan of care for a patient. A repository includes data representing a plurality of different patient problems and including data representing an individual plan of care, indicating care to be provided to a specific patient, associated with a patient problem, an expected outcome, clinical observations, and orders for treatment to be administered to a patient. A data processor searches data in the repository to identify one or more candidate plans of care associated with a particular patient problem in response to user entry of data identifying the particular patient problem by searching data in the repository for a code associated with the particular patient problem. A display processor generates data representing at least one display image including data representing the one or more candidate plans of care associated with the particular patient problem enabling a user to select a particular plan of care for a particular patient. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276247 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WEB-BASED GROUP INSURANCE/BENEFITS PROCUREMENT AND/OR ADMINISTRATION - Systems and methods may include receiving a request for quote information from a customer computer via a website; responsive to the request, providing rates for a plurality of insurance/benefits products associated with one or more carriers via the website, where the plurality of insurance/benefits products includes an insurance/benefits product associated with a carrier of the one or more carriers; receiving, from the customer computer via the website, a purchase instruction requesting a purchase of at least the insurance/benefits product; receiving, from the customer computer via the website, an electronic application, where the electronic application is executed electronically; and directing a transmission of the electronic application to the carrier of the insurance/benefits product for approval or denial, where upon receiving an approval response or a denial response from the carrier, notifying a customer of the approval response or the denial response for the insurance/benefits product. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276248 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR FUNDING INSURANCE PREMIUM FINANCING CONTRACTS - An apparatus, system, method, and computer program product for funding insurance premium financing contracts and loans by a premium financier related to an insurance contract on behalf of an insured entity. Interest can be paid from the premium finance company to an insurance company associated with the insurance contract between a start date and a remittance date on which a premium payment is made on the insurance contract. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276249 | Method and system for providing healthcare insurance - A method and system for providing healthcare benefits according to the present invention may include a proposed healthcare plan having a primary component, a supplemental component, and a procedure for optimizing services consumption which is presented and customized “on-the-fly” to benefits providers, such as employers, and administered in an efficient manner that reduces the claims processing burden on individuals or families covered under the proposed plan. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276250 | PROCESS AND SYSTEM TO DETERMINE COMMERCIAL AIRLINE ARRIVALS - An apparatus, a method, a system and a computer program for providing users with early and accurate information relating to a status of a particular flight. Early and accurate information relating to a status of a particular flight is provided to the user. The method includes receiving user data that includes aircraft departure information, determining inbound aircraft data based on the user data, receiving constraint status information, generating update status data based on the inbound aircraft data, outbound aircraft data and constraint status information, and sending an update status message to the user. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276251 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTING AND RESERVING AIRLINE SEATS - The present invention relates to a system and method for selecting and reserving airline seats. The system or method receives first data representing payment information over the network from a general purpose computer. The system or method also transmits second data to an application running on the general purpose computer, the second data including information descriptive of available individual seats on one or more airplanes, the second data processed by the application to generate a graphical user interface on the general purpose computer that comprises an interactive seating map representing individual seats on the one or more airplanes, the second data processed by the application to generate an additional display of information about selection of seats in response to a user interaction with the graphical user interface, the interaction being triggered when placing a mouse over a portion of the graphical user interface. In addition, the system or method receives from the general purpose computer third data representing one or more seats selected by one or more mouse clicks. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276252 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING AIRLINE SEATS - The present invention relates to a system and method for displaying airline seats. The system or method transmits data to an application running on a general purpose computer, the data including information descriptive of available individual seats on one or more airplanes, the data processed by the application to generate a graphical user interface on the general purpose computer that comprises an interactive seating map representing individual seats on the one or more airplanes, the data processed by the application to generate an additional display of information about one or more of the individual seats in response to a user interaction with the graphical user interface, the interaction being triggered when placing a mouse over a portion of the graphical user interface. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276253 | System for Determining Shortage Costs - A system that can determine shortage costs in a repeatable and sustainable manner. In certain embodiments, the system takes into account different shortage costs that impact different organizations and weight those shortage costs against the costs to expedite material in to cover those shortages. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the system can continue to be updated based on changing needs of the business and to reflect a true impact of unit shortages so accurate expedite decisions can continue to be made and accounted for that are of the most economic benefit to a manufacturer. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276254 | COLOR FORMULATION SELECTION PROCESS - A computer-implemented method of repairing a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes steps of estimating the cost of performing repairs to a damaged vehicle and determining a refinish paint formulation for refinishing a vehicle by conducting a computer-based search for a refinish paint formulation that best matches the vehicle's original finish prior to performing the repair work on the vehicle, where the repair work comprises performing any body work, mechanical systems work and/or electrical systems work and refinishing the vehicle. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276255 | PRIORITIZING CLIENT ENGAGEMENTS AT ACCOUNTING PRACTICES - Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to software for prioritizing client engagements at accounting practices. The disclosure describes various data inputs, a business objectives preference module, an optimization engine, user schedule(s), and, in an embodiment, a database or data warehouse. The optimization engine receives requests for new clients, requests for new projects for existing clients, or the like, receives business objectives, receives a current client engagement schedule and receives various additional input data, preferences, or user settings. The engine outputs an updated client engagement schedule, including, for example, whether undertaking the new client or project is advisable based on some or all of the input data. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276256 | METHOD FOR COMPUTING AN ENTERPRISE PROCESS COMPLIANCE INDEX - Techniques for computing an enterprise process compliance index are provided. The techniques include obtaining an enterprise process, obtaining a compliance policy, segmenting the enterprise process into at least one process step and the compliance policy in at least one policy clause, and computing an enterprise process compliance index, wherein computing the enterprise process compliance index comprises determining an applicability of the at least one process step to the at least one policy clause. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276257 | System and Method for Determining and Managing Risk Associated with a Business Relationship Between an Organization and a Third Party Supplier - Aspects of this invention are directed to a method for determining and managing risk associated with a business relationship between an organization and a third party supplier. A further aspect of this invention relates to a system that allows the organization to manage risk and compliance processes. Further aspects of this invention relate to identifying a potential third party for conducting a business relationship, obtaining information about the third party relating to the risk associated with the business relationship with the third party, and generating at least one score related to the risk associated with the business relationship with the third party. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276258 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING WORKFORCE TALENT SUPPLY - Systems and methods for estimating workforce talent supply. Candidate resumes are received in electronic form and expressed in natural language. The natural language expression of the candidate resumes is analyzed to extract elements expressed in candidate resumes and to convert extracted elements into a normalized form. A sampling database of candidates is built using normalized form of elements produced by the analysis of candidate resumes to provide an element-level description of each candidate in the sampling database. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is used to determine the national supply of workforce talent by occupation, and the national or regional workforce supply of talent is estimated at an element level by statistically extrapolating the information in the sampling database in accordance with the BLS data. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276259 | AGGREGATING RISK IN AN ENTERPRISE STRATEGY AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A system for aggregating risk data in an enterprise strategy and performance management is provided. The system, in one example embodiment, includes a risk fetching module to obtain risk exposure data, the risk exposure data related to one or more objectives, a risk data parser to determine a first objective from the one or more objectives, a selector to determine source risk exposure values from the risk exposure data, the source risk exposure values being related to the first objective, an aggregator to aggregate the source risk exposure values related to the first objective into an aggregated risk value, and a mapping module to determine a performance goal corresponding to the first objective. A view generator may be provided to generate a combined view to include performance data related to the performance goal and the aggregated risk value. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276260 | Assessing Risk - Systems, methods, and apparatus, including software tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, involve a future deadline for completion of a project milestone. An estimate of an amount of time slippage associated with the future deadline is received. A probability of missing the future deadline is calculated based on the estimated amount of time slippage and an amount of time remaining until the future deadline. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276261 | ASSESSMENT METHOD FOR PROCESS IMPROVEMENT DECISIONS - A risk assessment method for process improvement decisions applying for semiconductor process change comprises: performing a risk assessment evaluation to compute a polarity (plurality?) of items corresponding to their values, generating a risk assessment evaluation value to determine if the risk assessment evaluation value is in a risk setting value, go to next two steps; not, go to next step; performing an active inspect for the polarity (plurality?) of items corresponding to their item setting values, if not satisfied with the active inspect, repeat the above step; if not, transferring the semiconductor process change to online process. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276262 | Production management system, production management method, and storage medium containing production management program for executing the production management method - There is provided a production management system that can easily build a production system of each finished product without requiring the time and labor for management of production factors. In a production management system ( | 2009-11-05 |
20090276263 | Framework for realization of web 2.0 features - A method to shape one or more features of Web 2.0 in the form of Web 2.0 solutions, using Web 2.0 realization framework, to the plurality of enterprises is disclosed. The method includes identifying the respective enterprises computing infrastructure and a business application needs of the respective enterprises. The respective enterprises current support system is also measured to find the feasibility of implementing the features of the Web 2.0. The method further comprises offering one or more Web 2.0 features to the respective enterprises based on the business activity. The method includes providing the Web Realization Cycle (WRC) for controlled implementation of Web 2.0 features to the respective enterprises. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276264 | TARGETED PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A targeted product distribution system is described herein with respect to an exemplary management of product flow through a distribution center. Specifically, the system and method described herein is directed to the management and display of direct and easily-understood instructions, such that average individuals, as well as those with mental disabilities, will be able to contribute equally to the overall process. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276265 | COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK SERVICE DEPLOYMENT SIMULATOR - A decision management system simulates a communications network service deployment using business and technology changeable parameters, a base case model, a network cost model and a bandwidth model. The simulations may be performed for different sets of changeable parameters to generate multiple candidate solutions. These solutions are analyzed to identify a solution for deploying the communications network service. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276266 | WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT METHOD USING AN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus determines whether workflow information is included in a received print request. When the workflow information is included in the received print request, the image forming apparatus analyzes the workflow information and calculates a limit date/time to be notified to workers taking charge of respective steps of a workflow. The image forming apparatus prepares E-mail data including information that indicates the limit date/time. The image forming apparatus sends the prepared E-mail by referring to mail addresses of the workers taking charge of the respective steps of the workflow. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276267 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING WEIGHT DATA RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION - The subject matter discloses a method of handling weight data related to transportation, comprising receiving weight data from a passenger, a representative, or the passenger; accumulating the weight data associated with a specific trip and determining the amount of fuel required for the specific trip as a function of the accumulated weight data. The subject matter also discloses an apparatus for implementing the method and a method of doing business utilizing the data analyzed by the method | 2009-11-05 |
20090276268 | Systems And Methods For Selecting Flour - Flour may be treated to denature the proteins and modify starches. The invention includes methods and systems for determining whether to use treated flour or untreated flour. The invention also includes methods and systems for determining whether to treat flour or not. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276269 | Software identifier based correlation - Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with software identifier based correlation are described. One example system includes an identifier data store to store a first identifier that uniquely identifies a discovered instance of a software title installed in an enterprise. The first identifier is discoverable from the discovered instance and may be provided by a discovery logic. The second identifier identifies a known instance of a software title associated with the enterprise and is provided from an enterprise resource planning (ERP) data store by an ERP logic. The example system may also include a correlation logic to identify a correlation between the discovered instance and the known instance based on a relationship between the identifiers. The example system may also include an update logic to selectively update a value in the ERP data store based on the correlation. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276270 | SYSTEM CONFIGURATION APPLICATION AND USER INTERFACE - An interface tool is provided. The interface includes an aggregator that collects input data from a user and transforms the input data to a form suitable by a business processing system. A format component receives output data from the business processing system and transforms the output data to a form suitable by a user. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276271 | Practical model for high speed file delivery services supporting guaranteed delivery times and differentiated service levels - A practical economic and technical model for building commercial-grade electronic file delivery services that provide the same scale, predictability, and differentiated service levels as physical courier services traditionally used to move electronic data on physical media. Systems and methods for providing such services using a charge-back scheme based on congestion pricing are described. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276272 | Automated Tanning System - A self-service tanning system and method allows salon owners to offer tanning customization in order to meet the personal needs of various customers and to meet the various FDA regulations associated with each state. The present invention allows salon owners to customize each tanning customer session to prevent over exposure for new patrons, while allowing patrons who are already tanning to tan at a more progressive rate. In addition to tanning customization, the present invention offers built-in safety features, payment options, and networkability. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276273 | TOUCHSCREEN ENTRY OF CONSTRUCTION PUNCH LIST ITEMS DIRECTLY ON A PLAN - A method for establishing a construction punch list system for managing and inspecting a construction project is disclosed. Plan data, of a construction project, is provided from a database in a central server to sub-contractors having field operable graphical touchscreen devices. A touchscreen device is used to display a selected plan. Using the touchscreen device, color-coded or shape-coated construction deficiency data, in relation to the selected plan, is entered in graphical and textual form. The construction deficiency data is communicated to the central server. From the construction deficiency data, a construction punch list is generated in graphical or tabular form. The construction deficiency data from the server is distributed to at least one sub-contractor, indicating needed fixes. The needed fixes are fixed, then the construction deficiency data is updated to reflect fixes. The updated construction deficiency data is accessed for inspecting and supervising the construction project. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276274 | Program and apparatus for workflow analysis - A workflow extractor generates workflow information having the set names of data sets arranged in chronological order, oldest first, for each business process. A transition information generator specifies a transition relation between two continuously updated data sets to generate transition information. An important update extractor extracts update information indicating updates of important data items, . . . , and specifies a correspondence relation between a data set and an updated value. An impact level calculator calculates an impact level of each transition relation on business based on the number of appearances of the transition relation and the updated values corresponding to the data sets of the transition source and the transition destination, and outputs impact level information. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276275 | DEMAND BREAKOUT FOR A SUPPLY CHAIN - A system for demand breakout for a supply chain includes a memory operable to store a plurality of orders for at least one product. Each product may be produced using at least one precursor. The memory is also operable to store a production schedule identifying one or more resources in the supply chain, a quantity of each product and precursor scheduled to be produced by the resources, and a time period associated with production of each product and precursor. The system also includes one or more processors collectively operable to identify one or more particular units of the product that correspond to each product order. The one or more processors are also collectively operable to identify one or more particular units of one or more precursors that correspond to each product order. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276276 | Method For Analyzing Maintenance Operations And Assessing The Readiness Of Repairable Systems - An automated method for assessing the readiness of a plurality of repairable systems, such as a fleet of aircraft, is provided. In addition to identifying the repairable systems that will be operational, the relative state of readiness of the repairable systems is determined such that the repairable systems that are most likely to successfully complete the designated task can be selected. Additionally, an automated method of analyzing the maintenance operations performed upon a plurality of repairable systems, such as a fleet of aircraft, is provided. In this regard, the relative states of readiness of the repairable systems are determined and maintenance resources are allocated based upon the respective measures of the relative states of readiness of the repairable systems. As such, maintenance operations scheduled for the aircraft that will have the greatest state of readiness upon completion of the maintenance operations can be prioritized. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276277 | Optimized Appointment Scheduling Method - An appointment scheduling method wherein available time slots for an appointment are ranked according to the result of a balancing of importance factors adhered by an enterprise to weights associated with the available time slots such as efficiency of use of resources, urgency of examination, financial impact etc. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276278 | Method for Processing a Linked List of Time Segments - An appointment scheduling method and associated user interface wherein an overview of appointments of a patient, an overview of the agendas of involved resources and details on an instantiated appointment are displayed on a single screen permitting verification and confirmation of an instantiated appointment by the user. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276279 | COMPUTER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERIM TRANSACTION DIAGNOSIS FOR SELECTIVE REMEDIATION AND CUSTOMER LOYALTY ENHANCEMENT - A customer feedback acquisition and processing system includes a data acquisition processor for receiving first and second customer feedback responses. The first customer feedback response is received by the data acquisition processor after notice of a claim is received and before the claim is resolved. The second customer feedback response is received by the data acquisition processor after it receives the first customer feedback response. The data acquisition processor may operate to classify the first customer feedback response in one of two categories. The two categories may be an attention-needed category and an attention-not-needed category. The system may also include a workflow router in communication with the data acquisition processor. The system may further include a supervisor terminal in communication with the workflow router. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276280 | Using Alerts to Bring Attention to In-Store Information - A method is provided that uses alerts to bring in-store information that is of interest to the attention of team members working in a retail store. To send an alert to a team member logged in to a device data, data from a source is evaluated against business rules. An event is generated when a piece of data satisfies the business rules. The event indicates that the piece of data is of interest. A task is activated for the event and assigned to the team member acting in a role associated with the source of the event. An alert is sent to the device that the team member is logged in to indicating that the team member has been assigned the task. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276281 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR EFFECTIVE TASK MANAGEMENT - A method for effective employee assignment including determining a number of employees needed to perform each of a plurality of tasks, determining a skill flexibility index (SFI) of each employee, determining a job quality index (JQI) of each employee, determining a minimum acceptable (min. JQI) for each task, and for each task, in an order from highest min. JQI to lowest min. JQI, assigning each employee to the task having a JQI higher than or equivalent to the min. JQI in an order from each employee with a lower SFI and a higher JQI to an employee with a higher SFI and a lower JQI until the number of employees needed to perform the task is assigned or there are no more available employees to assign to the task having a JQI higher than or equivalent to the min. JQI of the task. A corresponding system and computer program product. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276282 | APPOINTMENT REMINDER AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING - A service package includes a brochure that includes general information related to a service provided for a client by a service provider. An appointment notifier may be inserted into the brochure. A client-specific insert may also be inserted into the brochure. The appointment notifier may include a reminder packet with information related to the date and time of day of a future service appointment between the client and the service provider and a gift card for use by the client. The client-specific insert may include client-specific information relating to the service provided for the client by the service provider. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276283 | SCREENING ELECTRONIC SERVICE REQUESTS - A facility for screening service requests for requesting assistance is described. The facility receives from a user a service request that requests assistance with solving a problem associated with a system accessible to the user and includes information related to the system. The facility searches a collection of system status information for at least one entry that corresponds with the received information related to the system. Where a corresponding entry is found, the facility provides to the user an indication of the correspondence and an opportunity to cancel the service request. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276284 | PEER TO PEER NETWORK PERSONAL ASSISTANT - Methods and computer storage media for communicating an electronic gift suggestion for a first user to a second user are provided. Accessing an online social network profile for a first user created by the first user in an online social network. Determining one or more gift suggestions for the first user and displaying the one or more gift suggestions in the online social network account of a second user. In some embodiment, the gift suggestions for the first user may be based on the social profile of the first user, based on the social profile of the first user utilizing an electronic gift wish list, or based sales data of purchasers having similar personal information and purchasing history as personal information accessed from the first user's social profile. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276285 | SEARCH ENGINE TO BROKER ADVERTISER WITH PUBLISHER - A method for brokering advertisers and publishers includes crawling internet websites to extract information from publisher websites including at least one of keywords, tags, images, digital media, or combinations thereof, collecting browser activity data as monitored from users browsing the websites; reverse indexing the publisher information in relation to corresponding browser activity data in a database according to a plurality of attributes included in the browser activity data; and enabling advertisers to keyword search the reversed indexed information through a search web server that is coupled with the database, wherein the search web server returns relevancy-based search results together with publisher information that enables the advertisers to contact the publishers regarding purchasing advertising inventory on publisher websites. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276286 | MEASURING PRODUCT CONSUMABILITY - Product consumability can be measured by recording customer interaction with customer support mechanisms and mapping the resulting data into consumability characteristics. The consumability characteristics correspond to specific customer experiences with various features and processes throughout the product lifecycle. Through an examination of data mapped into the various consumability characteristics, the vendor or manufacturer can focus on improving features or processes associated with the product. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276287 | SYSTEM FOR PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS USING REAL-WORLD PHARMACEUTICAL TRANSACTIONS - A system for predictive analytics using real-world pharmaceutical transactions includes a computer having a processor and memory, a data collection component configured to aggregate data for a plurality of pharmaceutical transactions, and a data reduction module configured to eliminate non-compliant transactions to generate a reduced transaction data set. An analysis module applies multiple linear regression analysis to a portion of the reduced transaction data set to identify key regression variables that correlate with an excess total return to shareholders. The analysis module also applies logistic regression analysis to a portion of the reduced transaction data set to identify key regression variables that correlate with an increased probability of regulatory agency approval. A report generator provides a graphical output of the identified key regression variables and a probability value corresponding to a likelihood of regulatory agency approval. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276288 | Artificial intelligence platform - The present invention provides a new and unique platform for authoring and deploying interactive characters which are powered by artificial intelligence. The platform permits the creation of a virtual world populated by multiple characters and objects, interacting with one another so as to create a life-like virtual world and interacting with a user so as to provide a more interesting and powerful experience for the user. This system can be used for entertainment purposes, for commercial purposes, for educational purposes, etc. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276289 | System and Method for Predicting Likelihood of Customer Attrition and Retention Measures - The present invention relates to a system and method for customer retention. Historical transaction and customer data may be received from stores. Likewise, recent customer transaction data may be received from the stores. The transactions are linked to each customer. Attriters, historical customers who discontinued shopping, are identified. Next, risk factors for attrition may be identified by examining the attriters' transaction history for commonalities. From the risk factors a loss model may be generated. The loss model may be used, in conjunction with current transaction data, to generate the likelihood of loss for each of the current customers, which may then be reported. Retention measures may be generated for each customer by comparing the customer's transactions to the loss model and the risk factors. The retention measures may be outputted to the stores, and a price optimization system. Likewise, the retention measures may be validated by comparing actual customer loss to the loss model. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276290 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPTIMIZING COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS - The present invention is directed to a method for facilitating a real estate transaction comprising the steps of receiving at least one site performance criteria from at least one prospective buyer, receiving prospective site data regarding at least one prospective site from at least one prospective seller, calculating the value of at least one prospective site metric using the prospective site data wherein the at least one prospective site metric corresponds to at least one of the site performance criteria, evaluating the at least one prospective site metric using a predetermined set of filtering criteria, determining whether the at least one prospective site meets the site performance criteria based on the evaluation of the prospective site data and the at least one prospective site metric and displaying the degree to which the at least one prospective site meets the site performance criteria. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276291 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NETWORKING SHOPS ONLINE AND OFFLINE - Garments are presented to a consumer using a computer by reading a database of garments, wherein the database of garments includes parameters for at least some of the garments represented by records in the database of garments, the parameters including at least a garment type, reading data representing a plurality of garment types, the data including, for each type of the plurality of garment types, obtaining consumer measurements from the consumer or a source derived from the consumer, obtaining garment measurements for garments in the database of garments, comparing customer measurements to garment measurements, scoring garments from the database of garments based on garment measurements and customer measurements, and presenting the consumer or consumer representative with a computer generated filtered listed of garments from the database of garments ordered, at least approximately, according to garment scores, based on context. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276292 | Methods, systems and apparatus for interactive audience participation at a live entertainment event - A method and system provide interactive participation during activity occurring at a college campus venue. Enjoyment for a plurality of enrolled participants is enhanced. Participants employ wireless interactive devices that present a promotional message and include user input and output interfaces. Participants are queried, and enter answers via the user input interface. The promotional messages are preferably related to businesses and other organizations associated with the college campus venue. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276293 | Methods, Systems, and Products for Conducting Electronic Commerce - Methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for conducting electronic commerce. A merchant participates in an online community of merchants. Sales information is shared with the online community such that each merchant is informed of each sale of each merchant participating in the online community. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276294 | Career Framework - A method and apparatus for assessing eligibility for a job including providing a job description to a user of a general purpose computer, providing a plurality of skills to a user of the general purpose computer, wherein the plurality of skills is particular to the job description, providing a plurality of skill levels for each of the plurality of skills to a user of a general purpose computer, the user performing an evaluation the user's abilities against each of the plurality of skills by assigning one of the plurality of skill levels to each of the plurality of skills, and the general purpose computer determining a user suitability for a particular job. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276295 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MODELING WORKFORCE TALENT SUPPLY TO ENABLE DYNAMIC CREATION OF JOB SPECIFICATIONS IN RESPONSE THERETO - Systems and methods for modeling workforce talent supply to enable dynamic creation of job specifications in response thereto. A sampling database is built of candidates using normalized form of elements derived from candidate resumes to provide an element level description of each candidate. The national or regional workforce supply of talent is estimated at an element level by statistically extrapolating the information in the sampling database in accordance with BLS data. A job specification is analyzed to determine a corresponding set of normalized elements. The corresponding set of normalized elements is compared to the estimated workforce supply to determine the degree of match at an element-by-element level. The degree of match is presented at an element-by-element level so the user can identify how elements in the job specification affect the degree of match with the estimated workforce supply and so that the user may alter the job specification if desired. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276296 | Business profit resource optimization system and method - A business profit and resource optimization system that calculates an employee evaluation, comprising an input component that is utilized to input assessment data related to characteristics for a currently assessed employee, utilizing the assessment data from a plurality of evaluators, an idea component that analyzes ideas of the currently assessed employee in terms of idea success year over year and a display component that interacts with the input component and allows viewing of an employees evaluation. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276297 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REVIEWING AND MANAGING EMPLOYEES - A system and method are provided for reviewing employees of a company that includes displaying a grid with potential along one axis and performance along a second axis, and placing each of a select group of employees in one of the boxes defined by the grid. The employees may be moved from one box to another box and the employees may be displayed with an indication of previous box placement. The movements may be tentative then confirmed. The number of employees permitted in a box may be dependent on organizational business needs. A side-by-side comparison of two or more employees may be provided based on organizational needs, e.g. the needs of a position. Rules may be defined for placing employees in boxes based on different evaluation criteria used by different local human resource centers. The preparation and follow-up of employee review meetings may be provided for. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276298 | Community virtual network operator - A virtual network operator without leasing bandwidths is built with subscribers paying their bandwidths, using installed customer premise equipments as the main part of its infrastructure. These CPEs work together in a P2P manner so that self-sustaining services can be offered without an operator, with only collaborating subscribers forming a community. While the subscriber pays an amount approximating (either above or below) the cost of the installed CPE associated with the operator, the operator provides a plurality and a range of free and fee-based services either directly or through a third party vendor. A preferred CPE is a personal infotainment center device that enables personalized multimedia services such as video conferencing and a plurality of multimedia functions and services. The operator receives revenues from targeted and non-targeted advertisement, e-commerce of all sorts, and the provision of content. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276299 | INCENTIVE-BASED WASTE REDUCTION SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - An incentive-based waste reduction system and method thereof are disclosed herein. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an incentive-based waste reduction system comprises a collection means comprising at least a load-determining device, the collection means for obtaining a quantifiable measure of waste material from an entity, a value associated with the quantifiable measure of waste material, an adjustment factor for adjusting the value associated with the quantifiable measure of waste material, determined from an algorithm, the algorithm taking as an input at least a predetermined factor, a credit value associated with at least a quantifiable measure of deposited waste material, and a reward value associated with the credit value. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276300 | Network Systems and Methods Utilizing Mobile Devices to Enhance Consumer Experience - Network systems and methods for utilizing mobile devices to enhance customer experiences are disclosed herein. A first aspect of the present invention facilitates a customer to acquire a membership to a membership program and subsequently access benefits of the membership program via a mobile device. Another aspect of the present invention facilitates a customer to redeem coupons for sales transactions via a mobile device. Yet another aspect of the present invention facilitates a customer to acquire a map including the location of requested items. Another aspect of the present invention facilitates a customer to search for an item and in response receive the availability and in some instances a map location of the requested item. Yet another aspect of the present invention facilitates a customer to pay for item using a remote charging method. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276301 | System and Method for Identifying Ideas - A system and method for associating value with ideas. Unit of value indicators are issued to users. Ideas are identified by the users and submitted to the system. The users make requests to associate the unit of value indicators with the submitted ideas. As a result of an award event, an award winner is issued additional unit of value indicators. The award winner further associates such unit of value indicators with the ideas. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276302 | Advertising revenue sharing - A method for compensating all parties involved in producing the income stream for a content distributor is presented where the content-hosting site, the content writer and the user doing the interaction with paid contents receive a fair share of the generated income stream. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276303 | Systems and methods for mobile wireless advertising platform part 1 - A system of wireless advertising platform has a handheld wireless device that has an inbound wireless data function with a storage function to be able to receive and store, audio, text, image, and flash commercial messages from a message server. The device has a message exposure function that exposes these messages to a device user from the stored memory of the device into the incoming and outgoing communication, to and from the device user. The device has a message tracking function that tracks which messages have been exposed and periodically sends an account record to the message server. The message server receives the account records and uses cumulative account records to create billing statements to the message providers. The communication use cost of the device is discounted to the device user for being exposed messages from revenue from message providers. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276304 | Apparatus and Menthod for Incentive Marketing - An incentive marketing apparatus and method provides a purchaser of an item at a store or other retail location a chance to win an award. A unique identifier is assigned to the purchase. The purchaser provides the unique identifier to a kiosk or other customer interface device. The kiosk checks the unique identifier and provides the purchaser an opportunity to win an award based on chance if the unique identifier is validated. In one embodiment, the purchaser wins an award if a randomly generated number matches a portion (such as the cents portion) of the purchase amount. The kiosk may also be configured to dispense a short duration coupon to the purchaser that is redeemable within a predetermined period of time. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276305 | AFFILIATE AND CROSS PROMOTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A method for managing referrals between a consumer, merchant, and at least one affiliate; generating a referral identifier by a referral identifier generator for an affiliate to give at least one consumer, the referral identifier representing a promotional offer for at least one consumer; accepting and tracking the referral identifier from at least one consumer in an affiliate tracking system; awarding at least one consumer at least one promotion according to a referral identifier; determining the core set by each merchant; determining the core reserve according to the core and at least consumers purchase history with at least one merchant store; awarding the primary affiliate at least one affiliate reward according to the core reserve and each subaffiliate at least one affiliate reward according to the core reserve; and awarding the merchant at least one merchant reward according to the consumers purchase history with each merchant store and the core. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276306 | UTILIZING AN ELECTRONIC PAYMENT SYSTEM TO IMPLEMENT REBATE PROGRAMS - Some example embodiments described herein relate a system and method for utilizing an electronic payment system to implement rebate programs. The system includes a communication module that receives at an electronic payment system a request from a first party for making a rebate payment to a second party. The system further includes a processor that is connected to the communication module and a transaction module that deposits the rebate payment into an account of the second party that exists with the electronic payment system after receiving instruction from the processor. The method includes receiving a request at an electronic payment system for a first party to make a rebate payment to a second party and using the electronic payment system to make the rebate payment into an account of the second party that exists with the electronic payment system. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276307 | Product Couponing and Sampling Method - A targeted method for providing coupons and samples to consumers, that provides extensive feedback to manufacturers, identifies consumers that represent a desired demographic profile, enables a convenient consumer couponing experience, controls and contains fraud through the use of expiration methods and location data. | 2009-11-05 |
20090276308 | ONLINE INCENTIVE MANAGEMENT - Various methods and systems are provided to facilitate the centralized storage and access of online incentives such as coupons redeemable at associated online marketplaces. In one example, merchants may provide incentive information to payment service providers that in turn may associate such information with user accounts maintained by the payment service providers. Payment service providers may permit users to view incentives associated with their user accounts, thereby providing users with a comprehensive way to manage incentives from a plurality of online merchants. In another example, merchants may advise users of previously registered incentives in response to user activities in relation to online marketplaces. | 2009-11-05 |