Abstract: A computer implemented method of and apparatus for collecting and managing customer related information within an E-Business customer relationship management system. The customer relationship management system includes a database in which customer-related information, as well as privacy policy and privacy consent information governing the collection and use of customer related information, is stored and organized. The database includes tables containing privacy consent default values for customers of the E-Business retailer high-level privacy consent values selected by the customers; specific privacy consent values selected by the customers for a plurality of privacy categories defined by the Platform for Privacy Preference (P3P); and privacy consent values selected by the customers for different customer addresses.

Abstract: A method and system for determining shelf life and sell-through time for retail products. The solution employs a data warehouse, a self monitoring product and product traceability. The data warehouse is utilized to track delivery information throughout the supply chain, e.g., time, quantity, product information, traceability; return information of unsold inventory returned from a retailer or customer as saleable; return information of inventory returned as unsaleable, damaged or defective; and data relating to evaluation of returned inventory. A self monitoring product is one that is capable of recording events such as number of times the product has been used, time since initial use, cumulative time and other items of interest such as stress variables, dates, min/max values, updates, etc. The solution involves evaluation of all returned product and comparing the information on the self monitoring product with known information from the supply line and return results contained in the database.

Abstract: A logical data model (LDM) design methodology that utilizes common or shared subject areas, developed for applications across two or more industries, in the design and construction of data warehouse solutions and logical data models for specific customers. The development and use of shared subject areas provides for more effective new LDM development through re-use of common elements and quicker deployment of horizontal applications on all industries.

Abstract: A system and method for planning, developing and implementing data warehouse solutions. A methodology including a plurality of tasks associated with the design and implementation of a data warehouse solution is represented by a visual model that identifies relationships between the tasks, and includes links between the tasks and content contained within a methodology database. The visual model is displayed within a visual modeling program, and can be customized for a particular data warehouse engagement through the selection of tasks displayed in the visual model for inclusion in the particular data warehouse engagement. Additionally, a customized methodology plan, statement of work, and project methodology guide for a particular data warehouse engagement can be automatically generated from content extracted from the visual model and methodology database.

Abstract: A customer relationship management system for storing and managing information for an E-Business retailer. The customer relationship system includes a database system for storing and organizing said information, a logical data model defining the manner in which said information is stored and related within the database system, and a subject area within the logical data model defining the manner in which profile information concerning web site visitors to a web site operated by the E-Business retailer is stored and organized within the database system. Visitors may include any individuals, households or organizations that are of interest to the E-Business retailer.

Abstract: A method, computer program and system for joining two tables, t1 and t2 are described. Each table contains rows and columns and is divided into one or more partitions. A correlation function is calculated between a first correlated value column of table t1 and a second correlated value column of table t2. Following a query request, a joining algorithm is used to join t1 and t2, using a reduced set of partitions based in part upon the correlation function.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an analytical-decision support system for improving management of quality and cost of a product throughout the entire product lifecycle of the product. The system comprises an atomic level data store for collecting data on component information, configuration information, and field information. A product-lifecycle-management analytics subsystem is included comprising: a query engine for compiling subsets of data from the atomic level data store; a first analysis tool for performing cost or quality analysis on the subsets to determine first analysis results; and a second analysis tool for analyzing detailed data in the atomic level data store to produce second analysis results. A management and operation subsystem is included for presenting the first analysis results after the first analysis tool performs the cost or quality analysis, and for presenting the second analysis results after the second analysis tool analyzes the detailed data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for constructing generic analytical database applications through the automated creation of metadata to establish an application structure controlling the availability and operability of individual applications.

Abstract: A method for manipulating billing and payment information comprising the steps of: loading billing information stored at a local location; accessing retained criteria; formatting field information within a data record automatically; acting on the retained criteria; displaying the formatted field information; and operating on the formatted field information.

Abstract: The invention groups multiple user and server processes executing in a multi-processor computer into collections such that the processes therein share the same processor affinity. User processes have an instance dedicated to each computer system user, and are organized into a user collection and within the collection are user sessions associated with a particular user. All of the processes in a user session share the same processor affinity. Server processes typically run as a single instance to support all users, and are organized into server collections. New collections and sessions are dynamically created responsive to the creation of new processes whenever it is determined the new processes should not be assigned to existing collections or sessions. As such, the allocation of processors to a collection or user session may occur dynamically in response to process creation or deletion, thereby enabling processor allocation to take into account current computer usage patterns.

Abstract: Methods for optimizing disk mirroring synchronization and write operations. Disk mirror synchronization, wherein date stored on a first storage device is duplicated on a second storage device, is performed by examining each data block contained within the first storage device and identifying data blocks that contain only zero data and data blocks containing non-zero data. Requests are sent to the second storage device to create a zeroed data block corresponding to each data block on the first disk device that contains only zero data. A copy of each data block on the first disk drive that contains non-zero data is written to the second storage device. Disk mirror write operations, wherein data written to the first storage device is duplicated on the second storage device, are optimized by intercepting write requests directed to the first storage device, and examining each data block within the write requests to determine if the data block contains only zero data.

Abstract: A computer system includes a cache memory which is shared by multiple processors. The cache memory is divided into a plurality of regions. Each of the processor is exclusively associated with one or more of the regions. All the processors have access to all regions on hits. However, on misses, a processor can cause memory allocation only within its associated region or regions. This means that a processor can cause memory allocation only over data it had fetched. By such arrangement, the “cross-thrash” problem is avoided.

Abstract: A system for gathering data on behavior of shoppers in a retail market. A scanner is attached to a shopping basket, and detects (1) removal of an item from a shelf, (2) the identity of the removed item, (3) insertion of an item into a shopping basket, which may be the identical item removed from the shelf, and (4) the identity of the inserted item. Repeated detection of this type of data for numerous items, and numerous shoppers, allows one to draw valuable inferences about the shoppers, such as how often comparison shopping occurs. This type of detection also allows one to take specific responses to the actions of the shoppers.

Abstract: A method for performing cluster analysis inside a relational database management system. The method defines a plurality of tables for the storage of data points and Gaussian mixture parameters and executes a series of SQL statements implementing an Expectation-Maximization clustering algorithm to iteratively update the Gaussian mixture parameters stored within the tables.

Abstract: A method for performing cluster analysis inside a relational database management system. The method defines a plurality of tables for the storage of data points and Gaussian mixture parameters and executes a series of SQL statements implementing an Expectation-Maximization clustering algorithm to iteratively update the Gaussian mixture parameters stored within the tables.

Abstract: A system for managing data privacy comprises a database management system for storing data from a plurality of consumer database tables, with irrevocable logging of all access, whether granted or denied, to the data contents stored in the consumer data tables; a privacy metadata system that administers and records all data, users and usage of data that is registered as containing privacy elements; and a replication system that feeds the consumer access system with personal consumer data, maintains integrity of the consumer data and provides changes and corrections back to the originating database management system through their own integrity filters as well as a means of storage and the mechanism to provide input for changes in the personal data or privacy preferences. The system further includes means for managing consumer notification, access, correction and change of preferences for privacy or data protection in the privacy metadata system.

Abstract: A method for including additional data, such as identifying text, within a stored digital image, the additional data being hidden from view when the image is displayed. The method includes the step of identifying a region within the digital image which contains picture elements, or pixels, having either a constant intensity, hue or saturation value, or a random distribution of such values for the storage of “hidden” data. An pixel value is determined which differs slightly or blends well with the values contained within the image region into which the hidden data is to be written; and the additional data is saved within the constant or random content image region at this determined intensity value.

Abstract: A mechanism for recording browser activities performed at a first web browser and subsequently replaying the recorded browser activities at one or more web browsers. The browsing activities can be recorded together with time references corresponding to various browsing activities such as when a web page is retrieved, or the length of time a page is displayed. The browsing activities can be replayed in accordance with the recorded time references. If desired, the browsing activities that are being repeated can be synchronized among multiple browsers.

Abstract: A system for mirroring data and disk drive device state over a network between a source computer including a first non-shared disk drive storage device and a target computer including a second non-shared disk drive storage device. The system includes layered software drivers installed within the source computer above the device driver for the first disk drive storage device for capturing and examining write requests directed to the first disk drive storage device, and transmitting the write request and extracted device state information to the target computer. Software drivers installed within the target computer above the device driver for the second disk drive storage device direct the received write requests to the second disk drive storage device, and the received device state information to volatile storage within the target computer.

Abstract: An improved affinity scheduling system for assigning processes to processors within a multiprocessor computer system which includes a plurality of processors and cache memories associated with each processor. The affinity scheduler affinitizes processes to processors so that processes which frequently modify the same data are affined to the same local processor—the processor whose cache memory includes the data being modified by the processes. The scheduler monitors the scheduling and execution of processes to identify processes which frequently modify data residing in the cache memory of a non-local processor. When a process is identified which requires access to data residing in the cache memory of a non-local processor with greater frequency than the process requires access to data residing in the cache memory of its affined local processor, the affinity of the process is changed to the non-local processor.