Abstract: A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system accesses customer transaction data from a database managed by a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS), and then performs a pattern detection function using the customer transaction data, wherein the pattern detection function finds patterns in customer purchasing behavior, as evidenced by the customer transaction data, related to a sequence of when purchases occur. Specifically, the pattern detection function finds the patterns in the customer purchasing behavior by comparing a focal product set to an analysis product set over a specified time interval.

Abstract: A system and method for automating the performance of substitute fulfillment. The system includes a server which receives absentee information representing an absent worker via a telephone communication link or an Internet communication link. In response to receiving the absentee information, the system generates a list of potential substitute workers. The system then contacts potential substitute workers until one is found or until the list is exhausted. The system can also post a list of positions that are available on a website allowing potential substitute workers to search for a position.

Abstract: A method and system to identify skills and tools needed to address a process. The method comprises the steps of storing in a computer database a series of templates identifying pre-given sub-processes, managed elements, skills and tools; and accessing the computer database to use the templates to identify a set of sub-processes for a process, and to identify a set of managed elements. The set of sub-processes and the set of managed elements are used to form a matrix having a multitude of cells. The templates are also used to identify a set of skills and tools for each of the cells of the matrix.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for determining the probability that an item will be available at a particular location at an expected time of transaction for the item. Variances for both reported and unreported sales rates of the item may be calculated. Probability distributions may be generated for these sales rates and a convolution performed to obtain the probability that the item will be available at the expected time of transaction.

Abstract: A data presentation system and method for selecting, processing, and displaying survey information for evaluative purposes, which includes a storage device, a display device, a server, and a network connecting the server to the display device. The server is programmed to maintain in the storage device a database with data information from a data collection, perform calculations on the data information from the data collection, and produce on the display device graphical data displays indicating measurement results based on selected population characteristics.

Abstract: A method for aiding product life cycle planning, including setting a threshold value concerning reuse of parts with respect to cost and environment; reading cost of parts and environment load information from a database; displaying parts on a map displayed on a display device and divided into a plurality of domains based on the threshold; selecting reuse candidate parts from the displayed parts with reference to the displayed map; calculating a useful life based condition formula for determining that parts are possible to reuse only in the case where a remaining useful life of parts j to be included in a reuse source product i remains more than a use period of a reuse destination product i? even if the use period of the reuse source product i is elapsed; determining whether the useful-life based condition formula is satisfied; and determining possibility of reuse with respect to the reuse candidate parts when the useful life based condition formula is satisfied.

Abstract: Computer software for execution by a computer management system to supervise and detect a Boundary Conservation of Value and Quantity in at least one Supply Chain Unit Cell or Cell Group. A warning is output when there is an abnormality detected in the value or quantity in a supply chain unit cell or cell group, and corrective information is provided to the computer management system. A mathematical management logic model of supply Chain Boundary Conservation of Value and Quantity is utilized to perform the management of Supply Chain Boundary Change of Quantity or Value to supervise and detect a quantity or value of raw material, semi-products, as well as finished goods.

Abstract: An ETC (electronic toll collection) system includes an antenna having a predetermined directivity for providing a limited radio-communication service zone. A vehicle sensor operates for detecting a vehicle which reaches a predetermined position in the limited radio-communication service zone. A radio signal is transmitted via the antenna. A decision is made as to whether or not a radio response to the radio signal is received via the antenna. In cases where a radio response to the radio signal is received, it is judged that there is an ETC vehicle incoming. In cases where the vehicle sensor detects a vehicle while a radio response to the radio signal is not received, it is judged that there is a non-ETC vehicle incoming.

Abstract: Method, system and program product, for operating a call center system, the method comprising: obtaining performance data for agents in a set of agents; obtaining a respective abstracted data stream for multiple calls, each respective data stream having multiple different locations along the abstracted data stream representing multiple different respective fields, the meaning for the field data in the respective different locations for the different respective fields not known by the system; determining respective patterns for the respective data streams; obtaining performance data for the respective patterns; matching using a selected matching algorithm one of the agents from the set of agents to one of the calls based at least in part on the performance data for the respective pattern of the call and on performance data for the respective agents of the set of agents.

Abstract: A system for selectively disabling use of at least selected features of a stand-alone electronic device under a predetermined set of conditions. The system establishes a state of the set of conditions as being satisfied or unsatisfied, communicates the state to the electronic device, and disables the selected features if the state is satisfied. In one embodiment, the system may be advantageously be used to prevent vehicular accidents by at least partially disabling non-emergency use of a wireless telephone in a moving vehicle. In another embodiment, the system may be used to disable features of an electronic device within a predetermined area having a boundary that is independent of a communications network cell.

Abstract: Personalization of a mobile device, including receiving at the mobile device a unique code; selecting, from a plurality of personalization policies stored on the mobile device a personalization policy that corresponds to the unique code; and storing the selected personalization policy in a persistent protected storage element of the mobile device. Customizing a mobile device, including determining at the mobile device a unique code; selecting, from a plurality of customized data sets stored on the mobile device a data set that corresponds to the unique code; and activating the selected data set on the mobile device.

Abstract: A method for the characterization of a sheet metal forming product uses the correlation of material flow data to a priori calculated or measured data. It determines whether the product falls within the acceptable production limits in terms of quality, areas of potential defects and an approximation of the process parameters prevailing during its production. The characterization is performed in real-time during production, tool deployment or try-out. The method includes the steps of: providing physical dimensions of an actual sheet metal part; a feature extractor computing, from these physical dimensions, a measured material flow metric representative of the geometry of the part after the forming operation; and a matching unit determining, from reference data and the measured material flow metric, a matching forming operation data set whose associated simulated material flow metric most closely matches the measured material flow metric.

Abstract: Mobile agents can be deployed to location aware mobile devices within specific regions of interest to achieve specific goals in respect of events occurring in the region of interest. In order to ensure that the agent can persist within the region of interest until the agent goals are achieved, the agent is configured to locate other devices within the region of interest and to propagate itself, by moving or copying itself, to those other devices. When a device hosting the agent exits the region of interest, the agent is terminated, thereby freeing device resources.

Abstract: A mobile device is described. The mobile device includes an electronic compass that generates compass data corresponding to an orientation of the mobile device relative to true north. A global positioning system (GPS) module receives a GPS signal from multiple satellites. The GPS module determines a heading direction of a vehicle transporting the mobile device relative to true north based on the position data when the vehicle is moving above a threshold velocity. A motion sensor generates motion data corresponding to a motion of the mobile device when the mobile device is moved. A processor adjusts the heading direction of the vehicle relative to true north based on the compass data when the vehicle is moving below the threshold velocity.

Abstract: An equal gain composite beamforming technique which includes the constraint that the power of the signal output by each antenna is the same, and is equal to the total power of the transmit signal divided by the number N of transmit antennas from which the signal is to be transmitted. By reducing output power requirements for each power amplifier, the silicon area of the power amplifiers are reduced by as much as N times (where N is equal to the number of transmit antennas) relative to a non-equal gain composite beamforming technique. A method and apparatus are disclosed for a transmission technique by a wireless communications device which includes providing that the power applied to each transmit antenna may be equal to the total power of the transmit signal divided by the number N of transmit antennas from which the signal is to be transmitted. The device may determine a total transmit power and produce a multi-carrier signal for transmission.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a comprehensive computer system and method (See FIGS. 1, 1a, 2) for automating and facilitating the performing and processing of tasks, information transfer, and information storage associated with the home sale (See FIG. 3a), mortgage origination (See FIG. 3b), and settlement process (See FIG. 3c), and the home mortgage refinancing origination and settlement process (See FIGS. 1b, 1c, 2a) (or performing other business processes), over a distributed computing network are disclosed. One aspect of the invention is a greatly simplified process for a home buyer to search for a home and simultaneously receive accurate and competitive bids for mortgages and services from multiple lenders and service providers. The process includes an automated under-writing process which generates complete, accurate information on the costs of buying and owning a home at very beginning of the home buying process. Another aspect of the invention is greatly automating the entire sale, loan and settlement process.

Abstract: Provided are a method of transmitting a dedicated reference signal (DRS), a method of receiving a DRS, and a feedback method of a terminal. The method of transmitting a DRS includes determining a DRS transmitting resource for at least one terminal which is a target of transmission, and transmitting the DRS using the determined transmission resource and notifying the terminal of information about layer used by the terminal. The method of receiving a DRS includes determining a DRS receiving resource, receiving information about layer used by a terminal from a serving cell base station, and receiving the DRS for the terminal using the determined reception resource and the information about layer. Accordingly, a terminal can find the position and sequence of its DRS. In particular, in the case of multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) or joint scheduling, it is possible to prevent or remove signal interference using the DRS of another terminal.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for dynamic resource allocation is provided, where a network resource shared by a plurality of electronic devices having unique service profiles and unique billing profiles is monitored. Allocation of the shared network resource as well as the service profiles and billing profiles are dynamically modified.

Abstract: A portable terminal includes a receiver, a barcode former configured to form barcodes and a display. The barcode former forms a barcode from the data received by the receiver and the display displays the formed barcode.

Abstract: A radio station transmits its broadcast audio content, including audible advertisements, to listeners over the Internet via an Internet Hosting Service that provides listener access to radio station content. A computing system at the radio station digitizes the audio, and supplies marking information that identifies the beginning and duration of commercials. The digital marking information is supplied with the radio station's audio to the Internet Hosting Service. The Internet Hosting Service maintains a repository of replacement audio commercials along with information about the commercials including duration. Upon receiving the digital marker indicating the presence of a commercial, the Internet Hosting Service selects a replacement commercial of comparable duration from its repository.