Abstract: The generation of a planar trajectory for use by a vehicle in guiding its position is described. The trajectory is generated by identifying points representing the trajectory, fairing the identified points to generate a set of faired points, and computing a set of polynomial segments from the faired points. The segments form a curve representing the trajectory, where the curve is C2-smooth, and the curve does not exceed the steering capability of the vehicle. The segments may comprise cubic B-spline segments. If the identified points are not substantially equidistant, then an auxiliary curve approximating the trajectory is generated, and a set of substantially equidistant points on the auxiliary curve is selected as the identified points.

Abstract: A computer-enabled method and system for generating a script for veterinary pharmaceutical and other animal-related product transactions comprising aggregation of participant data, including animal hospital data, veterinarian data, client data and animal data into the script, adding treatment regimen data to one or more orders associated with the script in accordance with the veterinarian's treatment plan, to enable determination of the initial date to begin filling the product, quantity of product, the number of fills and frequency to enable automatic generation of a series of autoship records including projected dates for shipping the orders to the animal owner upon verification of funds available, to print usage instructions, Rx labels, product information, shipping labels and packing slips, and to send notification emails to the animal owner and confirmation emails to the animal hospital.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer critical dimension measurement method comprising receiving an image of a site of the semiconductor wafer comprising a plurality of features, processing the image to measure at least one critical dimension of at least some of the features, analyzing the critical dimension of each feature and determining the feature to be a non-defective feature or a defective feature, and using the critical dimension of at least some of any non-defective features as a measure of the critical dimension of features of the semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: A method of sensing defects in the application of hot melt adhesive to a structure. An infrared sensor is used to capture an infrared image of at least the location of the structure where the adhesive is supposed to have been applied. Different areas of the image are separately interrogated by reviewing each area to detect the presence or absence of adhesive. The interrogation is used to determine whether or not the application of the adhesive is of acceptable quality.

Abstract: A method for triggering a cost entry in the context of a job is disclosed, which is issued by a management information system, and executed on an execution system, wherein the execution system transmits job related status reports in Job Definition Format to the management information system, and wherein incoming status reports are stored on the management information system. In order to allow cost entries after the completion of particular processes in the context of a job, it is being suggested that status reports arriving at the management information system are stored, categorized through a parser, and that a cost entry is triggered, when a status report is stored as cost relevant.

Abstract: A product management system is disclosed. The product management system comprises a product detection device disposed on a product display rack and configured to detect presence/absence of a product on the product display rack, a wireless communication device disposed on the product display rack and configured to wirelessly transmit information about the presence/absence of the product detected by the product detection device, a relay device to relay communications between the wireless communication device and a network, a product management device to store and display the information transmitted from the wireless communication device via the relay device and the network, and a terminal device capable of wireless communications with the wireless communication device and configured to travel with a shopper.

Abstract: The device (1) includes means (2, 3, 4) for observing the overall conditions of the aircraft and for determining whether the lateral behavior thereof is normal.

Abstract: Collecting tax return data and integrating collected tax return data into a future electronic tax return. A computer in communication with a tax authority stores first year electronic tax return data of a user that prepared the tax return with a tax preparation application for that year. The computer sends a first electronic message to the user's communication device asking whether data in the first year tax return changed or to verify prior data. The user sends a response using the communication device, and verified and changed data in the response may be stored for inclusion in an electronic tax return of a second year. The second year tax return may be partially prepared utilizing the user's response. When the tax preparation application for the second year is launched, the electronic tax return for the second year is already partially completed.

Abstract: Method and device for assisting in the piloting of an aircraft during a landing. The device (1) contains means (10, 11) for calculating turnaround times depending on the use of thrust reversers upon landing, as well as means (11) to display these turnaround times.

Abstract: A consumer is prequalified for a line of credit attached to a checking account by a lending institution computer responsive to consumer underwriting data. The lending institution computer makes available draws to the line of credit line in an authorization stream for a proposed payment from the checking account. When the line of credit is accessed, the checking account is credited with an additional value equal to one or more preselected loan increments so that the account then has a new amount totaling a previous amount plus the amount of value of the one or more preselected loan increments and so that the new amount exceeds or equals the value of a proposed payment. Next, a new value for the line of credit balance available is determined, accounting for value credited to the checking account and a preselected loan advance fee for each loan increment credited to the account.

Abstract: In a system according to the invention, a sum of money related to the current or projected cost of pollution remediation associated with the use of a particular mineral resource is banked at the time of the mineral's extraction, first sale or entry into the stream of commerce. Disbursement of the banked monies may be made to downstream processors, end users, effected entities or third parties for remediation, sequestration or conservation activities or simply for recompense. In one embodiment of the invention, dynamic tracking systems may apportion the payout as a function of measured observed winds and precipitation patterns. In this way, the true economic cost of a particular mineral resource may be more accurately reflected in its selling price.

Abstract: A method and system for providing an extensible framework for a POS application is provided. A POS application may be extended using a payment format add-in, a workflow add-in, a financial services provider add-in, or a combination of add-ins. A payment format add-in provides support for a payment format not included in the payment formats built into the POS application. A workflow add-in provides a configurable workflow that can be used to extend a built-in payment format or a payment format add-in. A financial services provider add-in provides support for interacting with a financial services provider for which the POS application does not provide built-in support. Each add-in can implement, for example, logic for processing a payment transaction, a portion of a payment transaction, and configuring steps for processing a payment transaction.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing execution of programs. In some situations, program execution is managed for multiple users using excess program execution capacity of one or more computing systems. In some such situations, excess or otherwise unused program execution capacity may be made available to execute programs on a temporary basis, such that the programs executing using the excess program execution capacity may be terminated at any time if other preferred use for the excess program execution capacity arises. The excess program execution capacity may in some situations be provided in conjunction with other dedicated program execution capacity that is allocated to particular users, such as to use unused dedicated capacity of some users as excess capacity for other users. In some situations, the techniques are used in conjunction with a fee-based program execution service that executes multiple programs on behalf of multiple users of the service.

Abstract: Collecting tax return data and integrating collected tax return data into a future electronic tax return. A computer in communication with a tax authority stores first year electronic tax return data of a user that prepared the tax return with a tax preparation application for that year. The computer sends a first electronic message such as an e-mail or text message to a communication device of the user asking whether data in the first year tax return has changed or to verify prior data. The user sends a response to the message using the communication device. Verified and changed data in the response may be stored for inclusion in an electronic tax return of the following or second year. The second year tax return may also be partially prepared utilizing the response from the user. Thus, when the user launches the tax preparation application for the second year, the electronic tax return for the second year is already partially completed to give the user a head start on preparing that electronic tax return.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs that facilitate verification of activity in an environment of predefined activity orchestration. Activity is captured on image capture devices in the environment of predefined activity orchestration. The activity is verified to be consistent with the predefined activity orchestration. An event is generated based upon whether the activity is consistent with the predefined activity orchestration.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided which make use of outbound calling systems to automate notification campaigns. Automated campaigns using outbound calling systems can provide a number of significant advantages over the traditional notification campaign, potentially resulting in faster, more efficient, more accurate, and more cost-effective notification campaigns.

Abstract: In one implementation, products in a shopping cart are provided to a point of sale system. The products are removed from the shopping cart and scanned with a transducer system. A database association system queries a database and determines the likelihood that the scanned products are indicative of products located in a lower support unit of the shopping cart. A notification is displayed on a user interface indicating the possibility of products located in the lower support unit of the shopping cart. A user is then queried as to whether a product was located in the lower support unit and the association system is updated to reflect a revised probability that the scanned products are indicative of products located in a lower support unit of the shopping cart.

Abstract: Providing repair information for a part. A first website may be provided which includes part information. The part information may include at least one of a plurality of possible vehicles and/or a plurality of possible parts. First user input may be received to the first website specifying a vehicle from the plurality of possible vehicles. Second user input may be received specifying a part of the plurality of possible parts, and third user input may be received to view labor cost information associated with the part. Correspondingly, labor cost information may be automatically provided which is associated with the part in response to the third user input to the first website to view the labor cost information. Automatically providing the labor cost information may be performed without further user input specifying the part or another website.

Abstract: A method, system and program product are disclosed for filling job orders, the method comprising: creating electronically a respective commitment reservation for each of a plurality of workers, with each respective commitment reservation comprising a commitment for the respective worker to work on a prospective job not yet created, with the prospective job having one or more job parameters; receiving electronically a job order subsequent to the creation of one of the commitment reservations, the job order specifying a job with one or more job parameters; matching the job parameters of the job in the job order to the job parameters in one or more of the commitment reservations to obtain a reservation-job match; and, securing automatically based on the results of the matching step the job in the job order to one of the workers with a commitment reservation.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for preparing a tax return using electronically distributed tax return data. Electronically distributed tax return data (such as W-2 data or 1099 data) that is stored at a third party's computer system for a taxpayer is accessed to prepare the tax return. The location of the electronically distributed tax return data is provided to a tax preparer that accesses the electronic data and prepares the tax return. The taxpayer provides authorization for the tax preparer to access the electronically distributed tax return data stored at the third party system. After the current tax year, the tax preparer checks the availability of the electronically distributed tax return data. When the electronically distributed tax return data is determined to be available, the tax preparer accesses it and prepares the tax return.