Abstract: Disclosed are a method of evaluating reliability of information in a social media service includes calculating an evaluation score of information provided by an information provider on the basis of a social activity of each of a plurality of information consumers relating to the information, and calculating a reputation score of the information provider in a category of the information on the basis of the category and the evaluation score of the information.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided to assist a user to identify one or more businesses of interest. Individual selections of businesses by end users to retain information corresponding to the businesses may be facilitated. Collections of business information may be retained in a repository. Each end user may be classified into a set of categories based on attributes. A first end user may be matched to a first category. A first set of collection information associated with a first set of end users that correspond to the first category and the first location may be identified. A recommendation for the first end user may be determined based on the first set of collection information, the first category, and the first location.

Abstract: A system and method for grouping units for forecasting purposes is presented. A plurality of stock keeping units (SKUs) is presented to an embodiment. Initial medoids are chosen based on a vertex within a set of vertices, each of which represent a SKU. Then, each vertex within the set of vertices is associated with its closest medoid to form initial clusters. There can be a cap on the number of vertices in each cluster. Thereafter, an iterative algorithm is performed wherein a probability is assigned to each vertex. One or more vertices are randomly chosen, with the weights of the vertices weighting the random choice. The chosen one or more vertices are moved to another cluster. The algorithm is performed until no further improvements result from moving one or more vertices to another cluster. Other embodiments are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: One embodiment sets forth technique for computing a similarity score between two digital items is computed based on interaction histories associated with global users and interaction histories associated with local users. Global counts indicating the number of interactions associated with each unique pair of digital items are weighted based on a mixing rate. The weighted global counts are then combined with local counts to compute total counts. An effective interaction probability indicating the likelihood of a user interacting with one digital item in the pair of digital items after interacting with the other digital item in the pair is computed based on the total counts. The effective interaction probability is then corrected for noise, resulting in a similarity score indicating the similarity between the pair of digital items.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided to interface with users to perform group assessment processing and display of results in conjunction with selection of items.

Abstract: Work at each Work Center in a production system is authorized by a demand-pull system. The demand-pull system can be based on the time for the oldest unauthorized work order in upstream adjacent WCs to get to the next WC and whether that WC will be ready to receive it.

Abstract: A network system can communicate with a user device and receive a set of request data for a scheduled request at a scheduled date and a scheduled time. The set of request data indicates a start location and a destination location for the scheduled request. The network system can record the scheduled request in a scheduling log, and implement a hierarchical selection process to fulfill the scheduled request.

Abstract: Instant messaging (IM) entities may be invited to an electronic calendar event using an instant message. Selecting the IM entities as invitees to the event may include dragging and dropping names of the IM entities from a buddy list of an IM application to an event from an electronic calendar application, or vice versa. A method of inviting an entity to a calendar event includes providing a calendar event from a calendar application and recognizing, by the calendar application, an IM entity as an invitee to the event.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing assignment of debtor accounts to a plurality of collection parties is presented. The preferred embodiment is capable of optimizing the way by which individual performance entities are assigned to collect on actionable individual debtor accounts by a creditor. An analysis solution uses algorithms to analyze gathered data and to provide a score to each collection party based upon the traits of the individual collection parties, debtor accounts, creditor, externally acquired data, and constraints upon all of the parties involved. The system and method are also capable of enhancing an individual borrower's credit score depending on the risk involved with providing credit to that particular borrower based upon the collectability upon default. One embodiment of the invention would include a risk analysis and compliance assessment system for supply entities to evaluate potential performance entities or other entities.

Abstract: This invention describes a system and method to provide a service to advertisers and businesses that enables adaptation of advertising priorities using information collected by a lighting infrastructure. The system uses outdoor lighting networks to manage/control data sensors connected to a network, e.g. hosted at lighting units. This invention enables new business scenarios where operators and/or owners of the city's lighting infrastructure can provide a value added service or generate revenue from ad providers and local businesses by leveraging the data acquired through the lighting and adjacent infrastructure (e.g. sensors) to help the businesses to increase their advertising performance/targets; particularly, with respect to Location Based Services (LBS).

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention sets forth a mechanism for identifying similar items within a plurality of items available to a group of users. The mechanism includes identifying a first count that indicates a number of times any user has interacted with a first item included in the plurality of items and subsequently with any other item, identifying a second count that indicates a number of times any user within the has interacted with a second item included in the plurality of items after interacting with the first item, computing a probability that indicates the likelihood of a particular user interacting with the second item after interacting with the first item based on the first count and the second count, and computing a similarity score that indicates the similarity between the first item and the second item based on the probability and a popularity score associated with the second item.

Abstract: Presented are apparatus and methods for utilizing coupons and the like in the context of a contactless payment process. A processor of a payment-enabled mobile device stores a Proximity Coupon System Environment (PCSE). The PCSE includes coupon applications that provide for an alternative form of payment and/or that influence a final transaction amount for a payment transaction. The method includes storing in a File Control Information (FCI) file of the PCSE a list of the coupon applications, and storing in a FCI file of a Proximity Payment System Environment (PPSE) an indication of the existence of the PCSE. When a payment transaction request is received from a proximity reader, the payment-enabled mobile device transmits the indication of the existence of the PCSE and the list of coupon applications that are to be considered before determining the final transaction amount.

Abstract: A method for customer-based outcome prediction that includes receiving recordings of interactions with customers in a customer group, analyzing the recordings of the interactions to generate interaction data, and building a predictive model using the interaction data, the predictive model identifying a variable relevant to predicting a likelihood of an identified outcome occurring in association with future interactions with customers in the customer group. The method also includes receiving a recording of a current interaction with a first customer, the first customer being in the customer group and analyzing the recording of the current interaction with the first customer to generate current interaction data. Further, the method includes adding the current interaction data to a first customer profile associated with the first customer and applying the predictive model to the first customer profile to predict the likelihood of the identified outcome occurring in association with the current interaction.

Abstract: The present disclosure details a method and system used for turning human participants who control avatars in a virtual world setting into real life marketing leads. In one embodiment, a virtual location is presented within a virtual world to facilitate interaction with an avatar. The avatar is identified within a master data management system, and a profile of the human behind the avatar is created or retrieved. To encourage the human user to provide real-world information through the avatar within the virtual world, an incentive is offered and awarded as necessary. The real-world information about the human user, such as address or demographic information about the human user is collected and stored in the profile, and eventually synchronized with a CRM system. As appropriate, the data collected and compiled in the CRM system may be used to launch marketing campaigns.

Abstract: A method for providing a customized platform for facilitating prescheduling transport and delivery services based on estimated driver availability and compatibility with individual customers. A service provider and customer may be matched based on favorites, preferred or regular and a dispatch matrix of preferences, limitations, and indicators. Customers and service providers may create favorites lists, preferred lists, and blacklists according to feedback with each other to enable customers to receive service from their favorite service providers and vice versa, and prevent service between customers and service providers when blacklisted. Customers and drivers may also negotiate prices for requested services based at least in part on supply and demand. The method provides for automatically scheduling transportation services in which service requests are received and automatically scheduled based on a partner driver arrangement using a micro-dispatch system without live dispatching agent involvement.

Abstract: A computer system for processing vehicle ownership support data includes an infrastructure platform which includes a plurality of hardware and software components, infrastructure services, APIs, and SDKs adapted to communicate in a communication network. The infrastructure platform receives telematics data such as vehicle identification data, driving performance data, vehicle operation data and vehicle sensor data for a corresponding vehicle. Such telematics data can be received from a vehicle device (Onboard Device (OBD)), or from a cloud-based telematics platform. The infrastructure platform identifies vehicle ownership support services associated with the at least one vehicle and analyzes the received telematics data associated with the identified services. The infrastructure platform provides vehicle ownership support services to a mobile application accessible at a customer's mobile device associated with the vehicle or the customer.

Abstract: Techniques for managing service definitions in an intelligent workload management system are provided. Workloads and software products are assembled as a single unit with custom configuration settings. The single unit represents a recallable and reusable service definition for a service that can be custom deployed within designated cloud processing environments.

Abstract: A companion advertisement is displayed on a control client which is also used to control the content being shown on a display client. The companion advertisement is related to a video or advertisement being displayed on the display client. Such a companion advertisement takes advantage of previously unused screen real estate and enables the user to interact with the advertisement or view further information without any interruption of the content being displayed on the display client. A server keeps the content displayed on the display client and control client synchronized. The server recognizes when a user is logged into both a display client and a control client and notifies the control client that an advertisement should be displayed. The control client then retrieves an advertisement related to the content on the display client.

Abstract: A floor operations automation system can include an intelligent video module, profiles, decision rules, and a decision module. The intelligent video module can be configured to generate video analytics data from video captured by video cameras within a retail location. The profiles can contain data that represents a business practice or policy of the retail location and/or user-specified preferences for decision-related variables. The decision rules can express actions to be performed in response to predefined conditions within the retail location. The decision module can be configured to decide upon action to be performed, based upon the video analytics data, the profiles, and the decision rules. The decision can be made without direct input from a human agent of the retail location. The actions can affect a business system and/or a human agent associated with the retail location.

Abstract: A companion advertisement is displayed on a control client which is also used to control the content being shown on a display client. The companion advertisement is related to a video or advertisement being displayed on the display client. Such a companion advertisement takes advantage of previously unused screen real estate and enables the user to interact with the advertisement or view further information without any interruption of the content being displayed on the display client. A server keeps the content displayed on the display client and control client synchronized. The server recognizes when a user is logged into both a display client and a control client and notifies the control client that an advertisement should be displayed. The control client then retrieves an advertisement related to the content on the display client.