Patents Examined by Renae Feacher
  • Patent number: 8359228
    Abstract: An agent feedback tool includes an agent feedback database and an agent feedback module. The agent feedback module may include a vendor identification program, an agent feedback settings program, an agent feedback program, an agent reporting program, an agent summary program, and an agent profile program. The agent feedback module communicates with the agent feedback database to store mapping records and details relating to agents, vendors, vendor-specific locations, and feedback for the agents. The agent feedback program is operative to autopopulate one or more fields shown in an agent feedback graphical user interface by referring to mapping records stored in the agent feedback database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Fatima Marsch, Margot Bowen
  • Patent number: 8332254
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automatic identification of an insertion point. Comparison defining the correspondence between elements of models is done. The sequence order of elements in the second model is analyzed to identify predecessor and successor elements of the element t. The comparison is used to identify a set of transferred predecessors (Ptrans), comprising elements of the first model which correspond to predecessor elements (PS) in the second model, and a set of transferred successors (Strans) comprising elements of the first model which correspond to successor elements (SS) in the second model. Then, positions of the elements x, y in the sequence order of the first model are compared with the positions of elements in the sets of transferred predecessors and successors (Ptrans, Strans). An edge between the elements x and y is identified as an insertion point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: International Business MAchines Corporation
    Inventors: Christian Facciorusso, Felix Feger, Jana Koehler, Jochen M. Kuester
  • Patent number: 8296168
    Abstract: System and method for analysis of an opinion expressed in documents on a particular topic computes opinion strength on a continuous numeric scale, or qualitatively. A variety of opinion scoring techniques are plugged in to score opinion expressing words and sentences in documents. These scores are aggregated to measure the opinion intensity of documents. Multilingual opinion analysis is supported by capability to concurrently identify and visualize the opinion intensity expressed in documents in multiple languages. A multi-dimensional representation of the measured opinion intensity is generated which is agreeable with multi-lingual domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: University of Maryland
    Inventors: Venkatramanan Siva Subrahmanian, Diego Recupero Reforgiato, Antonio Picariello, Bonnie J. Dorr, Carmine Cesarano, Amelia Sagoff
  • Patent number: 8255253
    Abstract: A cross-functional area service identification method and system. The method includes reading by a computing system, processes. The computing system processes process elements associated with the processes. The computing system identifies a first functional area associated with a first current process element of the process elements and a second functional area associated with a first parent process element of the first current process element. The computing system compares the first functional area to the second functional area and determines if the first functional area comprises a same functional area as the second functional area. The computing system generates and stores results indicating if the first functional area comprises a same functional area as the second functional area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ravi Shankar Arunachalam, Ahamed Jalaldeen
  • Patent number: 8255264
    Abstract: A method of measuring the sales performance of a dealer may include determining a propensity to buy score associated with each lead received by a dealer and determining an expected close rate associated with the dealer that may be based on the determined propensity to buy scores. The method may also include determining, by a computing device, an effectiveness rate associated with the dealer that may be based on at least the expected close rate and an actual close rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Urban Science Application, Inc.
    Inventors: John Bowen, Frank Sauberlich
  • Patent number: 8219441
    Abstract: An algorithm system and method is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes selecting an algorithm to calculate a demand factor for each job in a job list requiring a demand factor calculation, calculating the demand factor using the selected algorithm, and assigning the calculated demand factors to the corresponding jobs in the job list. The calculating demand factor using the selected algorithm includes utilizing data associated with a job in the job list to calculate the demand factor using the selected algorithm. For example, the data includes aging data of the jobs, job status data, and client priority data of the job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Wipro Limited
    Inventors: Arundat Mercy Dasari, Nithya Ramkumar, Amit Vikram, Amit Saini
  • Patent number: 8219438
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for measuring human response to retail elements, based on the shopper's facial expressions and behaviors. From a facial image sequence, the facial geometry—facial pose and facial feature positions—is estimated to facilitate the recognition of facial expressions, gaze, and demographic categories. The recognized facial expression is translated into an affective state of the shopper and the gaze is translated into the target and the level of interest of the shopper. The body image sequence is processed to identify the shopper's interaction with a given retail element—such as a product, a brand, or a category.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: VideoMining Corporation
    Inventors: Hankyu Moon, Rajeev Sharma, Namsoon Jung
  • Patent number: 8209218
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relates to a method, apparatus and computer program product for processing, analyzing and/or display data related to performance metrics, for example, predicted performance metrics. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes one or more computers, a user input device(s), and a display device(s). In some embodiments, the one or more computers are operative, to compute, from historical KPI-related data, predicted future KPI-related behavior. In some embodiments, the display device is operative to display indications of predicted KPI values and/or predicted influencer values and/or a predicted future influencer-ranking-hierarchy and/or calculated deviating influencer values and/or one or more of the deviating future KPI values. In some embodiments, one or more user input devices are configured to receive indications of user-proposed influencer values and/or any other relevant data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: DataInfoCom Inc.
    Inventors: Atanu Basu, Joydeep Biswas, Avijit Roy, Bappaditya Mondal
  • Patent number: 8200527
    Abstract: Enhancements to customer care capabilities can be prioritized and presented using a repeatable methodology which allows information to be collected, processed, and utilized in a uniform fashion across engagements. Such a methodology can be designed so as to be flexible enough for any customization which is required in particular circumstances. Various tools which can be used in such a methodology include computerized surveys, evaluation formulae, prioritization graphs, and weighing scales.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Convergys CMG Utah, Inc.
    Inventors: Cameron Thompson, Ryan Pellet, Devi Jaspal
  • Patent number: 8190464
    Abstract: A management database is queried to determine which customers have failed to respond to recall notices. The resulting list of customers may be sorted or filtered so that some customers are preferentially contacted first, based on expected value or office preferences. The list may also be sorted or filtered to fill specific providers' schedules first. Customer names and contact information are then presented to schedulers so that customers may be contacted. The time and date of each contact is automatically recorded along with the outcome of the contact. A customer name is presented to a scheduler only if the same name is not being simultaneously presented to other schedulers and that customer was not too recently contacted, so that redundant or too frequent contacts are avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Brevium, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett C. Gerlach, Brian William Perrin
  • Patent number: 8185453
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide access to features of a business management application at a contextually relevant locations within a global workflow. The system gathers data from various application features and user preferences and generates a global workflow diagram reflecting these data. The system and method provide contextual access to various features of the business management application, by way of nodes associated with their contextual location within the global workflow, allowing the user to view the information in its relevant context.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventors: Aline Baeck, Roy Goldman, Lisa Holzhauser, Miriam Nga-Shun Vu, Yin Yin Wong, Karen Peacock
  • Patent number: 8170893
    Abstract: Processes and software are provided for eliminating sources of maintenance losses in machine intensive environments such as manufacturing, processing and assembly plants. The processes and software include creating financial and work order metrics to trend maintenance variables, a process for creating work orders, a process for using alarms for integrating measurement technologies and spare parts, a process for managing repair and replacing activities and projects by improving documenting and communicating processes while involving users such as executives and senior managers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventor: Sergio J Rossi
  • Patent number: 8135605
    Abstract: A tool to assess risks associated with software applications, and controls implemented to mitigate these risks, includes a first software component configured to gather information about the risks and controls, and a second software component configured to display the gathered information. The first software component includes a self-assessment tool which is invoked by a user to enter information reflective of risk levels over a number of risk categories. These risk levels are used to calculate a risk score associated with a particular application. The user also enters information as to whether or not a number of specific control attributes have been implemented, and this information is used to calculate a control score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Davis Osborn, Jacob Firestone, David H. Weaver, Peter Murphy
  • Patent number: 8027855
    Abstract: Methods of assessing feasibility of a project include receiving a datum from a customer; designing an application specific system based on the datum; analyzing the datum; evaluating a set of input parameters to determine an applicability of the application specific system to a customer process; and providing feedback for the customer process with the application specific system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Freese, John C. Blackburn, Ryan J. Priore, David L. Perkins
  • Patent number: 7996250
    Abstract: Provided are, inter alia, systems, methods and techniques for controlling workflow by identifying an individual job that is part of an overall deliverables package that covers multiple jobs. An aggregate utility function is obtained, specifying utility based on an aggregate metric across the overall deliverables package, and a current operating point is determined on the aggregate utility function. An effective utility is calculated for the individual job based on the aggregate utility function and the current operating point, and the execution of work is controlled based on the effective utility for the individual job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Janet Lynn Wiener, John Wilkes, Alvin AuYoung, Laura Ellen Grit
  • Patent number: 7908160
    Abstract: Business Processes handle business transactions. The life cycle of a transaction is controlled by state of the process and events. Events represent information exchange between systems. The states determine when the exchange should take place. Key issues are to identify whether a transaction is anomalous and if so, determining the trace to the root cause To detect anomalies, current approaches evaluate transaction data statistically. To validate whether the transaction is indeed anomalous requires significant storage, processing power and human resources. The new approach audits events as they happen against the business process definition. Events that do not follow the right sequences and conditions of the process definition are identified to be anomalous. The generated audit trail traces the root cause of the transaction anomaly. Businesses can now protect or re-engineer their strategic business processes using audit trail traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Decision-Zone Inc.
    Inventor: Rajeev Bhargava
  • Patent number: 7853476
    Abstract: The present invention provides a quality assurance system and method that generates a quality assurance (QA) scorecard for clinicians that participate in a radiological-based medical imaging study using digital imaging technologies. According to one embodiment, client computers, servers, imaging devices, databases, and/or other components may be coupled to provided a unified data collection system. According to one embodiment, systems and methods are provided that analyze various parameters that are derived from the unified data collection system to calculate a QA score for the clinician. The QA score provides a combined subjective and objective feedback system that includes performance evaluations from other users, including radiologists, technologists and patients. According to one embodiment, the feedback may be provided in real-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Inventor: Bruce Reiner
  • Patent number: 7797178
    Abstract: A method. The method includes includes determining a hardware efficiency factor for an asset having a fixed capacity and a predictable capacity consumption rate, and determining a touch efficiency factor for the asset. The touch efficiency factor represents a measurement of the frequency of touch of the asset, and touch represents a disruption of the asset occurring when the asset reaches the fixed capacity. The method further includes determining an optimal utilization level based on both the hardware efficiency factor and the touch efficiency factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Morgan Stanley
    Inventors: James C. Cherubini, Edmund G. Dabagian, Jung-bae Kim
  • Patent number: 7756738
    Abstract: A computer-implemented project-based point system for professional services uses a database including a list of professional employees, a menu of project codes, and an assignment of a point value to each of the project codes. The method calculates total points earned by a professional by adding point values assigned to project codes of completed projects, which may be billable and/or non-billable projects. The calculated total points earned by the professional may be compared to a point requirement, whereby the performance of the professional may be evaluated. In addition, the method may calculate a total charge to a client for professional services by adding fixed fees assigned to project codes of completed billable projects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Lumen Patent Firm
    Inventor: Ron Jacobs
  • Patent number: 7752071
    Abstract: A process and system for generating a job value for a job that can be used to provide a definitive measure of contribution of the job to an entity. The process involves generating an impact value representing effect of the job on an entity, generating an input value representing attributes of the job, and generating the job value on the basis of the impact value and the input value. The impact value is determined on the basis of an accountability value and a job type value. The accountability value represents results expected from the job by the entity, and the type value represents the significance of the job to the entity. The input value is determined on the basis of a knowledge value, and an integration value, and an interpersonal value. The knowledge value represents the level of knowledge required to perform the job. The integration value represents the level the job requires the coordination, integration and direction of resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Aequus Consulting Pty Ltd
    Inventors: James Walter Anson, William Francis Moore